28 September 2005

CSV Environment’s Concrete to Coriander project celebrated the formal launch of its new allotment on the 28 September 2005, at Knowle Road allotments in Sparkhill. 

Over 50 guests, including members of several community groups, gardening enthusiasts and officers from Birmingham City Council and voluntary agencies gathered at the allotment to see the new organic vegetable garden and hear about the joys of growing your own crops. 

Special guests included long-standing supporters of this initiative Peter Short (BCC Parks) and Councillor Jerry Evans.

Harvesting

There was an additional bonus for all of the guests: the allotment was full of vegetables ready to harvest. There were a variety of fresh vegetables, including potatoes, runner beans, tomatoes, onions and cabbages, and guests were invited to help themselves, to really experience the pleasures of keeping an allotment. 

Everyone attending harvested, dug, chatted and exchanged their food-growing stories.

Members of Mohila Shomiti Bangladeshi Women’s Gardening Co-operative made sure that people got to enjoy the flavours of the allotment then and there, as they prepared a delicious curry lunch using vegetables grown on their own gardens.

The new allotment was secured with the help of Defra’s Environment Action Fund (a Government scheme promoting more sustainable living) and Neighbourhood Renewal funding from Springfield Ward.

For more information on Concrete to Coriander and how you can get involved, please contact Irena Iwegbu on 0121 327 6054 or email irena@csvenvironment.org.uk