Growing Together across the Spen Valley

May 27, 2012 Peter Rabbit General News Comments Off on Growing Together across the Spen Valley

May 27, 2012 Kirklees markets

The project has seedlings for beginners and more experienced growers and also offers something for those with pots as well as vegetable plots

The Growing Together project funded by Spen Valley Area Committee and delivered by Kirklees Markets last year inspired over one thousand growers and is already on track to work with even more growers in the current year.

The project is hosted on a market stall and gives out free advice and seedlings to enable visiting shoppers to try growing their own produce at home.

In Cleckheaton the stall takes place at the monthly Farmers Market in St John’s Car Park next to the Town Hall on the first Saturday of every month. Running for the third year in 2012, the project has already worked with 340 growers in the three months since March.

The project started for the first time in Heckmondwike last year and joins the weekly Tuesday market on the first Tuesday of every month. Since March the project has engaged with 160 growers in Heckmondwike.

The project has seedlings for beginners and more experienced growers and also offers something for those with pots as well as vegetable plots. All growers taking away seeds or seedling sign a pledge to grow their own. Seedlings on offer have included cauliflower, sprouts, red cabbage, summer cabbage, carrots, turnip, leeks, beetroot, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet and chilli peppers and lettuce.

Chris Cotton, Markets Manager said ‘the success of this project over the past few years is remarkable. By locating the activity within the markets the project has been able to reach out to all member of the local community and engage with them in growing their own food. Having the stall there each month to provide ongoing support ensures that growers remain on track and motivated to keep growing.