Wednesday Trellis Coffee & Chat

Jenny writes: Great stories and lots of useful chat this morning at the first Trellis coffee session on Zoom.

Lovely to hear how some gardening projects are organising a rota to garden in ones and twos (keeping 2m apart, etc.) whilst others are devising indoor gardening activities for those who can’t get out and don’t have gardens. Hats off to the Dundee group who managed to plant their delivery of 40 fruit bushes during the first days of lockdown! Those in the group who could get out, took turns to use their exercise time to visit the garden, one at a time, and plant a few bushes – a week later- job done.

There were lots of suggestions as to how groups can keep in touch: through online platforms like Zoom and Teams as well as email, social media, hand delivery and even by Royal Mail – who doesn’t enjoy getting a letter, photos or a mini gardening newsletter posted through the door?
Groups are sharing seeds and materials – available to collect from their garden polytunnels and sheds. One group is considering offering to grow a variety of seedlings and sharing them with 10 others who could use them. A lovely way to share the joy of gardening and getting rid of those surplus seedlings!

Many groups are focussing on wellbeing through creating and circulating factsheets/videos/emails/Facebook posts on eating well and getting your five a day. As well as raiding the kitchen for soggy tomatoes and seedy fruit and veg to grow on the windowsill in recycled containers, see https://tayportgarden.org/2018/03/09/4-ways-to-upcycle-your-food-packaging-for-food-growing/

Competition, as a way of keeping keeping frustrated & would-be gardeners on board was also popular – with the suggestions of ‘Grow alongs’ ( look out for Trellis Blog seed sowing and ‘grow along’ ideas) and news from Garden For Life that Keep Scotland Beautiful are launching a One Planet Picnic Pop-up Garden competition, see https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/sustainable-development-education/eco-schools/eco-schools-at-home/ Great to do from home and more info available soon.

So if you’d like to join the chat next Wednesday15th April, there are 12 seats available at the coffee table. As well as more general chat, and a chance to put your questions to the group, we’ll be discussing ‘Are you Risk Assessing for group gardening during social distancing? Applying the guidelines? How is it working, or not, for you?’

Email me at jenny@trellisscotland.org.uk if you’d like to take part. If you can’t commit at the moment then please join us on the day- if there’s a spare seat you’re very welcome! Wishing you happy gardening, Jenny
Joining instructions at https://trellisscotland.org.uk/content/trellis-coffee-chat-sessions

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