Exchange visits

As part of the project we are organising some exhange visits to similar but different projects in the Nortwest. The partners we hook up with will also visit us on our plot. We will share ideas, success stories and aim to learn from each others low points.

Both Tom and myself have set ourselves the task of finding two places each to propose visiting.

My short list so far are:

Growzone in Northwich  more info here http://www.grozone.org.uk/
 They do theraputic growing sessions and art in their yurt. They are supported by Groundwork and manage to get a good amount of funding each year. They are tied into doctors surgeries who refer people to work with them. Its hard to get people involved in things in Northwich sometimes as its such a spead out community. LKYPG is good at this and could provide some tips perhaps.

Bridge Farms in Elsmere port more info here http://www.bridgecommunityfarms.co.uk/Our-farms--i11.html
They are a much bigger scale to us but could give us some ideas about how to support people into employment and how to gain experts who can help out and grow the things to do.   They focus on the farming side of things and perhaps we could spark some creative ideas for them.

Odsall Hall Heritage Allotment
 http://www.salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk/latest-news/2014/07/breaking-new-ground-project-ordsall-hall


An outsider is this place in manchester. Its a bar but they grow things inside and the theme is allotments. Are there bits of our allotment and project which could inspire or link into what they are doing? Could our shed be a dry bar for a night?
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/new-northern-quarter-bar-allotment-7554955

I also found this on my travels which some of you might want to get involved in
http://cityco.com/project/dig-the-city-2013/

Tom is looking into Tindall Street Allotments and needs to find one more, any suggestions anybody?
http://www.incredibleediblesalford.org.uk/ies-given-space-to-grow-at-eccles-allotment/

Reflections on activities

Seed Bombs and Superheros

Seed Bombs
We need to consider how best to document this. I think its like a sketch. If this is so it should go in the sketch book and be there as inspiration for further works. It doesn't necessarily stand as a resolved piece of work. Print off a few pictures.  

Superheros VS Goodness Spies
There are so many instances of kindness, giving and supportive networks in Kersal and the group are really friendly towards each other. They are already living by the ethos of superheros, helping those in need. The question seems not to be how do we get people we are working with to be more generous but how we give voice  to and report on that generosity. I like the idea of "Goodness Spies" in this respect. Sending a few young people out each week to note stories of goodness and kindness which occur in their day to day life.  What do we give to them to remind them that they are the Goodness spy for that week? What are they looking out for? Chat to the Williams family about this on Tuesday.
Update on Goodness Spies 
We have had 3 sets of spies to date. they note their findings in a note book and we record their stories each week. We need to listen to the recordings to see if they are capturing anything significant or creating a picture.