Building gardens as a community

Children absorb all the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and emotions around them more intensely.  And because of that, gardening is a great place to cultivate an appreciation for life for children.   The woody scents. The scent of leaves. The smell of flowers.  The smooth feel of broken earth in the hand.  The sound of running water.  The joy when the plants keep growing and flowering.  The childish carelessness of wiping her dirty hands on her clothes.  It also gives us more time and more enjoyable time with them.  It's different for every family depending on what we have to work with.   The size doesn't matter. Honestly, children don't care about such superficial things.  Even small changes can make a big difference in our children's lives.   Whether we plant a big garden full of flowers or put little pots of houseplants on our windowsill, seeing and smelling those plants will nurture everyone in the family.  When we garden with children they feel connected to the earth, nature, and living things.

They love to dig in the dirt, plant seeds, and seedlings and watch them grow.  We can grow microgreens in a jar, transplant old milk cartons into a planter, let them plant something, and measure the exceptional daily growth during this trying time. Any connection to the living, growing things is good for children's development.  So much of our world is changing, and not for the better. If a child grows up never walking in the woods, digging in the soil, growing their own food, seeing animals in their habitat, climbing a mountain, playing in a stream, or learning about our natural world they may never really understand what there is to be lost.  The future of our planet depends on our children; they need to learn to appreciate it.  If we grow a tree, we grow a tree.  If we inspire thousands of people, we will have thousands of trees.  But if each of us “grow” a child who knows to appreciate nature, we will grow millions and millions of trees.

Urban farming is certainly here to stay, and could well be instrumental in helping to solve the problems of feeding the local community or even borough.

There are a number of more subtle benefits as well.  Urban farming can create jobs in deprived areas and grant locals access to good quality, affordable and healthy food and homemade compost, fertilisers and pesticides which may previously have been difficult to obtain or have highly toxic elements.  In fact, there are very prominent financial incentives for all involved.  Urban farmers can afford to sell produce cheap, and buying local urban farmed food can therefore be a much better financial option for local residents.  With an increasing focus on eco-friendly living, urban farming offers a cheap, affordable option for everyone.  This can in turn help make sustainability more feasible, as part of a wider enviromnetally friendly lifestyle approaches that can still be achieved on a budget.

As a society, we don’t talk much about loneliness and isolation. But the truth is, both are on the rise, amongst the older generation. Adults, children and teenagers. Companionship and friendship can help turn loneliness into togetherness. Here’s why companionship matters.  Loneliness is a serious issue We believe no one should ever feel lonely. Sadly, right now, many people are suffering from feelings of loneliness and isolation. An Age UK report found that there are currently 1.2 million chronically lonely older people living in the UK. That figure is predicted to rise to 2 million by 2025.  The same report also found that half a million older adults don’t see or speak to another person for 5-6 days each week. Chronic loneliness brings real risks. As well as affecting an individual’s day-to-day experience, it can lead to an increased risk of mental health issues, heart disease, and dementia. If you’re worried your loved one is struggling with loneliness, the good news is there’s an antidote: togetherness.  Companionship creates a sense of belonging We all need connection and companionship. When we share meaningful time with someone we like and trust, whether it’s a relative, friend, or a ‘booked’ companion, we’re combatting feelings of social isolation and creating a sense of belonging and wellbeing. Through togetherness, we can all enjoy happy moments, create new memories, and develop a more positive outlook on life.  Companionship can be informal, such as visiting an older neighbour to simply check in. It can also be organised, through a befriending service like Urban trailblazer cic who do gardening whilst providing friendship. Urban Trailblazer cic aims to help. We encourage sustainability by helping our beeficaries to grow food  whilst we provide friendship. Loneliness may be commonplace, but we all have the power for friendship. 

Urban Trailblazer cic rising the era of 

Perhaps the popularity of the urban farming movement is the chance for city dwellers  access to super fresh and healthy ingredients, that is accessible. Hence Community gardening and growing initiatives are a great and easy way to become actively involved in changing the way we grow our food and treat the environment. Including the involvement of  volunteer programs, making it easier for those with a disability, the older persons, ex offenders or lone parents to attend. Their are chances to educate local communities, children  and local students how they can cultivate and grow their own food in the city environment, which is a great step for the future.

Urban farming is certainly here to stay, and could well be instrumental in helping to solve the problems of feeding the local community or even borough.

There are a number of more subtle benefits as well.  Urban farming can create jobs in deprived areas and grant locals access to good quality, affordable and healthy food and homemade compost, fertilisers and pesticides which may previously have been difficult to obtain or have highly toxic elements.  In fact, there are very prominent financial incentives for all involved.  Urban farmers can afford to sell produce cheap, and buying local urban farmed food can therefore be a much better financial option for local residents.  With an increasing focus on eco-friendly living, urban farming offers a cheap, affordable option for everyone.  This can in turn help make sustainability more feasible, as part of a wider enviromnetally friendly lifestyle approaches that can still be achieved on a budget.