Art Gene want to build a shared community growing space on the Island of Walney in Barrow in Furness, UK, based on permaculture principles, ensuring a holistic approach to sustainable, ecologically sound horticulture, art and design.
They have undertaken many community consultation events which have demonstrated the need for a new, inter-generational self-managed community growing space in the town: and they have been given a 1.5 acre site by Barrow Borough Council for a pepper corn rent to base the project upon. They have also identified over 50 Barrow residents, some with multiple health and social needs, who are interested in leading and participating in the project.
They now want to deliver a community engagement strategy through which we will grow the community’s knowledge of, and skills in, permaculture by:
* Delivering a two day training programme for up to 20 adult volunteers;
* Host three public ‘growth’ weekend events in April, June and September led by volunteers.
* Organising two day long visits to other exemplar wild flower sites in the North West between April and June for the volunteers;
* Organising a one day celebration event in October which celebrates what they have achieved.
The project will result in:
Providing permaculture skills and knowledge for local people;
Animating a local barren green site with horticulture and design;
Developing a cluster of community architectural spaces on the site.
And they’re getting it done by:
Employing local artists, designers and architects to provide the visual elements
Employing local horticulturalists to support the permacultural elements
How can you help?
You can help in a lot of ways:
Volunteering Team Building skills in how to build and sustain teams,
Volunteering marketing and promotion skills in promotion and communications,
Volunteering to assist with the site development by providing advice on how to sustain a wild flower sanctuary.
Making a pledge to our crowdfunding site which is collecting donations from people from all over the world. Just click here to see how easily you can help
if you’d like any more information, just drop me a line – and thanks for helping us re-grow Barrow in Furness.
drnickombe 