Root Connections

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is a beautiful charity based near Radstock in Stratton-on-the Fosse.

They have a market garden which offers veg boxes to the community, as well as cut flowers and regular market stalls also offering their wares.

This is just the outward productivity of the site though because the real work is being done with the individuals who are coming together to make the project possible.



The project here involves the residents of the Dairy House, a rural homeless shelter where support is given to those struggling with addiction and circumstances. The residents help out in the market garden with all sorts of tasks and over twelve weeks, find themselves back on a path to recovery.



The flowers are sold on a subscription or one-off basis and are very popular during the growing season. As we get into October, the fresh flowers will be less available and more emphasis placed on dried flowers and wreaths.



The charity also provides space for those with learning difficulties to get horticultural therapy on the site with their support workers.



On Tuesdays, they have a land day which at the moment is also including a City & Guilds diploma course, so that volunteers and residents alike can gain a qualification while working on the land.



As you can see, the set-up here is already quite well developed but they are extending up the field beyond where they already have polytunnels for winter growing and plants that like it a bit hotter.



The bean supports in the background here were put together by a former resident with no training who figured out a way to get the supports to fit without any nails or connecting material. It is self-supporting and not only that was made entirely from Willow grown onsite.



We have been volunteering on Friday mornings and it has been a real treat for us. We even helped out on their market stall one week when the regular person was not available.



#charity
#environment
#Florists
#free
#gardening
#near_bath
#outdoor
%wnbath