Looking for growing space in Digbeth

At this point in time we have so much access to information on how to live a healthy lifestyle; how much exercise we should do, how many units of alcohol we shouldn't exceed, what foods are good for us, etc.

But with prices of fresh fruit and vegetables booming and a bag of chips still £1 who can still afford to eat a healthy diet?

It would appear that people are getting sick and tired of paying over the odds for vegetables that have travelled over seas, grown in soils that are pumped full of chemicals, when they can grow their own organic vegetables for a fraction of the price.

Communities all over England are now taking it into their own hands and working together to set up allotments and grow-sites; and now Birmingham Friends of the Earth are jumping on the bandwagon! We want to create a grow-site in Digbeth for residents and people working in the area.

We have the knowledge, we have the hands to help produce our urban allotment, but what we do not have is the land!

There is so much disused land in Digbeth, but finding a piece of land we can use even for one year is proving extremely difficult.

If anyone knows of any sites in Digbeth that may be available, even temporarily, please contact rosie@birminghamfoe.org.uk or call me on (0121) 632 6909.

Our aim is to produce a grow-site with enough space for at least 10 plots, space for 2/3 compost bins and a shed for storing tools, ideally with a water point. Which we can then open up to the public for a day and people can come and sign up for a bed.

Digbeth Residents Association 07.02.11

Last night I went to my first Digbeth Residents Association (DRA) meeting. I started at Birmingham FoE as Outreach Officer last month and am working on creating links with residents groups, as well as organising events (such as our HS2 debate) and finding opportunities for us to go out and talk to people.

I was asked if I would like to attend after sending a few e-mails to Val and Pam about the possibility of establishing a grow site in Digbeth. We have been involved in others, so it would be good to do one here where we're based.

Upon arriving at the Alcester suite of the Paragon hotel I was welcomed in by friendly faces. These included residents of Digbeth, a police officer from the area and people interested in the Digbeth area.

After all the introductions were out the way the DRA spoke passionately about Digbeth's future. They feel strongly that the Digbeth area needs more greenery. They have been given 20 Birch trees by the Eastside Projects, with the idea that they will be planted in Highgate park, although the DRA are hoping to set a few a side to be distributed around the area. Another idea was to use the abandoned Victorian rail viaduct as allotment space. We also touched on the subject of grow-sites in Digbeth; which is something I've been looking into myself. Everyone there seemed enthusiastic about the idea and I think it will be a great success... that is when the pain-stakingly long process of finding land we can use is done!

Other issues raised concern the section 106 improvements to Bradford Street, St Patrick's day parade, film nights in the spotted dog, police presence at the meetings and the Digbeth summit.

Overall it was a great insight into all the planning and hard work that goes into making Digbeth the exciting and creative place that it is today!

Rosie Cervelli

Grow sites in Ladywood update

Brookfield Road Grow Site

We're progressing well with the grow site in Brookfield Road, B18. This is being promoted by the GEML project, Grow It, Eat It, Move It, Live It, which is empowering people across Ladywood to grow and cook their own food.
Plans have been drawn up by one of the residents to use old scaffolding planks (of which we have almost 100, see picture) to make raised planters. These will be a modular system of interlocking one metre square planters which can be joined together to create large beds. This means each plot will be sized according to each persons needs and preferences.
We've formed a management committee to oversee the administration of the site, which has now been cleared and is almost ready to go.
There's also detailed research being done about watering systems, so if anyone out there has any experience of this, please share your knowledge with us.

Another site in Coplow Street, B18, is also well underway, with the residents now reportedly harvesting spinach and lettuces.

I've identified another site in B18 and am awaiting news from the council's housing department, under whose jurisdiction it falls. Formerly garages, its an ideal shape and size with the advantage of being already fenced and gated.

Coplow Street Grow Site