Volunteer

We need help with all sorts of gardening and construction tasks throughout the year. On Mondays, Maz leads volunteers in a whole range of gardening tasks. A lively group from the Papworth Trust comes along to help in the morning, while in the afternoon we have a group of Bangladeshi volunteers, who are introducing new crops to the site and coming up with amazing tips on how to use plants usually considered weeds, or parts of plants such as potato leaves, in delicious curries.

On Tuesdays, Maz gets everyone organised in the poly-tunnel, busy sowing seeds, pricking out and potting on. She has come up with a fabulous seed-filing system, so we know what needs to be sown each week. She works with volunteers from Lapwing in the morning, while Pat from the Phoenix lunch club group has become her right-hand woman, helping out with all the tasks. Maz is a plotholder and grower of long experience, and is forever coming up with excellent ideas on how to make the garden run more smoothly, as well as suggesting unusual varieties that we could grow – black tomatoes and purple carrots are on the list this season. Exotic plants are her new passion . . .

On Wednesdays, Steven leads volunteers in construction tasks to improve and maintain the site. So if you’d like to hone your DIY skills, learn how to put recycled materials to good use and build garden furniture and compost bins, this is a good day to attend. He has done amazing work expanding the cabin with a lean-to at the back and a covered verandah at the front, enabling us to take off muddy wellies outside and saving clearing up time at the end of the day! We also have a bed frame doubling up as a smart bike rack and trampoline frame providing a portico for our entrance gate. Steven’s right-hand man is Trevor, who comes to assist the project every day he can.

Thursdays the site is closed – this gives development officer Susannah time to catch up on fund-writing bids and other administration.

On Fridays, Otley college lecturer Ric Staines - a reknowned Suffolk horticulturist of long experience – directs the growing on the site and make sure everything is being done to the highest horticultural standards, as well as introducing us to ways of growing we never thought possible – for example, carrots in the poly-tunnel in winter . . . . He also leads gardening courses – enabling you to come out with a qualification at the end of it – and other courses and workshops, such as willow weaving and edible hanging baskets. Adrian, one of our first volunteers, is Man Friday, standing in for staff absences and keeping everyone amused with his wry sense of humour.

Another committed volunteer is Linda, who comes three days a week and gives her all to the project. Her only complaint is that staff rely on her too much to pass on messages about what needs to be done! Linda is an inspiration to us all and has never missed a day – even in the deepest darkest days of winter.

Please contact Development Officer Susannah Robirosa to find out more about the project or book a taster session for you or your group.

Situated on Maidenhall Allotments, with Ipswich docks and the Orwell Bridge in view, the People’s Community Garden is an inspiring outdoor resource with a whole range of activities on offer. There are growing plots where we grow vegetables in rotation both for volunteers to take home at the end of the day, and to supply local lunch clubs, community shops and food co-operatives. There is a herb circle full of interesting medicinal herbs, which we can make into relaxing herbal teas for post-digging refreshment. There is also a heritage orchard with local varieties of fruit. We hope to develop this area into a Forest Garden showcase with the help of permaculture students. The Wildlife Area has been sown with wildflower seed for what we hope will be a beautiful meadow come the summer. We have also developed wildlife habitats for the rare Common Lizard, in residence on site, and piled up logs to keep the Stag Beetles happy. There is a wonderful variety of birdlife that visits the garden and we have found deer tracks in the snow.

The People’s Community Garden will help you get fitter and feel better - as well as being a friendly environment to make new friends and learn new skills. There are a variety of tasks on offer to suit your ability and level of fitness. You can build up from easy weeding and hoeing tasks in the Sensory Garden, or potting on seedlings in the polytunnel, to digging on the growing plots, progressing to hardcore muck-shovelling and compost-turning. This will really raise your heartbeat each week and tone every muscle. A light warm-up session is good idea to prepare yourself, and our professional staff will take you through your paces, after a Health & Safety induction.

In the growing season, your efforts will be rewarded with fresh produce you can pick yourself, according to what you feel like cooking for dinner in the evening – a bunch of fresh basil to accompany a fresh tomato sauce, perhaps, or freshly dug potatoes to accompany a meat or fish dish.

You can stay just a few hours, or for the whole day, with friendly experienced staff on hand to help and advise you. There is a fully accessible composting toilet on site, disabled parking facilities and a cabin to meet up and have a cuppa.

The Community Garden is a truly rewarding project to get involved with, guaranteed to make you feel healthier and happier.