GARDEN SHARE FOR WOULD-BE GROWERS
Transition Stratford has set up a project that introduces garden owners with unused or unmanageable plots to people who would love to grow their own food, but don’t have access to a garden or allotment.
There are contact details below if you are interested in pursuing this idea further.
I’m a would-be grower – what would I have to pay?
Instead of a financial payment, you’ll be asked to give an agreed amount of your produce to the owner in return for the use of the plot. In some cases, you and the owner might decide that you should keep more of your produce for yourself, but provide a bit of help with general garden maintenance instead – it’s up to the two of you.
I’d really love to grow some food, but I don’t think I could manage a big plot!
Don’t worry – plots come in all shapes and sizes and we will do our best to match you up with someone who is offering a suitable amount of land.
I’m a complete novice at vegetable gardening – what shall I do if I need advice?
Some owners are offering part of a garden that they are still actively using themselves. Wherever possible, we will match novice growers with experienced owners who are willing to provide advice and encouragement when needed (and might even lend tools if asked nicely!).
Where this is not possible, the Garden Share team will be able to put you in touch with a more experienced gardener who can help if you get really stuck.
How do I find someone who’s willing to share their garden?
Contact Transition Stratford on 01789 298503 and let us know that you’re a would-be grower. A member of the Garden Share team will arrange to meet you to talk about your gardening needs and to find out a bit more about you.
If you decide at that stage that sharing a garden is not for you, that’s fine – the whole process will stop.
If you’re happy to go on, we’ll try to match you up with someone who is offering a plot that meets your needs. Once we think we’ve found a suitable plot, a Garden Share team member will take you to see the plot and meet the owner.
If you’re both happy, we’ll prepare a simple written agreement setting out how the sharing arrangement will work and ask you both to sign it. The agreement will give the date on which the sharing arrangement will start, but if you change your mind you’ll still have seven days to cancel.
What sort of information will I be asked to give about myself?
The Garden Share team member will ask you about your previous gardening experience, what size of plot you’re looking for, how much time you expect to have available for gardening and so on.
In addition, we will be asking all would-be growers whether they have been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). Don’t worry if you don’t have a current CRB check – it is not a requirement of the Garden Share scheme – but if you do have one it may make it easier to find you a suitable plot.
Will I have to take out insurance?
Transition Stratford has Combined Liability insurance which would cover injury or damage arising from a garden sharing arrangement. If you are not already a Registered Supporter, we will ask you to sign up to ensure that you are covered by our insurance.
What if something goes wrong after the sharing arrangement has started?
We hope that if any day-to-day problems arise, you and the garden owner will talk it over and resolve it amicably. If this isn’t possible, either of you can ask a member of the Garden Share team to propose a solution.
What if the sharing arrangement doesn’t work out – can I be evicted from the garden?
The garden owner can terminate the sharing arrangement at any time by giving you a month’s notice. You will then have to leave the garden clean and tidy and to take away any water butts, compost bins or other items you have installed.
If the garden owner gives you notice in the middle of the growing season, though, he or she will have to pay you a fair price for any unharvested produce you have to leave behind.
GARDEN SHARE FOR GARDEN OWNERS
How does Garden Share work?
Garden Share works by introducing garden owners with unused or unmanageable plots to people who would love to grow their own food, but don’t have access to a garden or allotment.
I’m a garden owner – what’s in it for me?
As well as the satisfaction of being a good neighbour and seeing your garden used productively, you’ll get a share of the fresh, healthy produce grown in your garden.
I’d like to help, but I don’t have a very big garden. How much space is needed?
Surprisingly little – an area six paces by six paces would enable someone grow an amazing amount of food, so you don’t even have to share your whole garden – just a spare plot could be of real benefit to someone else.
My garden is getting a bit big for me, but I still enjoy gardening. Would I have to stop if someone shared my garden?
Absolutely not! Your experience could really help to support and encourage a novice gardener – and even more so if you were willing to lend tools and equipment.
How do I find someone to share my garden?
If you tell us that you have some ground to spare, a member of the Garden Share team will come and have a look at your garden and a chat about how you feel about sharing it. If you decide then that sharing your garden is not for you, that’s fine – the whole process will stop.
If you’re happy to go on, we’ll try to match you up with someone who is looking for somewhere to garden. Once we think we’ve found a suitable sharer, a Garden Share team member will bring them to meet you. If you’re both happy, we’ll prepare a simple written agreement setting out how the sharing arrangement will work and ask you both to sign it. The agreement will give the date on which the sharing arrangement will start, but if you change your mind you’ll still have seven days to cancel.
My grandchildren often play in my garden – how would I know they’d be safe?
We will ask all would-be growers whether they have been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). When we come to see you, we will ask you who else uses your garden, and whether it’s important to you that anyone who shares your garden has been checked by the CRB. Where there are concerns about children or vulnerable adults, we’ll make sure that only people with current CRB checks are proposed as sharers.
What about insurance?
Transition Stratford has Combined Liability insurance which would cover injury or damage arising from a garden sharing arrangement. We will be asking all would-be growers who are not already Registered Supporters of Transition Stratford to sign up with us to ensure that they are covered by our insurance.
What if something goes wrong after the sharing arrangement has started?
We hope that if any day-to-day problems arise, you and your sharer will talk it over and resolve it amicably. If this isn’t possible, either of you can ask a member of the Garden Share team to propose a solution.
What if my circumstances change or the sharing arrangement doesn’t work out – how will I get my garden back?
You can terminate the sharing arrangement at any time by giving your sharer a month’s notice. Your sharer will then have to leave your garden clean and tidy and to take away any water butts, compost bins or other items that have been installed with your permission. If you give notice in the middle of the growing season, though, you will need to pay your sharer a fair price for any unharvested produce that he or she has to leave behind.
This all sounds very good – what do I do now?
Just contact Transition Stratford on 01789 298503 and we’ll arrange for a member of the Garden Share scheme to come and see you and your garden.
What is Transition Stratford anyway?
Transition Stratford is a local grassroots organisation whose purpose is to promote local action in response to climate change, economic uncertainty and peak oil – the approaching end of cheap oil and other fossil fuels.
Our aim is develop positive, practical ways in which we can work together, as individuals, as families and as a community, to achieve a more sustainable and fairer future for all – and to have fun at the same time!
If you’d like to join in – or have ideas for new projects – we’d love to hear from you.
For more information contact Transition Stratford,
c/o 108 Shipston Road, CV37 7LR,
Tel 01789 298503
