Community garden leaders' handbook

Growers’ Handbook
for participants

Session 1
Welcome to the Seeds, Soup and
Sarnies Community!
What Seeds, Soup & Sarnies Communities do …
• Grow food together
• Share gardening tips
• Enjoy cooking together
• Share recipes
• Enjoy each other’s company
• Share meals together
• Make stuff
• Share photos on Facebook or Flickr
• Welcome anybody who wants to be part of it
• Value everybody’s contribution
• Bond neighbourhoods
• Improve the place we live in
• Make people feel good about themselves
• Befriend and share
1.1 Warm up bingo
2 SS&S Growers Handbook Session 1
Seeds, Soup and Sarnies
Communities are…
…what you make them!
Share Plant
GrowEat
Cook
By the
way, did you
know… that
courgettes have
male and female
flowers?

SS&S Participants Handbook Session 1 3
Pleased to meet you!
Tells us something about yourself
What’s in a name?!
What’s in it for me? (the sower, the …)
Loads of money? …don’t think so
Qualifications? …possibly
Employability? …most likely
My community is a nicer place to live…definitely
Check this out:
Increased and improved:
• Satisfaction
• Self-confidence
• Friendships
• Problem solving skills
• People skills
• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Organisational and planning skills
…and lots more!
1.2 Introduction Game,
1.3 Icebreaker Questions
Sower
Doer
Inspirer
Propagator
Mover
Motivator

4
How do I go about propagating
a group?
Forming
• People get together
• Shared purpose
Storming
• Ideas
• Creativity
• Enthusiasm
• Communication
• Vision
• Disagreement
• Conflict
• Getting to know each other
What qualities do I need to be a
good propagator?
Yes it would be nice if one person had all these qualities, but the idea is that,
shared between the individuals within your community, you will have all
these qualities...
1.4 Sower Qualities
Norming
• Organizing
• Sorting relationships
• Planning
• Team members take on roles
and responsibilities
Performing
• Learn from experience
• Relationships are sorted
• Team is effective
• Functioning well
Confident
Honest
Truthful
Enthusiastic
Inspiring
Motivator
Responsible
Team player
Purposeful
Passionate
Dedicated
Tolerant
Remain calm
Think things through
Want to do their best
Proactive
Ready to admit mistakes
Prepared to learn
Not easily defeated
Remain positive
Good listener
See the best in people
...and then you can also develop and strengthen these qualities in yourself.
Can I really do this?
You are not on your own. You are part of the group. There is lots of support
available. You are part of the wider Seeds, Soup and Sarnies Community.
All you need is lots of enthusiasm, being good at asking for help…
…and wanting to share!
By the way,
did you know …
that you need more
calories to digest
celery than it
contains?
SSS Growers Handbook Session 1

5
Where could your Seeds, Soup
and Sarnies groups meet?
Things to consider with Venues:
• Location
• Size
• Accessibility
- Physical needs
- Emotional responses
• Purpose/use
• Health and safety
• Affordability
• Availability
How do you encourage someone to contemplate turning up for the first meeting
and to subsequently join the group?
When looking at venues for an event consider the following:
Disabilities, support needs, equalities.
1.5 Venues

6
Now you have made newspaper
pots and planted seeds, can you reflect
on the following?
1.6 Making
Newspaper Pots
What materials do you need to do this activity? How long will it take?
Which other materials could you use? Are there any health and safety concerns?
How can you support different people to do the activity? What kind of space is needed?
Any other observations?

7
What a busy day!
Next time bring with you some of the following to share with us:
• a gardening tip
• An idea for a practical activity
• An idea for an outdoor activity
• Any other ideas you have
• Any comments you want to make
• Any questions which have come to you
By the way,
did you know,
that there are early
and late fruiting
raspberries?

8 SSS Growers Handbook Session 2
Session 2
Welcome back!
Aims/aspirations of the Seeds, Soup and Sarnies Project
In your view, what makes a Seeds, Soup and Sarnies Community tick?
Use this tree shaped mind map as an example to record your thoughts on the
blank mindmap handout.
2.1 Blank mindmap
Cook Share
Grow

SSS Growers Handbook Session 2 9
Where and how to find
existing groups 2.2 Group Members
What might people from these groups bring to Seeds, Soup and Sarnies?
When matching the characteristics to people, watch out for stereotyping.
Investigate what other attributes and skills people could bring to the group.
Record your thoughts here:
Council
Library
Social Services
Online
Local notice boards
By the way,
did you know,
that the first soup
was made of
hippopotamus?

