Free food growing sessions

Community sessions fortnightly on Tuesdays

The free food sessions are open to all of any age, race, ethnicity, knowledge and skills. 

We:

  • encourage and enable the community to grow food and compost locally  
  • plan, deliver workshops and training sessions at Sutton Playing Field Community Garden
  • want to embed the circular economy (e.g., growing local, eating seasonal and fresh products, reduce, reuse, recycle, etc) in horticultural skills
  • aim to create greater community cohesion
  • promote social inclusion, and well-being; and 
  • promote skills, jobs, and volunteering opportunities.

 

Community Sessions (fortnightly on Tuesdays)

These sessions will be an opportunity for residents to access green spaces, create greater community cohesion, learn new skills (or upskill) and transform their relationship with stuff, with a clear connection to the impacts to the environment. This will also be an opportunity for people to learn about the benefits of reduction, repair, reuse, and recycling within food growing and the importance of a healthy and balanced ecosystem. Attendants will be able to harvest fresh food, grown locally, and take home.

Note: For under 18 years-old attending sessions:

  • 16+ - parental consent required
  • Under 16s - supervision required.
     
  • When: Tuesdays, every other week
  • Time: 10am to 12pm
  • Where: Heston Community Garden at Sutton Playing Field (Nearest entrance through alleyway between 35 and 37 The Crossways, Heston, TW5 0JJ)
  • Starting date: Tuesday 28 March 2023

How to get there

Bus routes: 111, 28, 32. Stop: The Warren

From East Hounslow: 91, from Brentford and Isleworth

 

March

Tuesday 28 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 28 March
  • Build a compost bin with repurposed wood
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 28 March
  • How to use tools safely
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

 

April

 

Tuesday 11

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 11 April
  • Create harvest calendar to prepare for the food growing season. Make a bird box to encourage birds into the garden.
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 11 April
  • Increase biodiversity in own gardens, reduces plant pests, increasing wellbeing at home
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

Tuesday 25 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 25 April
  • Looking at soil to discover the organisms beneath our feet.
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 25 April
  • Look after soil for good productivity. Increase awareness of soil organisms. Stress importance of chemical free growing. Vegetable seed sowing techniques for different sized seeds. Increase health with home grown food, changing attitudes to growing salads and microgreens. 
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

 

May 

 

Tuesday 9 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 9 May 
  • Make bird feeder with fat and seeds.
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 9 May
  • Wildflower meadow prepare ground and sow seeds. Improving environment for pollinators, increase food yields.
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

Tuesday 23

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 23 May 
  • Cuttings to create new plants for free. Reducing the need to buy plants in plastic pots. Reusing pots. Sharing plants.
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 23 May
  • Flower seed sowing to grow blooms to give away to the community.
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 23 May
  • Seasonality of flowers, old flowers are composted, reduce air miles, no intensive chemicals.
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

 

June

 

Tuesday 6 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 6 June 
  • Make a herb vinegar. Recycled jars. Homemade food, no air miles, reducing reliance on shops, improves sense of wellbeing.
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 6 June
  • Identify flower parts for pollination. Knowledge to change behaviour towards pollinator plants, need weeds and wildflowers. Understand how fruits form.
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

Tuesday 20 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 20 June 
  • Build plant supports from natural materials.
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 20 June
  • Circular system using materials from the garden to grow more food. Planting structural plants to grow supports for future years.
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 20 June
  • Create nature mobile and wind chime using natural foraged materials. Recycling and repurposing items for decorative use.
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

 

July 

Tuesday 4 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 4 July
  • Dangerous plants. Demonstrating other uses for plants. Environmental balance.
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 4 July
  • Controlling slugs and snails with no chemicals. Protecting food crops without chemicals. 
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

Tuesday 18 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 18 July
  • Water - capture, storage and use. Sustainable water use.  Drought gardening..
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 18 July
  • Homemade natural plant feed. Comfrey, nettle tea. Sustainable fertilisers. Circular growing system. No waste.
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm


August 

Tuesday 1 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 1 August
  • Growing herbs in repurposed containers. Small space growing. Stop buying herbs in plastic bags and pots. .
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 1 August
  • Propagation techniques to make plants for free. Division of plants. Sharing plants. Greening the space. 
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

Tuesday 15 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 15 August
  • Edible flowers. 
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 15 August
  • Make chutney with produce from the garden. Homegrown and homemade food. Healthy. Cheap. Low carbon footprint.
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

Tuesday 29 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 29 August
  • Recycle tins to make garden lights. Repurposing tin cans for create decorative items. Reducing waste.
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 29 August
  • Flower arranging to create posies to give away. Wellbeing activity to increase pleasure in the garden.
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm


September 

Tuesday 12 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday  September 
  • Make a bug hotel to increase biodiversity. Reusing items.
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday  September
  • Pond dipping to discover the organisms in the water. Understanding the importance of water to garden habitats.
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

Tuesday 26 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 26 September 
  • Harvest Time Festival. Sharing food. 
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 26 September
  • Seed saving to preserve local seeds and have free plants next season. Sustainability. Sharing seeds. 
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

 

October 

Tuesday 17 

Date  Sessions Location Time 
Tuesday 17 September 
  • Make soup using vegetables from the garden..
 Sutton Playing Fields, Community Garden 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 17 September
  • Pumpkins to get ready for Halloween. Grow, carve, eat.
 Sutton Playing Fields, 
Community Garden		 10am to 12pm

 

 

 

rating button