By Anna Sayburn
'I'm afraid I don't know anything about gardening.' Despite my opening words, my arrival at the Edible Garden as a new volunteer was met with an enthusiastic welcome. Volunteer Hayley had a clutch of newbies to show around the garden and soon had us weeding and watering more or less the right things.
I decided to get involved in Crystal Palace Transition Town when I changed my career from a full-time editor working in central London to a freelance journalist, working from home. I wanted to spend more time outside in the fresh air, meeting like-minded people and getting my hands dirty. I was keen on the idea of growing food, but I don't have a proper garden at home, and I wasn't sure I could handle a whole allotment myself. Learning from the experts seemed like a great idea.
The Edible Garden is tucked away in the corner of Westow Park, and surprisingly easy to miss. I wasn't the only new volunteer who walked the whole way around the park before spotting it up on the hill, on the left as you come in the gate near Sainsbury's. But once there, the peaceful space quickly began to feel like home.
I began by weeding a border, checking constantly as to which were weeds and which were carefully-nurtured plants. Even I can tell the difference between ivy, nettles, dandelions and raspberry canes, so I soon relaxed into the job.
There were half a dozen of us working on the garden. I had a great time chatting to the other volunteers. CPTT co-chair Joe popped by to say hello to the team, and encouraged me to harvest a lettuce from the healthy looking salad patch. Fun, new skills and a free lettuce straight from the earth - I went home happy and looking forward to my next visit to the Edible Garden.
The Edible Garden is tucked away in the corner of Westow Park, and surprisingly easy to miss. I wasn't the only new volunteer who walked the whole way around the park before spotting it up on the hill, on the left as you come in the gate near Sainsbury's. But once there, the peaceful space quickly began to feel like home.
I began by weeding a border, checking constantly as to which were weeds and which were carefully-nurtured plants. Even I can tell the difference between ivy, nettles, dandelions and raspberry canes, so I soon relaxed into the job.
There were half a dozen of us working on the garden. I had a great time chatting to the other volunteers. CPTT co-chair Joe popped by to say hello to the team, and encouraged me to harvest a lettuce from the healthy looking salad patch. Fun, new skills and a free lettuce straight from the earth - I went home happy and looking forward to my next visit to the Edible Garden.
This is not a weed...
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