10
2.3 Planning Scenarios
The ‘Nitty-Gritty’ of running a session
What activities are going to happen?
• Gardening
• Cooking
• Making
• Sharing
What resources are needed?
What information will people take
away?
How are these activities going to be
accessed by all members?
How are health and safety issues
planned for?
How will you make sure that people
will join in?
Now it’s your time to plan a session!
Use the scenarios to plan a session in a small group.
• Be ready to feed back to the rest of the group.
• Use the ‘nitty-gritty’ grid to support your planning.
• What did you find easy?
• What did you find not quite so easy?
• Did everyone feel the same?
• Compare your experience with that of the other groups.
By the way,
did you know
that ladybirds
and their larvae
are helpful to
gardeners?

SSS Participants Handbook Session 2 11
2.4 Diversity Quiz
Do we need ground rules?
Is it OK for people to
answer their phone?
Does it matter what kind
of language people use?
Do I have to be worried
about safeguarding?
How can we make sure
that everyone is listened to?
How can I make sure that
everyone helps with tidying up?
How can we prevent
put-downs?

12
Let’s make something!
Dream catcher
Use this evaluation circle to reflect on the activity.
What went
well?
What is the
activity?
What would you
do differently?
What did
you gain?
What help do you need to run such an activity?
Can you think of an activity to follow this one?
The dream catcher idea comes from this website:
naturalkidsteam.com/wordpress/2010/07/making-dream-catchers-muddyfeet
2.5 Dreamcatcher

13
2.6 Drinks Quiz,
2.7 Food Swapper
Healthy eating – balanced meals
• Eatwell plate
• Food groups
• Five a day
Were there any surprises when sorting the different foods into their groups?
Do you have an idea about portion size?
Would you fulfil the ‘five a day’ rule by drinking one orange juice and eating
one apple a day?
For more information check out these websites:
www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/eatwell-plate.aspx
www.nhs.uk/change4life
www.familylearning.org.uk/balanced_diet.html
rwp.excellencegateway.org.uk under ‘embedded learning’
In a small group discuss how balanced your favourite meals are and how they
could be made even healthier.

14 SSS Participants Handbook Session 2
How did you find today?
1. For next time plan and carry out an activity. Please be ready to feed back to
the rest of the group what you experienced.
2. Bring photos, if you can. Don’t forget to obtain permission from the
participants - a form is available for you to use.
3. Please, bring different types of adverts, posters, leaflets and other publicity
material you can find to the next session.
Good luck! By the
way, did
you know that
lemons contain
more sugar than
strawberries?

Session 3
Welcome back!
• How are you feeling today?
• How do you feel about the Seeds, Soup Sarnies project?
• How did your planned session go?
• How would you like to feel today?

3.1 Organise a Seed
Swap, 3.2 Organising
an event
Selecting and organising a
special event
Ideally you will be planning four Seeds, Soup Sarnies events throughout
the year in your communities:
Winter – Seed Swap
Spring – Planting
Summer – The Big Lunch
Autumn – Harvest Celebration
Seasons Traditional Events
Visits Faith Celebrations
Seasonal Food
Think
Once you have decided with your groups what the event should be, begin the
planning. As with any other session the usual considerations apply, but you
might also opt to invite special people or other groups. This means you might
have to reconsider your choice of venue.
www.seedysunday.org
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs
www.chiddlingstone.kent.sch.uk/homework/religion

3.3 Example hazards,
3.4 How to conduct a
risk assessment
Health and Safety!
Yes, we moan about it, but we’d rather that everyone is safe and that they can
enjoy themselves. With a gathering of people of all ages and different needs,
Health and Safety has to be considered quite carefully and appropriate warnings
given to the group members. Make a sensible
risk assessment.
General – Some of these will already have been thought about with
an official venue
• Size of venue – enough room for the amount of participants
• Tripping hazards
• Flooring
• Electrical safety
• Toilets
• Parking
• Supervision of children – parents responsible for own children
• Safeguarding
• Photo permission
• Emergency procedures
Cooking and Eating – NB. it is easy to get a basic ‘Food Hygiene’
certificate by completing a short course on the internet
• Hygiene
• Food preparation
• Keeping food safely
• Safety with implements and appliances
• Allergies
Gardening
• Implements
• Hazardous substances – slug pellets, fertilizers, pesticides
• Soil
First Aid
• First aid kit
• Trained first aider – this does not have to be you, but you may want to look
into courses in your area for this
• Accident reporting – they do happen

