Local Growers Supporting the Cambridge Community this Summer
August is a time of year where vegetable patches are full to the brim with a multitude of fruit and vegetables waiting to be harvested. In Cambridge many local growers have generously dedicated a row or two of these seasonal delights to support the local Cambridge community, as part of our Grow a Row scheme.
A project that grew at the start of Covid-19 pandemic last year, Grow a Row was set up to enable growers new and old to help the city’s food justice programme. By growing a row extra, alongside donating surplus produce, their generous contributions of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs provide healthy options across Cambridge’s nine Community Food Hubs. What started small has blossomed into an inspiring community movement involving community farms, allotments, individuals and their veg patches, streets growing from their window sills, and even schools and their students getting involved!
Last year we were amazed at the scale of contributions including 40 crates of apples, 20 kilos of plums, pumpkins, tomatoes, courgettes, beans, and many more exciting varieties of vegetables and fruit equating to nearly 2 tonnes of fresh and healthy produce for the city’s hubs. This year the donations have started to roll in again, and we are always so excited to see the donations.
Summer 2020 CoVeg donations
Summer 2020 Old Chesterton Allotment donations
Summer 2020 plum donations
This year’s Grow a Row donations have been arriving at the hubs since early Spring, with some growers even sharing their spare plants and seedlings to help spread the joy of growing.
In recent weeks Fen End Farm have generously donated an gorgeous array of summer veg, including an impressive summer squash, and we have received some spectacular homegrown veg from an allotment holder at Victoria Homes Allotments. Truly impressive the size of these cucumbers and courgettes, and apparently there is more to come.
Victoria Homes allotment donation
Victoria Homes Allotment donations
Baby strawberry plants donations
Fen End Farm donations
One local allotment that is contributing to Grow a Row is Our Community Allotment, an inspiring project based on six full sized allotment plots in central Cambridge promoting the benefits of community growing. One of their community members, Kim, has kindly shared her thoughts and insights into community growing and her involvement in Grow a Row.
Kim answers why she got involved involved in community growing
Kim shares her motivations behind getting involved in Grow a Row
Kim shares what she enjoys most about growing her own vegetables
Kim shares her favourite vegetables to grow and a helpful beginner tip
It’s not just allotments and community farms getting involved - schools and their students are also getting stuck in. Newnham Croft Primary School dropped off some amazing fruit and veggie donations, grown by pupils who have been exercising their green fingers and learning how to grow, all to help support the local community!
Grow a Row has been an inspiring community effort over the last year and it is wonderful to see so many members of the Cambridge community getting involved and supporting the city-wide food justice work. We are hugely grateful to everyone involved and look forward to seeing all the Grow a Row vegetables, fruit, herbs and plants arrive at the Community Food Hubs over the upcoming months.
If you find yourself with surplus fruit, veg or herbs this summer and would like to get involved in Grow a Row, please get in touch. We welcome growers old and new, young and old, so even if you are sowing your first seeds on your windowsill we would love to hear from you.
Discover how you can support the local community here.
If you are already involved in Grow a Row we would love to keep in touch along your growing journey, so please share your pictures with us! Simply tag us in your posts and use the hashtag #GrowaRow.
