16th September 2020 – CALL FOR VOLUNTEER GARDENERS

We are looking for people who enjoy spending time outdoors in the garden to join us as a volunteer for our Locavore growing project! If you have a morning or afternoon free a week, we would love for you to join us. You will even be able to earn time banking credits through our sister project Folkeshare.

We have an exciting new project based at Brampton Lodge Care Home, Folkestone where we are helping staff and residents to develop their own growing systems and garden spaces.

We are also looking for people who would like to take part in our befriending scheme-giving some company to residents who may feel isolated. This can be done remotely, or a (socially distanced) cup of tea in the care home garden.

For more info see the attached volunteering opportunity description or contact charlene@customfoodlab.org

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY

Locavore Volunteer Gardener

Hours to be agreed; minimum of one morning or afternoon per week between Monday-Friday

Location:

Folkestone and Hythe

What do our volunteer gardeners contribute?

Working as part of a team, our volunteer gardeners contribute to the maintenance and development of local school and care home gardens which serve to inspire and educate children and older people.

We are enabling schools and care homes to access outdoor spaces, particularly important during the pandemic. Our project seeks to reduce isolation, and care home volunteers will have the opportunity to act as a buddy for an older person, to work in the garden together, take walks or keep in touch remotely.

This is an intergenerational project, enabling children and older people to have the opportunity to visit each others garden spaces, share seeds etc.

Volunteering within the Locavore Growing project ethos:

  • enable/support community food growing
  • explore and create landscapes which support future food security
  • champion food sovereignty/food security

What’s in it for you?

  • Becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team
  • Meeting people from all walks of life
  • Physical and mental health benefits of volunteering outdoors
  • Developing your own gardening knowledge and skills
  • Access to relevant training opportunities
  • A reference for future education or employment if required
  • Earn Folkeshare time bank credits that can be exchanged through the Folkeshare platform.

What’s involved?

Tasks can be variable depending on the season, needs of the garden and weather and can include:

  • Helping with the general up keep of the gardens including:
    • Food growing-planting and harvesting
    • Seed sowing, Propagation, nursery work, planting out
    • Selective weeding, deadheading and general care of beds and borders
    • Pruning and care of shrubs and trees
    • Grass cutting and edging
    • Composting
  • Maintaining good Health and Safety practices including use of PPE and social distancing where appropriate
  • Giving the gardening team any other assistance that may be needed
  • We practice No-Dig, Wildlife friendly, Permaculture growing methods. And our motto is ‘Don’t kill the weeds-eat them!’

This role will suit people who:

  • Ideally you will have some experience and knowledge of gardening but we will also accept applicants with a desire to learn
  • Have good communication and listening skills
  • Have a cheerful demeanour and enjoy working as part of a team
  • Are reasonably fit and willing to work out of doors in all weathers
  • Have a positive, organised and flexible approach to work
  • Are looking for experience with a view to pursuing a career in horticulture

Volunteers are asked to wear sensible footwear and bring weather appropriate clothing.

For further information and an application pack please contact our Community Engagement Coordinator, Charlene:

Email: charlene@customfoodlab.org

Application Closing Date:

Ongoing