Crinkle Tidy Village Asscoation is a community organization comprised of volunteers. With this project we are helping to create a welcoming green space for and with the community, which will improve the quality of life for participants.
This will create a platform where members of our local community and children from Crinkle National school (which is a two minute walk from our community garden site) can learn about the positive implications of growing our own food locally. We will be using all organic growing methods, with due attention paid to the health of the soil.
Traditional intensive farming methods are degrading the soil - and in turn our health - with the use of pesticides, chemical sprays, and not correctly replacing lost nutrients. We will be implementing natural soil amendments including green manure, biochar and compost.
With this in mind, we have started a composting program in Crinkle NS and plan to start a pilot “Compost bucket” collection program (upon acquiring suitable sealable buckets) in a local housing estate of 25 houses. This will involve collecting any compostable kitchen waste weekly, and transporting it to the composting bays already constructed on site at the community garden. We will be exploring the science/biology behind composting, gaining an understanding of the micro/macro organisms which are responsible for converting the collected waste into valuable nutrients for the plants, and maintaining the health of the soil.
This project is the first step in moving towards a more self sufficient community. It will create more awareness of the link between what we eat, where it comes from, and how it impacts our health. By participating in this process, Crinkle NS will be providing an engaging learning experience outside the classroom for our local children.
With our compost programs we aim to create a valuable source of nutrients to be used in our community garden. While raising awareness of the importance of returning to the earth what we have taken from it. During the decomposition of organic matter, carbon is absorbed and stored. This will help the natural life-cycle, and contribute to counteracting global warming.
The mental and physical health benefits of gardening are extensively proven - contact with the soil, healthy eating, and working together as a community are key.
We are currently developing a website for the project where everyone can get involved as a volunteer, and learn about our activities and development. Once you sign up and log in, you will have access to the work schedule, where you will be able to see how, and when, you can participate. You will also be able to record any work undertaken, ideas, proposals, comments etc.
Through this project we wish to achieve a sustainable source of nutritious food, and a lifestyle based on care and respect for ourselves and our environment. We believe this project will contribute to strengthening the resilience of our local community.
