We were successful in our application for a small grant from the Transition: Bounce Forward project, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund., distributed by Transition Network, to get us up and running in Spring 2021.
Our mission was to grow enough seedlings (peppers, chillies, tomatoes, strawberries, peas, beans) to give one plant to every primary school child in Bude and Stratton (nearly 1000!) plus have some to give away at Bude Artisan Market, all with the aim of getting more people into growing their own food, seeing how easy and rewarding it is.
In July 2021 Transition Bude’s Growing Club donated 830 fruit and vegetable plants to Bude and Stratton Primary Schools.
To encourage green fingers in all the primary-aged schoolchildren in Bude and Stratton, Transition Bude’s Growing Club has donated a plant to every single one of them. That’s 830 tomatoes, sweet peppers, chillies, strawberries, peas and beans, delivered to Bude Primary Academy and Stratton Primary School recently in April and May. It was an impressive sight to see the stream of students at home-time all leaving the schools proudly holding plant pots.
Due to restrictions, the environmental group was unable to take the plants directly into classrooms, so instead provided an accompanying video explaining how to care for the plants. Sophie Adey of Relax Kids took the plants into Bude Primary Academy.
The plants were grown from seed by Transition Bude’s Growing Club at Rob Meredith’s smallholding in Pyworthy. It was part of the Transition: Bounce Forward project, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.
Transition Bude’s Jackie Diffey said: ‘We wanted the children to care for their plants, enjoy eating their own produce and be inspired to grow more.'
We want to reach out to everyone in our area who has ever thought about growing their own food but doesn't know where to start.
This philosophy was also central to the Free Food Festival held at the Neetside Orchard in April 2021, organised by Transition Bude and Bude Friends of the Earth. More seedlings were given away (bringing the total to over 1000) and there were several workshops including how to make wildflower bee bombs and take cuttings.