Training & Project Support in your own space ! Through Common Sense Growers, we now offer training and support to community groups and organisations wanting to start or develop their own food growing projects.

Why Common Sense Growers?

Common Sense Growers began in 2007 to meet the demand from local community groups and organisations looking for support in developing their own growing spaces.

We are motivated by the social, economic, health, environmental and community benefits achieved when people grow food in the spaces around them. We are committed to bringing those benefits to as many people as possible, including marginalised and vulnerable groups. Through Common Sense Growers, we want to encourage the development of many new food growing spaces and to bring more communities together around the growing and enjoyment of food in a common space.

How we can help

We do not just come and ‘build a garden’, we aim to provide individuals, groups and organisations with the basic skills to run sustainable food growing projects. Our focus is on getting people and groups involved in the developing and maintaining of their own productive green spaces.

What we can do:

• Support your organisation with project development
• Offer fundraising advice
• Design and establish community food gardens, in consultation with user groups
• Facilitate practical sessions in the garden
• Deliver structured training in practical food growing skills
• Run awareness-raising and demonstration stalls
• Lead community green space ‘makeover’ days

Who do we support ?

We are currently supporting projects in a variety of settings:

Schools and Children Centres – Current project partners include Low Hall Nursery, E17 & Wentworth Nursery and Children Centre, E9.

Day Centres & Community centres – Current project partners include the Ferguson centre and the Qalb day centre in Waltham Forest.

Sheltered Accommodation providers – Current project partners include the Ashiana Network.

Housing Associations – Please request our Housing Association project template for a full description of the many projects we can support.  Past & current project partners include Groundwork London, Circle 33, Nlmha and East Potential.

Volunteering opportunities

We have occasional opportunities for volunteers to work with us, focusing on a specific practical skill. This could be the creation of a pond on school grounds, the building of raised beds behind a community centre or the planting of a native hedge on a housing estate.

Send us an email if you would like to be added to our occasional volunteer list and you’ll get the occasional email informing you when such opportunities arise.

Contact us at csg@organiclea.org.uk or call Anaelle at the Hornbeam Centre 020 8558 6880