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Involving people in collective food growing at a local level through volunteerings
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Inspiring good practice in shared food growing.
What is it?
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A dedicated shared food growing space at Struan Lodge care facility for volunteers involved in Grow Food, Grow Dunoon.
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A supportive environment for organisations including ASIST, Dunoon Grammar School Learning Centre and University of the Highlands and Islands to learn about food growing.
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Regular events at the Struan Lodge garden that share food growing information and produce.
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Coordinated volunteer opportunities through the Volunteering for Wellbeing programme.
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A growing team of people, including Struan Lodge staff, with knowledge and practical skills about food growing in the Dunoon climate.
When Martin Gerrish relocated to Dunoon, he wanted to find a new way of sharing his extensive knowledge of food growing and permaculture to effect positive change.
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Nurtured by Dunoon Community Development Trust, funding, land and volunteer support were accessed by the Trust to enable the development of the food growing site at Struan Lodge. Struan Lodge is a Residential & Day Support Service for people living with dementia.
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The food growing site occupies land at Struan Lodge that was underutilised prior to the project starting. The project has developed the land for food growing, bringing investment, people, biodiversity and produce to the site creating positive benefits for the residents, staff and volunteers.
What local challenge is this project addressing?
Dunoon is classified as rural and remote. As a community we are reliant on food being brought into this area and over time most of us have lost the skills to grow food, fruit and vegetables locally and in a changing climate. This dependency reduces our food resilience as a community. In addition, we know from our research that organisations are finding it challenging to transition to a more sustainable, NetZero economy.
Grow Food Grow Dunoon helps people to learn food growing skills and share what they grow. Surplus food is shared with Struan Lodge and the community. By taking a collective approach to food growing, we are increasing food resilience and building a stronger, more inclusive community of food growers.
Located on land owned by Argyll and Bute Council, Grow Food Grow Dunoon provides a tangible example of how green spaces could be adapted and used to support sustainable community development.
To learn more about volunteering at Grow Food Grow Dunoon contact DCDT Volunteering for Wellbeing Coordinator Barbara Henderson.
Project partners and funders >
