Words by Smiley Team
Lots of people discovered a passion for gardening during the initial Covid lockdowns – but sometimes, city life can get in the way of getting green-fingered.
That aside, one community-led charity in Scotland is encouraging people of all ages and abilities to grow their own produce in Glasgow.
In 2015, Grow 73 adopted Rutherglen train station, and it has since installed planters on the platform with strawberries and herbs. The charity has increased the variety of planting to support local biodiversity and provide a spot of colour, and it has also developed a school edible garden with one of the local schools.
The Rutherglen train station garden helps pollinating insects to thrive, by creating new greenspaces and providing new opportunities for social gardening activities to the community. It’s hoped that anyone will be able to access the garden to grow their own food, and can experience the physical and mental health benefits of gardening.
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“We have found that there is no better way to learn about and appreciate the concept of sustainable locally grown food than by digging in the dirt and growing it yourself," says the charity.
The organisation is part of a consortium of 14 local organisations called Greening Camglen, which aims to share knowledge, tools and support each other’s environmental projects, as well as campaigning for a pesticide free council.
Now, Grow 73 offers lunchtime gardening clubs for schools, and is also working on a larger community garden in Overtourn Park.
It’s been delivering a weekly lunchtime gardening club for Burnside Primary School since 2015, where children have participated in fun activities including bulb planting, bird seed fat ball making, upcycling old wellies to be used as planters, making a bug hotel, preparing the ground and growing herbs, fruits and vegetables from seed.
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Grow 73 supported Burnside Primary School in its application for a grant to cover the cost of the purchase and installation of a polytunnel and raised beds, pizza oven, gardening tools and seeds to enable the children to grow all the ingredients required to make a pizza
It aims to advance education in relation to gardening, local food growing, healthy eating, composting and all matters relating to the environment, biodiversity and in general living more sustainably.
By improving access to the outdoors, the charity is aiming to promote an active lifestyle through participation in gardening, and other outdoor leisure activities, alongside promoting the benefits of growing and consuming healthy food in order to maintain good health.
To help support Grow 73 continue their mission, visit the charity's website and donate towards their local projects.
