FRESH Market Gardens
The FRESH Market Gardens and Training Centre is a group of 13 allotment gardens adjoining the Ecoworks Community Gardens on the Stonepit Coppice area of the heritage listed 75 acre Hungerhill Gardens site in St Ann’s.
When we moved over to these gardens in 2004 they were derelict and covered in head high bramble as were the surrounding gardens. Since July 2007 we now have an infrastructure which includes a classroom, a 20 metres-length cedar greenhouse, and a 14-metre polytunnel.
Our chemical-free fruit and vegetables are sold to the local community as cheaply as possible through stalls at events and by a weekly box scheme.
But foremost, we provide educational opportunities in environmental and healthy living. This includes ‘on the job’ training in all aspects of gardening, growing vegetables, garden construction and landscaping. We hold Community Workshops monthly, including things like urban gardening, composting, cooking with seasonal vegetables, willow weaving, mosaics and wood carving- with many open to all the family.
We have been running one day taster sessions in healthy cooking and growing your own through April - September 2008. These sessions can lead on to short courses in healthy cooking and growing vegetables in our gardens- and you can get your own space on our project allotment. The courses are open to anyone but priority is given to those over 40, with transport to the sessions, childcare, refreshments and meals all being provided.