Feedback – How did it go?
What activity have you shared in the meantime? Who were the
lucky participants?
What went
well?
What is the
activity?
What would you
do differently?
What did your
‘seedlings’ gain?
Report to your group and make a list of successes and tricky issues:
• Are there any common themes?
• What help would you like?
• How did the members of the group contribute?
• Make recommendations to solve the tricky issues.

Promoting your group
Remember – not all publicity is paper based. Use local radio, parish newsletters,
local papers, social networks and other online sites to promote your group to as
wide an audience as possible – and it is usually free too!
Your local paper may publish an article you write about your project, called a
press release – saving you the expense of putting in an advertisement. Local
radio stations are always looking for events and interesting items for their
shows – give them a call and find out who to talk to, they may even invite you
to talk live on a show!
Remember – what do you want to say to people about your SSS event?
Think – time, date, address, what they can do, will there be refreshments, is
there a cost, do they need to bring anything, how much fun will they have?
Strap lines – Make it catchy!
Our poster template is available on our website for you to complete and print
as you like.
• word of mouth – talk to your friends and
neighbours • leaflets in school • posters in local shops •
postcards to neighbours • interview on local radio • posts on
Seeds, Soup Sarnies and your own Facebook pages• posts
on Seeds, Soup Sarnies website • advert in local paper
• ask participants to spread the word • message on
Twitter • banners • texts to participants •

3.5 Insurance,
3.6 Legal advice,
3.7 Photo permission
example form
Insurance – legal stuff!
Public liability insurance
• Whose responsibility is it? Many venues you use will have their own
insurance but it is always important to CHECK.
• Always go through your own health and safety check list remembering
access, electric cables, trip hazards and that all fire exits are clear
from obstructions.
Safeguarding
• If you have any concerns about the safety of a child, young person or a
vulnerable adult, please note:
• If you are working in a school or with a community organisation talk to the
head teacher or manager, they may already be aware of the situation.
• If there isn’t anyone available or you are unhappy with their response -
write everything down so that you can report it later.
• Do not promise that you will keep a secret which may harm the person or
yourself, it is important that you let the vulnerable person know that you
will pass the information on in a confidential manner.
• Call your local Social Services department as soon as possible, have a look
on your local council website for contact details.
• Please do not investigate any claims yourself.
Criminal Records Check
Many organisations will insist that the session leader has this clearance, such as
Children’s Centres and Schools to deliver activities on their premises.
If you are not planning on running a group with only children or with only
vulnerable adults you do not need strictly need this clearance. Adults should
never put themselves in a situation when they will be alone with a child or
vulnerable person.
Also, if there are several of you organising an event it is only necessary for one
person to be cleared. Please note: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is now
called the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
For more information you can ask at your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) or
look online at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/dbs/
Photo permission forms
Photo permission forms are essential if you want to use your pictures to
publicise your groups and events.
You will have a copy of our register with your resource pack, to which you can
add the details of your event.
Make sure that people know what the photos might be used for; especially pointing
out if you want to post their photos on a social network site such as Facebook or
a web page like ours. We tend to list these separately as some people are happy to
have their picture in the local press but would not want it to go onto the internet.
By the way,
did you know
that pollen from
trees, such as hazel
and willow, is full
of protein?

3.8 Planting Calendar
(www.eatseasonably.co.uk),
3.9 Bag Garden
Gardening activity
Make a note of the resources needed:
Child Protection and Safeguarding
Seed Soup and Sarnies Summary
• If you have any concerns, about a child (somebody under 18) or a vulnerable
adult (anyone who needs daily care) please read the following.
• If you are working in a school or with a community organisation talk to the
head or manager, they may be aware of the situation.
• If there isn’t anyone available or you are unhappy with their response.
• Write everything down.
• Call your local Social Services department immediately, have a look on your
local council website for contact details.
• Please do not talk to anyone else or investigate any claims yourself.

