Get Growers

We've taken a few people through the Get Growing process, here are some comments from them.

Cath was part of the Ready, Steady, Grow! project last year.  Hedvig went to go and see her at the beginning of spring to find out the plans for the growing season ahead.  Over the autumn they moved into a new house with a bigger and wilder garden.  This is what she said about the visit 'thanks so much for your advice today!  You made the garden much less overwhelming and more a feast of exciting possibility.'

Tabby is another one of the Ready, Steady, Growers.  This is what she said about her check in with Hedvig 'we have a new excited anticipation about our amazing future veg garden!'

Cecilia was one of first project.  She had a balcony that she wanted to use more and grow food in.  Here is what she had to say about her experience...

"Working with Get Growing throughout the season was a fantastic experience. From the moment Hedvig and Sara showed up, with a plan of how to transform my barren council estate balcony into a green oasis, I got hooked on growing. They made everything from investing in balcony boxes to learning how to plant from seed easy and hassle free. I particularly liked that they showed up to our appointments in my house bringing all the material that was needed for that day's session, like coir, lovely heritage seeds and planting pots.

They were also very keen on making sure that I was learning through doing myself, rather than just watching them, and throughout the growing season would come over regularly to offer advice and tips, and to get me started with new crops. For me it was very exciting seeing my outdoor space transformed into a much more pleasant space to use, and in fact, my daily plant inspections soon became a much enjoyed routine.

The design included beanplants working as a shield both from wind and nosy neighbours, and on top of that producing lovely edible pods, trailing nasturtiums which would go on to produce colourful flowers almost until Christmas, and a selection of herbs. I also ate lots of different types of salad leaves all through summer and winter, strawberries, chillis, peas and trailing tomatoes.

All in all, Get Growing transformed me from a total gardening ignorant to someone who now feels happy, confident and excited about the next growing season. Despite having a limited space to work with, Get Growing made me realise that even a relatively small balcony can work as a growing space for a surprisingly large range of edible plants."