Facilitating and supporting communities to come together and grow local produce is at the heart of what we do at Edible Estates. Our Head Community Gardener, Steve Pike, therefore plays a pivotal role in making the growing experience accessible, engaging and enjoyable for local residents that want to get involved, while simultaneously working to maintain and develop the growing spaces we create. In this interview, Steve discusses both the varied nature and his favourite aspects of the role, as well as the benefits of community gardens both as local green spaces, and for members of the community.
What does your role involve as Head Community Gardener?
In my role I look after three gardens, the Calders Greenshoots Community Garden, the Murrayburn and Hailesland Community Garden, and the Broomhouse Community Garden. My role in each looks different as they require varying degrees of input and support depending upon the level of participation by local residents. In the Broomhouse garden there is an active group of residents, who have a management committee. They have taken on a lot of the work involved in building the garden themselves, and so my role is to support and advise them in planning what they are going to grow, how best to germinate and organise the crops, and the best times at which to do so. This differs a fair amount from my role at the Murrayburn and Hailesland garden, where I oversee everything that happens, and the great group of volunteers I work with support me to deliver everything. In the Calders garden it is really a mix of these two roles. Like the Broomhouse residents, they too have a management committee, with people coming and going to look after their own beds. Here I support the team with maintenance and growing across the rest of the garden. My role is therefore really quite varied, ranging from demonstrating how to grow crops and helping to build polytunnels and sheds, to planning the development of the garden site itself,
What made you want to work at Edible Estates?
Prior to working with Edible Estates I had a very varied career. For a period I worked in housing for local authorities, and then in homelessness services, before seizing an opportunity to travel to America. There, I managed a farm owned by an organisation working with people with mental health issues. After seven fantastic years in America, I returned to the UK unsure what my next steps would be, and doubtful that I would find anything similar. From my experience managing the farm, I had learned that I really enjoyed growing things, particularly food, and that I loved the communal aspect of it. After struggling to find any opportunities that aligned with those interests, I happened across a job advert from Edible Estates, spoke with our Director, Greig, and found it was the perfect fit for me. That was eight years ago, and happily I am still in the position, growing food within our local communities.
What do you hope to achieve in the role?
I hope that alongside the rest of the team, I can deliver sustainable growing spaces for the communities we work in, which people can enjoy and benefit from on many different levels – whether that be coming along and growing on a daily basis, or simply admiring the garden and watching the activity from their window, or while walking past.
What is your favourite part of the role?
Some of the best moments are when someone says that they had never previously enjoyed gardening, but now love coming along to these amazing growing spaces we have created. My ultimate favourite part is when you grow something that someone, such as our Community Chef, Tona Sonato, then turns into a dish that tastes fantastic. Just experiencing that process come full circle, tasting something that you grew in the garden, that is when the process is at its most meaningful.
What are the biggest challenges in your role?
The biggest challenge is ensuring that people in the communities can see and believe that what we are doing is for the long-term, and therefore something that is worth getting involved with. It can deliver so many things, from communal activity and improved mental well-being, to delicious produce and subsequent community meals. Engaging people and showing them that growing tasty, nutritious food and bringing people together is entirely possible in these areas, can definitely be a challenge.
What benefits do you think the gardens bring to both the communities we work in generally, and to the people that come along to volunteer?
From a community perspective, the gardens enhance the greenspace in these areas. We see so many people walk by who have no intention of coming in to garden, but make positive comments that show they feel it benefits the area and improves the space, and that they appreciate it being there. In terms of individual benefits, residents just really appreciate having a space where they can either enjoy some solitude, or meet and talk to like minded people while working on something they enjoy together.
What skills do the gardeners stand to learn through Edible Estates’ projects?
A range of things really. A good variety of gardening skills, learning how to grow good food – and importantly how to use that food. How to work together to achieve a decent garden is a big part of it, in terms of it being both a nice place to come along to, but also a productive space.
Do you have any particular favourite memories of your time working in the gardens with members of the community?
It is always nice when we finish building a shed or a polytunnel, as these are projects that typically take a couple of months, so there is always a real sense of accomplishment when they are completed. Some of my favourite and most rewarding moments are picking a harvest and it being as good as it can be.
Other Team Interviews..
Alan Gordon, Edible Estates’ Community Engagement Officer
Julie Parkin and Georgia Forsyth, Canal View Primary School Farm Leaders
Tona Sonato, Edible Estates’ Community Chef