The Steppin' Stone Centre Members Web Site

The Steppin' Stone Centre - The Allotment Project

Chelsea Flower Show 2010

May 2009
Chelsea Flower Show

We spent 3 Fridays working at the Chelsea Flower Show. You can see some photos below. We were told how hard we worked and how much we were appreciated. Our efforts were definitely noticed! We did have some time to look around the flower show, but most of the time we were working very hard. I really enjoyed looking for famous faces, I was like the paparazzi! We all felt honoured to take part.

Angela

The first day, taking the plants outside	Arranging the plants	Digging a hole for some bushes
Taking a break to pose for the camera!	Stevo handing out some leaflets About the Key Garden,	Taking a break from handing out leaflets
Digging the vegetable garden		Tea break!

Here are some autographs that I got while I was at Chelsea:

Joel Hammer from Radio Oxford

Paul Stone Designer of the Key Garden

Autumn 2008

Christine has been working on the allotment for several months. She took the time to interview the members, staff and volunteers who work on the allotment, to find out what it is that keeps them coming, come rain or shine!

The questions asked were:

What do you get out of coming here?
How long have you been coming here?
Your most memorable moment since you started
Is it hard to work here and why?

Russ is a Steppin' Stone member who has been working on the allotment for many years:

" I enjoy it, it keeps one fit and healthy. Also, the place is nice, quiet and beautiful. My most memorable moments have been when prizes are won every year, but also when actually eating the vegetables I have helped to grow and growing new stuff ('Spaguetti Pumpkin'!). It is fabulous to eat your own produce. the work is hard sometimes, but not all the time!

Steve has been working on the allotment regularlyfor 6 years.

"Coming to the allotment is good for self-preservation, it is therapeutic and good for anxiety. Helps one control oneself when uptight. Besides that, I always liked gardening. My most memorable moments have been doing a course and winning prizes at Elder Stubbs. It can be heavy work

Tony started working on the allotment about 7 years ago.

"I like it, I have always liked gardening since I was a kid. The work is not hard, on the contrary, I find it very easy"

David has been coming to the allotment for 4 monts.

"I have come to learn about the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, for exercise and fresh air. My most memorable moment is winning a prize at Elder Stubbs. I don't find the work too hard."

Angela has been coming ot the allotment for a month and a half.

"I get the like the food and fresh air and exercies. My memorable moments are seeing the little birds fly about. The work is sometimes hard, like digging"

Jimmy is a volunteer at the Steppin' Stone Centre. He has been working on the allotment for 3 weeks.

" I enjoy the fresh air. My most memorable moment has been tasting the herbs, I do not think it is hard, but I find it relaxing and therapeutic"

Click on the little photos below to see the big photos

Nigel, is the teacher and leader of the allotment project. He has been working the allotment for the past 9 years.

Q: What would you say is needed to work in the garden ?
A: Enthusiasm, willingness to learn. A love of fresh air, a desire to be outdoors.

Q: Why do you think gardening at the allotment is good for people ?
A: Knowing how food is grown is useful for people. Thereis also a therapeutic benefit to come in touch with the soil. It also helps self esteem.

Q: There is a possibility to get a qualification after a while: is it difficult to pass ?
A: No. The qualification received is called vegetable cultivation.

Q: Can this qualification make it easier to find a job ?
A: Not directly, no. Indirectly through self esteem and self worth.

Q: What are the medium term project in the allotment ?
A: To engage more members in the activity. Then extend the project, that is to domestic gardening and eventually paid work for the members.

Q: Do you need more people to come work at the allotment ?
A: People are always welcome.

The Elder Stubbs Carnival 2008

The following photos were taken at the Elder Stubbs festival, a very successful day for the Steppin' Stone Centre. The centre won 7 first prizes, 12 second prizes and a best in show for cabbages!