We try to match garden owners and would-be growers by location and expertise with beginners and experts together where possible via on-line registration, then facilitate a meeting for the gardening partners to meet. We suggest a code of practice covering areas such as access, tidiness, tool storage and sharing of produce. Fine details are negotiated between partners.

We are a sub-group of the Calon Teifi Food Group. Members meet once a month, currently at someone's house, to discuss the ups and downs of growing veg (any edible crop) on their patch: which may be anything from a window box to a farm.
If weather and light permit, we walk round the host's plot to see what's going on. Then everyone gets a spot to talk about their successes, failures, aims, etc.
In winter we may also show a video.
This way we get to learn what works best in our climate here.
We also do informal labour-swap: helping each other out with those jobs you can't face by yourself.

GardenShare Bristol are looking for community-minded garden owners and would-be vegetable growers across the city. This local volunteer organisation has recently been set up with the aim of matching people who would like to grow plants and vegetables but don't have the space, with those who lack the time, ability or motivation to use their gardens.

Similar projects are taking place across the country including Brighton, Bath, and Totnes and tend to attract people living in flats, town houses and rented accommodation, who have no access to a garden, but who would love to grow their own.

The benefits for the garden owners include a share of the produce, the pleasure of seeing a developing vegetable plot, and the sense of community in being part of a sharing initiative.

Abbi Gutierrez (27) GardenShare volunteer from Ashton says "Perhaps there are elderly people or people with young kids who don't have the time or ability to look after their garden, but who like to see things grow.”

This initiative will help communities in Bristol to grow more healthy, fresh food locally. It will also help reduce weekly shopping bills during the recession as well as being better for the environment because it reduces the distance that our food is transported. The new friendships that form will help to strengthen our local communities. Autumn is the perfect time for people to begin preparing land for the winter and growing in the spring –sign up today! For more information please see our website: http://gardensharebristol.blogspot.com/

If you would like to get involved contact the team on 07770391531 or gardensharebristol@gmail.com to arrange to meet a local volunteer to find out more and join the scheme.