In 2022, an unused courtyard space in the middle of the East Kilbride Universal Connections Centre lay empty and overgrown. Michele, a youth, community and family learning worker at the centre, aware of the multiple benefits a growing space could bring to the centre’s work, initiated the Nowhere to Grow Garden. Many local residents living in flats lack access to garden space and the opportunity to grow and connect through food. A team effort supported by experienced garden volunteers has seen the unused courtyard become a productive growing space for everybody to see, grow and sample some of the tasty produce grown at the centre. The courtyard garden comprises 12 raised beds, a dry-stone herb garden, two small greenhouses and trained fruit trees against the sheltered walls.
The garden supports various groups accessing the centre: the Eco eaters (economical eating group), family group, youth groups, visiting school groups and school refusers. In turn groups volunteer their time supporting the garden’s development and success. In early spring, the family group members took home tomato seeds to germinate and grow on before returning plants to the greenhouse; bulbs have been planted, raised beds and bird boxes built, and lots of fresh food has been grown! In term time, volunteers from the local school help with essential tasks; in return, kids learn where food comes from, get their hands dirty, connect with nature, and enjoy some fresh, local produce.
The small garden space has successfully produced a range of crops: tomatoes, parsnips, kale, soft fruit courgettes, cucumbers and some tatties. The eco-eaters group often cook garden produce, making soup, pasta sauce or adding tomatoes to omelettes. Any surplus veg is made available for anyone to take home, supporting folk on a tight budget to access some welcome fresh veg. Gluts of green tomatoes and chillies have been used to make chutney, and surplus courgettes turned into cake. Two knowledgeable garden volunteers host a regular drop-in session, and Michele works to ensure and encourage everyone who wants to participate. Those less interested in growing have been encouraged to help in other ways, such as helping to build, line and paint the raised beds and constructing some bird boxes.
Learning about our relationship with nature is central to the projects work. For example, kale left to go to seed to attract spring pollinators starts a conversation about flowers, seeds and pollination. Wildlife visitors are welcomed, photographed and identified; last red-tailed bumbles took over a birdbox, and this year, a family of blue tits took up residence. We promote how the garden works as a whole and the natural cycles, encouragingly we have discovered many butterfly chrysalis this year.
The courtyard garden has proven so successful that the Centre now has permission from the South Lanarkshire Council to repurpose the grass area outside the building. Work is underway with the family group planting up bulbs and perennial flowers, a family growing space and orchard area. This move out with the Centre building visibly takes the benefits of growing out into the community, and Michele anticipates that with a higher profile, more local families will get involved.
Michele’s top tips:
Strawberries and peas have been great for engagement with young people.
Let the volunteers lead and I figure out how to make it happen!
Follow the garden progress here
