Help Yourself Grow

Gardening

Fair Deal is working in partnership with The Hidden Gardens for the gardening activity of the Help Yourself Grow experience. A training garden has been specifically designed for Help Yourself Grow and has been developed at the site adjacent to one of our partners the Jeely Piece Club. The garden features a geodesic dome for sowing and growing, raised beds designed for wheel chair accessibility, an orchard, a sensory/biodiversity garden area and a community growing space. Our trainees are supported to undertake a range of tasks as they work towards the Caley “Grow and Learn” horticultural award. This is an award which is accredited by the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society and has two levels as follows:

Grow and Learn Roots: this is the starting point of the learning and introduces the learner to core horticulture tasks. Learners can then choose which additional horticultural related activities they wish to undertake as well as setting themselves personal goals too.  Some of the activities which are covered with Grow and Learn are digging, composting, sowing seeds, growing fruit and veg, plant care and planting out.

Grow and Learn Nurture: following completion of Grow and Learn Roots, learners can progress to Grow and Learn Nurture to build on existing skills and knowledge.

Both levels of award recognise individual progress and achievement through experiential learning and personal development. A portfolio is developed for each trainee, as evidence of their activities and development.

The award offers the learner a structured framework to work within, but it is also flexible enough to ensure a person centred approach at all times. This makes the award ideally suited for those with a learning disability. The award is normally made after around 12 months of attending the gardening project and no prior horticultural knowledge is required.  See http://www.rchs.co.uk/education/grow-learn for more information.