The ‘Barnet Community Garden Centre’ Project has sought to widen community participation in conservation and permaculture by researching and developing environmental activities for students and volunteers in Barnet. Barnet Environment Support Team (BEST) will oversee the implementation and management of the project. A volunteer training and participation model has been established that can be delivered by students / volunteers and easily transferred to other community gardens and green spaces.
Groups of volunteers, primary/secondary school students, gardeners, job-seekers, university goers – graduates/ undergraduates and registered members of BEST will be invited to participate in the weekly practical training sessions conducted by BEST and a qualified tutor from The Permaculture Association (or other educational institution). It is envisaged that the ‘Barnet Community Garden Centre’ Volunteer Development Programme will become self-sustaining and be operated by trained volunteers over the long term.
To provide a platform where the whole community can positively engage with nature (not against), exchange knowledge/skills (to become self sustaining) and become self-empowered through practicing permaculture wherever they go.
We aim to create a working model of an urban permaculture community garden centre which demonstrates, promotes, educates, celebrates and advocates for environmental and economic sustainability in a healthy, diverse and supportive community.
BEST has a vision to permaculture the site using ethical methods. Revegetation along the fenced perimeter and establishment of vegetable gardens with raised beds are the initial plans. Progressively orchards, kitchen gardens, market gardens, a kids area, a kitchen, an office, a workshop, a retail nursery, a green waste recycling centre, a picnic area, chicken yards, art space, native fauna/flora used for culinary and/or medicinal purposes and bird / bee houses will be established on site (based on funding).
We will collaborate with The Permaculture Association, a registered charity, founded in 1983. They support members and the public with advice, support, information and training about the theory and practice of permaculture. Permaculture is a design system inspired by nature.
(www.permaculture.org.uk )
Permaculture combines three key aspects:
1. An ethical framework
2. Understanding of how nature works, and
3. A design approach
This unique combination is then used to support the creation of sustainable, agriculturally productive, non-polluting and healthy settlements. In many places this means adapting our existing settlements. In other cases it can mean starting from scratch. Both offer interesting challenges and opportunities.
The word ‘permaculture’ comes from ‘permanent agriculture‘ and ‘permanent culture‘ – it is about living lightly on the planet, and making sure that we can sustain human activities for many generations to come, in harmony with nature. Permanence is not about everything staying the same. Its about stability, about deepening soils and cleaner water, thriving communities in self-reliant regions, biodiverse agriculture and social justice, peace and abundance.
One thing is for sure. Its a fascinating subject, with many aspects, and its still evolving.
The proposed community garden centre will initially run through funding from well-wishers, donations and membership fees. We plan on being self-sufficient within a few years of operation through internal commercial activities such as the garden café, sale of seedlings, sale of our own produce (from what the residents and BEST grow), conservation holidays abroad, and other related project activities.
Objectives
1. To strengthen the skills of students / volunteers and their confidence in their ability to work effectively;
2. To develop the skills of experienced volunteers who are interested in taking on the roles of coordinating other volunteers and of running volunteer induction and training programmes;
3. To clarify the roles of volunteers and volunteer coordinators;
4. To strengthen community involvement in permaculture, particularly by people who wish to become involved in organic farming and gardening for cultural and social reasons;
5. To increase students / volunteer participation in community projects;
6. To develop stronger links with other permacultarists, conservationists, ecologists, community gardens and to assist them provide training for their volunteers.
Barnet Environment Support Team (BEST) has developed the following training programmes:-
Community Training Environment
The training programmes have been developed to take full advantage of Barnet Community Garden’s ‘living classroom’ of permaculture orchards, organic vegetable gardens, organic nursery, bushfood plantings, and green waste recycling centre, as well as its grass roots, community based structure and organisation.
Thus, for effective delivery, the Volunteer Training Modules in particular, require a garden environment similar to that of other established community gardens. The Volunteer Coordinator Training Programme and the Train the-Trainer Programme, however. are less site specific and can be delivered in non-garden environments.
Word of mouth, email and notices on the volunteers’ noticeboard are used to promote training programmes for volunteers and volunteer coordinators. Train-the-trainer programmes will be promoted also to other community gardens through the BEST Network and to other kindred organisations via email, face to face, YouTube, Facebook and through the website.