Sow the City are putting the finishing touches to the transformation of a piece of derelict land in Hulme.
Where once there was a thirty year old eyesore, there are now potatoes, strawberries, French beans, sweetcorn, red cabbage, spring onions, chard and herbs. They are also building a compost heap, a seating and social area, and a shelter before the final handover to the local volunteers who will take it on and maintain it for good.
At every stage of the project, members of the local community have been involved: making the decision to award money at a “Community Soup” event run by One Manchester Housing Association; designing and planting; learning how to run a local group that will continue to look after it.
There are so many benefits to the project; enhancing the beauty of the local area, creating a place for wildlife, free or cheap food for the community, inspiration for others, increasing the mental and physical health of participants, and vitally bringing local people together to make a lasting difference.
Find out more about community food growing at http://www.bigdig.org.uk/manchester/
www.sowthecity.org
Time lapse video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P70icmnYUyA
Co-op film featuring Sow the City - https://youtu.be/K4mmbt4if1g?t=11