COMMUNITY
You may have noticed the planters filled with edible plants that appeared in Winchburgh this year; there are six along the Bellway pathway and two outside the Tally Ho. They are a lot more than “just” planters; they have a whole inspired story behind them and a bright future. The planters are the work of the Winchburgh Community Growing Group (WCGG), launched earlier this year by residents Vivian Maeda and John West. “We’ve been in Winchburgh for just a few years, are relative ‘newbies’ in the village but passionate about growing and the benefits it brings to the community,” says Vivian. “WCGG is about growing our own produce collectively in the village, connecting with each other, taking small actions that together build resilience in the community, and above all, enjoying good, local food.” Vivian was inspired by Incredible Edibles network, see incredibleediblenetwork.org.uk.
All images provided by WCGG
Launching the community growing group at the Tally Ho
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“I heard about the Incredible Edibles during my time volunteering for the Take One Action Film Festival a few years ago and was impressed by the power of the collective and how much good was produced in the communities just by growing food for everyone. People started talking to their neighbours, people shared more the community spirit. From that moment I thought: ‘This is something I would like to try in Scotland. What an amazing idea.’”
The planters filled with edibles (herbs, vegetables, fruit and flowers) are available for everyone. In Winchburgh you can go for a pint and grab some herbs and salads on the way back home, courtesy of the WCGG. “This is a great initiative for the community and I fully support it,” says John, the Tally Ho manager, who agreed to look after the two planters. Over the summer, when Vivian and John were building a planter at the Tally Ho, a gentleman in his 70s approached to find out more about the project and Vivian offered him a flower petal to taste. He had never eaten a flower before and to his surprise he thought it tasted ‘alright’. Never too late to try something new! Another resident told Vivian he picked a courgette and added it to his dinner; another said that his son goes to the planter everyday to pick another strawberry; residents next to the other four planters are taking turns watering the herbs and plants. @KonectMagazines
