Preparations are underway for the first public meeting about The Garden, Brixton. Am prepping the page for questions that local people might have. So let's start with the basics. What's the big idea? Here's a brief summary...
What is The Garden?
The Garden is currently a row of disused garages in a built up area in the heart of Brixton. This derelict site offers a unique potential for community development in a densely populated, urban area .
What is now a wasteland will be turned into a community building and Garden so as to allow the community to:
- Develop a demonstration edible garden that shows how food can grow in small urban spaces
- Develop a community kitchen and cafe to promote healthy eating and demonstrate the benefits of using fresh, own grown produce
- Provide an oasis for individuals to reflect, grow and learn new skills
- Engage in community activities including animation, film, sculpture, creative writing, live music, arts and crafts
- Provide an affordable space that nurtures small creative businesses and social enterprises
- Learn practical skills such as gardening, cooking and carpentry Experience a green building first hand that demonstrates practical ideas that can be applied simply in the home and office environment
- Come together as active citizens in a new space that allows for community development
The mix of space, with community cafe and letting space will ensure that revenue is brought back into the area, and that the project is sustainable in the financial sense also and built with the current tough economic climate in mind.
As a true community project, the seeds of the Garden will be chosen by local residents and the outreach projects (school engagement, work with people with disabilities etc) will be guided by the views of local practitioners and other voluntary sector organisations to ensure that the needs of the community are well understood.
