Why Volunteer?

Gardening and particularly gardening as a group has a lot of health benefits, both physically and can benefit wellbeing too.

Can be achieved through:

The exercise that gardening brings. There are so many different physical aspects to gardening, gardening as a group really allows for a huge range of activities to be carried out to provide moderate exercise to all ages and abilities.
Fresh healthy fruit and vegetables. There’s nothing quite like experiencing growing your own food and engaging with the wonders of the natural world. If you know exactly what has gone into growing your own food you know it’s free from artificial fertilisers, insecticides and you really can’t get fresher than straight from the plant.

Gardening is quite unique in how from a little initial effort, plants reward over and over, a little care, sowing, propagating and watering can result in a verdant, beautiful green haven in a matter of months.
Gardening in a group is a brilliant way of sharing skills, supporting eachother, meeting like minded individuals and making great new supportive friends.
Being present, feeling the warmth of the soil as you plant, taking time away from everyday life to sit and take in the wonders of nature all around us, a bee stopping to drink nectar from a flower or watching how ants, worms and fungi all help to support the plants we grow.
Building a connection with the seasons and our place in nature. Much of gardening is focussed around planning and building over the colder months and really reaping the rewards in the spring as those plans literally come into fruition.

Gardening in a group is a terrific way to connect with other people, sharing ideas, enthusiasm, joys and successes. Everyone can contribute in their own unique way and the group benefits from everyone’s contributions. Tasks that could feel daunting can be tackled as a group, giving a real sense of reward. We can do so much more together!

Gardening together and learn by doing, not being put off by making mistakes. Encouraging ingenuity and problem solving, overcoming challenges and working together are all hugely important life-skills.
A community garden is a little like a tiny society with each person filling a particular role, no matter how much time you can contribute, all of those tasks and help means that the overall picture can really flourish. Skills such as ICT, cake making, tea making, jam making, fundraising all help to really help the garden become sustainable and successful. There really is something for everyone in a community garden.
Formal volunteer training for eg Health and Safety, First Aid, Food Hygiene, or CPD gardening courses which all help to improve chances of finding employment and help build confidence.

Being a part of a community garden can help reduce stress levels, simply by being outside and surrounded by plants and nature.
Seasonal affective disorder can be improved by having a focus through the colder and darker days of autumn and winter. Spring is literally around the corner with the promise of longer days and welcome warmer weather.
Simply by being outdoors, connecting with nature, the change in seasons, quiet contemplation of bees and butterflies emerging in spring, birds breeding and migratory seasons can aid relaxation.

Published by meadoworchard