Sowing Seeds, Growing Community at CSIA

Aim

CSIA needs a school food garden to grow food, support nature and help to protect their community against climate change impacts.

Who are we, and what is our project about?

This is a partnership between an important secondary school serving a large community in Cornwall and young people's charity RJ Working (who have the approval and support of Camborne Town Council).  We want to create and develop a school food garden, our pioneering project is already exciting some students and the teacher who is supporting them, due to the expertise and skills that they will learn. 

We are aiming to raise £10,000 for gardening tools, poly tunnels, raised beds, and an exceptional food waste composting machine.  Also to hold community conversations with students and parents about these developments and Green Careers. And you can be part of the story! 

Imagine school lunches tasting even better with potatoes, peas, and herbs grown on school grounds! CSIA is leading Cornwall's schools by developing a good food culture for one and all, promoting local cooking using local produce through school lunches and more widely.  

With gardening tools, raised beds and polytunnels, CSIA will be able to grow vegetables all year round. With a composting machine (a Ridan) we can transform food waste from school lunches, turning it into liquid compost -this way we can grow even more food. We also want to learn about rewilding and learn how to keep bees!

Alongside these practical skills and produce, students will be learning teamwork and leadership skills to strengthen our community resilience, involving parents too. The RJ Working team will be coaching young people to hold ‘circle conversations’ about how to develop the needed friendships and neighbour relationships to look after each other better in response to our changing climate and its impact on food supplies.  We all need food and the skills to share it well, as a way of looking after each other, both now and in planning for the future.

Why are we crowdfunding?

Our proposed project will transform areas of the school grounds into a food garden, with polytunnels and raised beds growing all kinds of foods to contribute to the school lunch menu and maybe also to sell or share in other ways. This will create multiple opportunities for different kinds of practical learning: planning, building, growing, gardening, bee-keeping.  

As the achievements develop, more students will be inspired to get involved and hold specific roles, contributing to the success story. There will also be benefits for any member of the school community as its an established fact that people’s relationship with nature means enjoying improved health and wellbeing. This in turn motivates people to look after the natural environment which is vital for all young people’s futures. Relevant careers and job opportunities are also developing in Cornwall and we want to plant the seeds for these at the same time as growing food and growing a thriving community!

How we’ll spend the money raised

The following items are listed in order of priority:

Three polytunnels @ £450 each

10 raised beds inside the polytunnels and outside @ £50 each 

Garden tools £600

10 teamwork and leadership sessions for students from RJ Working @ £95 each 

Bark paths £195

Beehives, equipment and bees £350

5 sessions for interested parents led by students supported by RJ Working @ £95 

Composting machine for food waste £4,650 + VAT = £5580

How you can help

There are two simple ways to get involved and support our project:

1. Make a donation

Every pledge gets us closer to our goal. Early support can help build momentum and inspire others to give too.

2. Spread the word

Share our project with friends, family and your wider network. The more people we reach, the more likely we are to succeed.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made