Grand union growing project

https://grand-union.org.uk/gallery/the-natural-home-of-unruly-outsiders/

https://grand-union.org.uk/gallery/the-growing-project/

https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-help/birmingham/bulletins/the-growing-project-birmingham/

abstract:

Grand Union, a gallery and artists’ studios complex in Digbeth, Birmingham has collaborated with Crisis Skylight Birmingham to create a space at a local hostel. Grand Union’s aim to ‘Green-Sense’ the city by undertaking ‘food growing’, improving sites across Birmingham, sites that will be developed, tended and nurtured by homeless people.

The Growing Project started in Kevin’s first week working at Crisis. He says “I found it quite ironic really that the first time I am working with members, it is in the same hostel that I was actually placed in when I was first homeless! On the first day, we had about ten Crisis members come along and an additional five people who were hostel residents”.

Grand Union has received Big Lottery Community Funding for The Growing Project and they purchased 16 tonnes of soil. Kevin and the members moved that soil into new potting beds that they had been given. In the green house, they planted everything from seed including cucumbers, broccoli, sweet pea, cabbage, potatoes. They have spices growing and a small herb garden. SIFA Fireside Day Centre gifted the project with wooden planks which Kevin and the members created into raised flower beds.