Latest News & Developments

A CHECK IN WITH OUR CLIMATE KITCHEN GARDEN PROJECT

As part of National Gardening Week 2021 we share news from our current Climate Kitchen Garden project based in Falkirk

In May 2020 community groups and organisations across #Falkirk took part in #VegYourLedge a pilot project to get them growing their own produce from their own windowsill. 

Initially Veg Your Ledge was a collaboration between 3 of our project teams, Climate Kitchen Garden, Revive Wood Skills and the Investing In Communities Fund. 
 
#ForthEnvironmentLink produced and delivered 256 Veg Your Ledge kits which were given out to people working with 22 individual groups ranging from organisations like food banks to care homes. Each kit comprises of upcycled wood planters made by our Revive reuse team, a bag of compost, vegetable seeds and planting instructions. 
 
After a successful pilot our Climate Kitchen & Garden Project are continuing to deliver Veg Your Ledge, and are providing kits to community groups based in Falkirk, along with a more personal guide to take them through all the steps needed to keep growing.  

Vicki Ferguson – our Climate Kitchen Project Officer will provide support to participating groups on what to cook with the produce grown. 

Vicki also delivers a variety of free online workshops, check in with our social media pages to find the next events coming up. 
 
Veg Your Ledge kits and cooking sessions are designed to encourage people to realise the benefits of growing their own fresh food, reducing their carbon footprint, and experiencing the health and therapeutic gains associated with food growing.  

The Climate Kitchen Garden team have been busy planting, getting ready for the seasons ahead. We currently have two plots for growing.  

Our original garden is located at our Falkirk Hub, and was lovingly prepared by a fantastic team of volunteers over the last few years. Whilst we weren’t in a position to host in person workshops there last year, we were still able to grow produce donated to our local food pantry thanks to the well organised raised beds and Richard who took on the role of Climate Garden Project Officer earlier this year. 

We now have an extended plot at Kinneil Walled Garden, over with the Sustainable Thinking Scotland team. With their help we’ve been able to raise a variety of seedlings in the polytunnels, which have now all been planted in both the Falkirk and Bo’ness sites. These include squash, courgette, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, onions, garlic, cayenne peppers, leek and broccoli.  

All of this lovely local produce once ready will be utilised in our free cooking workshops with Vicki, as well as supplementing our local food pantry. 

Head over to our social media pages to follow our projects progress!  

@ForthEnviroLink on Instagram/Twitter and @ForthEnvironmentLink on Facebook