We Grow has been helping groups come together, growing food in community and connecting with each other, for the last few years. This includes connecting and mentoring 20 small co-ops and 2 large co-ops in Forest Row and surrounding areas, training a small team of women to create a network of co-ops and then working to strengthen the network.
This means that local people support each other by growing their own food together and sharing seeds, seedlings, tools and knowledge. Our little team always uses the phrase Growing Community Whilst Growing Food! Because that is exactly what happens - new friendships emerge, children learn together, locals share with their community, physical and mental health are improved, loneliness is reduced and food shopping bills go down!
We are now at a stage where we can extend this to other areas in Sussex. We have been awarded funding to train more community leaders in other areas, but we also need the infrastructure to help the people being trained to bring more food co-ops together. With this next project, we want to raise funds to have a website built, some wider social media presence and ongoing mentoring and support for the people being trained.
Please give what you feel is right for you. Every amount will help more food co-ops to get growing and more people to experience the benefits of growing together in community.
Please visit our social media to see more about We Grow. We are on Facebook as We Grow and Instagram as wegrow.cic
*please note - we have had to change our Crowdfunder in terms of now being a project that accepts whatever is raised (rather than previously an "All or Nothing" project), and also the amount that we had set as a target. These changes are due to much less take up than we expected for people pledging money. Crowdfunder asks that we inform all supporters before making these changes and offer to refund if anyone is unhappy with their pledge, in light of these changes. We are changing our target amount to £500. Please let us know if you have any questions. Many thanks, We Grow team