Do you love being out in the garden, working with the soil and seeing the fruits of your labour blossoming? If so, we need you at Emmaus Village Carlton for our exciting new project to rejuvenate our garden!
Our new gardening project will run every Tuesday from 9.30am-4.30pm and you’ll be helping us with the exciting new design for our new garden which will be teaming with an abundance of plants, flowers and home-grown produce.
As well as including growing areas, the garden will be a haven of wellbeing for our companions, volunteers, staff and visitors. We want the garden to bring new opportunities for companions to learn new skills, connect with nature and have the chance to enjoy this beautiful outdoor space.
The garden design and delivery is being spearheaded by Cheryl and Millie from garden and landscape design company, Rhubarb and Roses, and both have a wealth of green-fingered expertise to bring to Emmaus.
Project leader Issy Baker said: “Cheryl and Millie are such a fantastic resource and their passion for organic and forest gardening fits in brilliantly with our ethos. I hope the companions will really embrace this way of working.
“We hope to start growing quality produce for the companions’ meals and this will contribute to their health. Additionally, from a business perspective, the plan is to start retailing plants, flowers and produce as well as things like rag rugs and seasonal gifts such as Autumn and Christmas wreaths. It’s a really exciting project!
“We want to introduce activities in the space such as outdoor yoga, traditional crafts and bring some of our normally office based activities such as one to one meetings with Companions, group work and staff meetings, to the garden.”
The project’s first steering group, including companions, met up recently and discussed a wealth of amazing ideas including re-wilding, the Emmaus repair shop, tie dye, rag rugs, quilting and pop-up produce stalls, street food and outdoor cooking sessions.
If you’ve got enthusiasm, some gardening experience and would like to be part of this exciting and worthwhile project please click here and select ‘Volunteer Gardener’ for a full description of the role and how to apply.
You would need to be willing to work in the garden, assist with its maintenance and development and help with our food production project.
Emmaus, Volunteers are an essential resource and make a vital contribution to Emmaus’ commitment to help disadvantaged people. At Emmaus, loyalty to our companions, volunteers and ensuring loyalty from our customers will never not be a priority!
Ideal Skills: Enthusiasm! Some experience and knowledge of gardening and/or growing food gained on an allotment or through growing at home; Knowledge of health and safety procedures; reasonably fit with the ability to work outdoors independently; highly motivated with a positive and flexible approach.
Role includes: Seed sowing, propagation, planting out; weeding, deadheading and general care and tidying of our garden area; pruning and care of shrubs and trees; composting; maintaining good Health and Safety practices; willing to work alongside companions and other volunteers, to pass on your skills and knowledge to others.