Well done!
1. For the next session you will plan and carry out a gardening activity with a
small number of people.
Be prepared to feed back to the group. How did everyone get on? Was
there apprehension? Did the participants enjoy what they were doing? Did
anyone have new ideas or came forward with information? How did you
make the participants relax? What was achieved during the session? What
refreshments did you provide?
Hopefully you will have some photos to show and post on Facebook.
2. Plan a short activity to share with the others in the next session. Bring
resources with you for about 3 or 4 people. This can be a cooking, gardening
or making activity. It should not take longer than about 15 minutes. You can
include information or instructions, also any written planning you have made.
3. Don’t forget to reflect on what we did today. What was useful, what was
new, what you might need more of.
See you next time!
By the way,
did you know
that coffee is the
most recognized
smell in the
world?
How to plan a gardening activity
What could you do?
Try one of these scenarios:
You will have lots of ideas! Share them within your small group and feedback.
Take note of any ideas from other participants.
It is February. You are going to meet in the local
community hall and there is no planting space.
You meet at an allotment. There is no more
space for planting anything. It is July.
You are meeting at someone’s house which has
a big, mature garden, but no planting space for
the group. The garden also has a very healthy
vegetable plot and compost bins.
It is November.There will be a number of toddlers
attending. You are going to meet at a community
hall with a little bit of planting space outside.

Session 4
Welcome back and over to you!
Hopefully you have been able to carry out an activity, even if it is only with
some family members. Share it with your group and show your photos.
What went
well?
What was the
activity?
What would you
do differently?
What did your
‘seedlings’ gain?
In your group discuss your successes and tricky issues. Are they the same as
previously? Any suggestions?
Think back to the main issues:
• Promoting the event
• Enjoyment by the participants
• Achievement by participants
• Participation by all
• Messages about Seeds, Soup Sarnies
• Health and safety
You are getting an old hand at this. Share your prepared activity within a small
group. Members of the groups prepare to feed back honestly.
Remember: give two positives to one suggested improvement!

The Future of
Seeds, Soup Sarnies Communities
The Cascading Model
In the Past
• Engaging communities through delivery and special events
• Lottery funding
The Future
• Further funding(?)
• Intermittent delivery to support groups
• Sustaining engagement through self-motivation
• Enabling communities
• Training volunteers to be effective in propagating new groups
• Trained volunteers to hand on their skills and knowledge to others in
the groups
By the way,
did you know
that rice is the staple
food of more than
half of the world’s
population?

SSS Participants Handbook Session 4 25
4.1 Fundraising
Funding and fundraising
A - Z of Fundraising Ideas
There are thousands of ways of raising money. Here are some that are tried and
tested. Think of some of your own suggestions.
4.2 History of Chutney,
4.3 Food Preservation
Cooking activity – Making chutney
A few questions:
• Why this activity?
• How could it be extended? – Think of other related activities?
• Any particular hazards?
• Does it include everyone?
• Any planning or resource issues?
A – Advertising in newsletter
B – Bicycle rides,
barbecues, bingo
C – Competitions, car washes
D – Discos
E – Elvis look-alike competitions
F – Fancy dress competitions,
fairs and fetes
G – Graffiti clean ups, guess the
weight
H –
I – Inserting a leaflet into other
people’s newsletters
J –
K – Karaoke evenings,
kids’ parties
L –
M – Marathons and half
marathons, make and sell
crafts and produce
N –
O – Odd jobs
P – Picnics in the park, pennies in
the bottle
Q – Quiz evening
R – Raffles, recycling newspapers
and cans
S – Sponsored walks
T – Tombolas
U – Used toys, records and
clothes for jumble sales or
car boot sales
V – Visits and trips
W –
X – Xmas cards
Y – Year planners and calendars
Z – Zest and enthusiasm, which
you must have if you are to
convince others

Food Preservation,
History of Chutney
That’s it for now!
Let’s compare your present ideas about Seeds, Soup Sarnies Communities
with the ideas you wrote down at the beginning of this process.
• Is there anything that has changed?
• Is there anything you would add?
• Is there anything you would take away?
Bring cake – have a party
Happy sowing!
Keep in touch and share your
successes and plans
Keep Sharing!
By the way,
did you know
that carrots actually
come in a range of
colours?

A big thank you to everyone!
What next? Keep sharing!
Find us on Facebook to share your
posts and photos.
Visit the website for advice and inspiration.
www.seedssoupsarnies.org

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