Sunshine, Fresh Air And Solstice Magic - From Our GreenHouse Project - Walthamstow Allotment

Here’s Mark - clearing a bed ready for planting!

In May this year we started welcoming back clients of the ELMS/SHP in Waltham Forest back at  Plot Number 1 at Trencherfield Allotments in Walthamstow. And what a season it has been! The plot was pretty overgrown after a year and a half of being left to nature, but also full of lovely wild flowers and wildlife (a friendly toad has made an appearance twice!) where left to grow freely.  

We have started clearing some of the beds to get some things growing and this year we have planted turnips, cauliflower, different salad leaves, herbs, nasturtium, borage, tomatoes, potatoes, leeks and more, and members of the group harvested and shared stories about different things they have cooked with what we have grown together.  

 “It is a therapy. It makes me feel excellent and I love being in the outdoors, doing a little bit of physical activity” - Mark 

It is also an opportunity to be outside, breathe some fresh air and take a moment to appreciate the nice surroundings and when it is sunny enjoy a lovely afternoon sun. The garden allows you to relax, but if you want to get stuck into all sorts of tasks there is plenty to do. In the allotment space people are invited to be in contact with nature, each other and themselves, learning from the experience of planting a seed, nourishing it and seeing something grow and develop. It is a very rewarding experience that comes with many teachings.  

‘It is fun and enjoyable and good for socialising, having tea together’. We picked herbs from the allotment and made tea together, we harvested vegetables and herbs together to take it home and make it a lovely meal’ - Ayesha 

We also had  the opportunity to celebrate the change in seasons and connect with folk nature traditions during the Summer Solstice where we harvested herbs to make tea and reflect about what the season changes meant to us and Samhain to welcome and celebrate what the allotment had produced this year and celebrate the harvest and our hard work. There was also the opportunity to make magic wands, artwork with leaves and clay to help us in expressing what changes meant to us.  

Looking forward to another year of flourishing and growth in 2022!  

Here are more lovely words from our regular gardeners:  

“Since I first began coming to the allotment it’s been very therapeutic, relaxing, calm and very useful as I learned a new skill every time I showed up on Wednesday.  I find it breaks my week to keep me busy and I enjoy the fresh air and the tasks we are free to choose what we would like to do on the day. It is not down to the one individual, it is a group effort and we all get stuck into the tasks, as it is a team effort. If anyone else is interested in coming along you will find we are a very friendly group and there is no pressure to perform miracles just do your best on the day. I would just like to say a big thank you to Julia, all the group who are involved in the allotment and not forgetting all the staff at Harmony Hall and also everyone who attends Harmony Hall as I have found everybody to be very helpful and kind.”  - Andy 

“The allotment is quite interesting, we get to do lots of tasks like weeding, and I have done some signs and drawings for the garden, and I have enjoyed going to Kew Gardens with the group this Summer’. - Chidi 

“I have planted lots of flowers for my friend who passed away, and it was wonderful to be able to do that” - Diana 

Blog by Julia | GreenHouse Project Freelancer

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