Providing seeds, compost, tools and fruit trees to support food growing across Arran's communities for a sixth season, reducing cost of living and improving health outcomes.
Project Description
This project will purchase tools, seeds, compost and fruit trees to support food production across Arran communitiess. By investing in quality, durable equipment and quality organic and heirloom seed varieties, we'll continue to support more residents to grow their own food, reduce grocery costs and improve access to fresh, healthy produce.
Specific Costs We're Applying For:
Compost: £200 (we make a our own compost and supplement this with high quality bought compost from Dalefoot composts. the amount bought has reduced year on year)
Seeds for 2026 season: £200 (From high quality suppliers, Seeds of Scotland, Tamar Organics, Scotia Seeds, Vital Seeds, Real Seeds Company)
Fruit trees and soft fruit plants: £400 (From RV Roger in Yorkshire and Drumfearn Trees in Skye)
General garden tools and ongoing maintenance: £200 (bought locally or from online suppliers)
Total: £1,000
Who Will Benefit: All people who use the community gardens, from regular volunteers who grow food throughout the season, to people who enjoy the produce or occasional visitors to the gardens. Tools and supplies will be stored at each community garden for use by their volunteer groups. Fruit trees provide long-term benefit, producing food for future years whilst improving local biodiversity.
Why This Deserves Funding:
This project addresses multiple Locality PB themes:
Cost of Living: Growing your own food significantly reduces grocery bills - particularly important on an island where food costs are higher due to transport.
Health & Wellbeing: Home-grown food provides better nutrition and the physical activity of gardening improves fitness and mental health. Gardening also connects people with nature and provides stress relief, and provides opportunity to connect with other people.
Building Community Spirit: The gardens create connections between islanders and sharing knowledge and experience about growing creates stronger community bonds.
Green Projects: Local food production reduces food miles and plastic packaging waste. Diverse seed varieties support biodiversity and climate resilience.
The project helps to build sustainable systems and build knowledge throughout the community. This creates lasting impact beyond the initial funding.
Location: Arran's island location means higher food costs and a less reliable supply chain. Over the past 5 years we have helped people across Arran's villages to produce more of their own food, building resilience and reducing dependence on expensive supplies from off island. This also helps to bring people from sometimes remote communities together and helped to build connections across our various villages.
Proposed on behalf of: The Arran Pioneer Project CIC, Cladach Community Garden, Pirnmill Community Garden, Cordon + Clauchlands Community Gardens (Lamlash), Shiskine Valley Community Gardens
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