Transition Towns have pioneered garden share schemes where people who have gardens but no time to grow food are matched up with those who lack space but are passionate about growing their own.To help get things moving locally, Simon Wallis who is Wirral’s Bike-It Officer for Sustrans has kindly offered his own patch. Simon lives on Ennisdale Drive West Kirby and has written the following note:
"I've offered my front garden and probably bits of the back garden for someone keen to grow and share veggies. I used to be a seed to table gardener when my daughters were little, but now as they're 7 and 9 years old, time seems to fly by too quickly. My wife Susie would like to grow veggies too, but lacks time, a little experience maybe and perhaps a little motivation too once she's finished work. Busy lives all round.
I want my children to see every inch of our garden as either a play ground, an example of alternative ideas and recyclables, a wild life friendly space but crucially a larder on the doorstep.
If you are a sharer, a grower, a mentor, someone able to drop in occasionally to assist, a deck chair and tea drinker who loves to look at a row of lettuce, runner beans & curly kale, or even maybe just a bit interested in being a community trail blazer by starting off this important new trend called Front Garden Allotments in our Transition Town - might I suggest you give Susie or me a call on either 0151 625 2774 (not later than 7.00pm - kids to bed time) or my works mobile on 07824398963. You can leave a message on either during the day.
I'm convinced that it's not what we say, it's what we do that our future generations will follow.
I add this fab poem, (sent to me by a good friend) for you to contemplate as you rest on your garden forks this autumn. Some of you will know it well and more of you will know the truth within its words."
WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING
unknown author(Children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say). When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one. When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw you fed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw you make my favourite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life. When you thought I wasn't looking
I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him. When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other. When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't. When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given. When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up. When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry. When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be When you thought I wasn't looking
I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up. When you thought I wasn't looking
I looked at you and wanted to say,' Thanks' for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'
When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw you nip in and tend a Front Garden Allotment.
Happy days
Simon
Simon Wallis
Sustrans - Bike It Officer (Liverpool & Wirral)
07824 39 89 63
simon.wallis@sustrans.org.uk
www.sustrans.org.uk/bikeit
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