Some of our team have been volunteering recently and here is Suzie’s report:

I am just back having spent one of the most rewarding days, helping as a volunteer at Growing Well, with THW chums – Tracy, Jane, Jan and Verity.

We already know that Growing Well do a fantastic job supporting those with poor mental health, but to get involved at ground level was great. Fridays are when they need some extra help finishing off the week’s jobs after the crop share has gone out, so we joined some of the other regular volunteers.

Guided by the knowledgeable Simon we started harvesting and sorting the last of the mini peppers and aubergines, before clearing out the beds and preparing them for an afternoon of planting Red Russian and Siberian kale.

To say we got a tad obsessed with our baby kale plants is a slight understatement! We shall be checking in on them regularly to ensure they are OK – Kale Club may even become a thing!!

We were kept well fed and watered (just like the crops) with a delicious lentil and veg soup plus lots of tomatoes to keep snacking on – the smell in the tomato tunnel was amazing! I shall also be making a big pot of veggie stew with the surplus crops that volunteers are allowed to take home.

We all learnt so much not only about Growing Well but also more about growing vegetables in general. It was also a fantastic way to share a day with colleagues who I would not normally get to spend time with. Just being out and about all day in the fresh air, instead of sitting at a desk gave us all a well needed boost and left us tired but happy.

Other members of the team are visiting next week, and we are looking to have further session in the spring for those who could not come along this time.

Huge thanks to site manager Sinead and Simon for their time today. It really was appreciated. Fingers crossed the kale does not die!!