A Community Growing Scheme helps!
The media is full of advice on prolonging a healthy life (and helping the planet along the way). If you search “30 Plant Challenge” online you will find plenty of advice as to why eating a wide variety of organically grown fruit and vegetables is now viewed as one of the most important ways of increasing your chances of a longer and healthier life – along with exercise and social contact. Dry Arch Growers at the end of Holcombe Lane in Bathampton can help with all three things!
Founded in 2010, Dry Arch Growers is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation operating on the site of a former market garden, orchard, and nursery where members “sow together, grow together and share together”. The group grows a huge range of fruit and vegetables taking advantage of its polytunnels and greenhouses to grow things a lot of allotment holders can only dream of, including melons, water melons, sweet potatoes, okra, aubergines as well as many heritage varieties of the standard greenhouse crops grown for their flavour. Outside, the range is equally impressive with well over 120 varieties of vegetables, herbs, soft fruits, and tree fruits planted for harvesting throughout the year.
The social element of membership is not to be underestimated. With qualified nutritionists, experienced gardeners, and expert cooks amongst its members there is no shortage of help and advice for the less confident newcomers taking their first steps into community growing. A comfortable wooden cabin provides the opportunity for coffee breaks and lunchtime chats which are not always about vegetables! There is also a clay pizza oven for social events.
Work-days are Thursdays and Sundays. The Thursday sessions especially suit those who are not working a standard 9 to 5 Monday to Friday job. It’s certainly attractive for those who have greater flexibility of time through being partly or completely retired. The Sunday sessions additionally suit those who are not in that position which means membership works for people of all ages and lifestyles. Some people tend to attend only on one of those days and some attend both!
March is always a busy month but a key one for welcoming potential members to visit and decide if membership of the scheme is something they would enjoy.
If you are interested in what membership offers then take a look at www.dryarchgrowers.co.uk or email info@dryarchgrowers.co.uk to find out more and to arrange a visit.
Dry Arch Growers 