Estimated Price

£4,400

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Summary

Our project empowers people to grow their own food in small spaces using pots, buckets, and gardens. Through free, hands-on workshops, participants gain practical skills, boost wellbeing, and contribute to climate action—creating stronger, more resilient communities.

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Description

Project Title: Grow at Home: Urban Food Growing for All

Project Description

Planetary Healing Centre, in partnership with The FREE Company, will deliver Grow at Home: Urban Food Growing for All-a practical, community-led initiative that empowers adults across Edinburgh to grow their own food, regardless of space or experience. This project will offer twice-monthly, hands-on workshops at The FREE Company’s Cockdurno Farm, led by two experienced facilitators. Each session will welcome up to 16 participants and focus on practical, low-cost methods for growing food in small urban spaces such as buckets, pots, balconies, windowsills, and gardens.

What We Will Do with the Funding The funding will cover facilitator costs, materials (including seeds, containers, and compost), and coordination, enabling us to run 8 free workshops over 12 months. Sessions will cover topics such as soil health, container planting, seasonal growing, composting, organic methods, and seed saving. The programme is designed to be inclusive and trauma-informed, welcoming those with no prior experience and removing financial and knowledge-based barriers to participation.

Who Will Benefit The project is open to all adults in Edinburgh, with a focus on:

People experiencing mental health challenges, who will benefit from the therapeutic effects of growing and group support.

Individuals affected by the cost of living crisis, who will gain skills to grow affordable, nutritious food at home.

Urban residents with limited or no access to green space, especially those in flats or overcrowded housing.

Minority ethnic communities, who are often underrepresented in environmental initiatives.

Socially isolated individuals, including older adults, carers, and people in recovery.

Environmentally conscious individuals seeking practical ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Total of participants = 8 sessions of 16 people = 128. We usually expect 75% returning, therefore we estimate a total of 96 people will benefit if we count returning people.

   

Expected Impacts Participants will:

Gain knowledge and confidence to grow food at home, improving access to fresh, healthy produce.

Experience improved wellbeing, reduced social isolation, and increased community connections.

Contribute to Edinburgh’s 2030 Climate Strategy by reducing reliance on high-emission supermarket produce and building local food resilience.

Share their skills and learning with family, neighbours, and wider networks, amplifying the project’s impact.

Alignment with Fund Priorities This project directly supports the Grow Your Own Fund’s aims by:

Creating new, accessible food growing opportunities.

Providing education and training in urban food growing.

Reducing food waste and promoting sustainable, low-carbon lifestyles.

Engaging underrepresented and disadvantaged groups in community growing.

Project Timeline and Budget The project will run for 12 months, with 8 workshops held per year. The grant will be used for:

Facilitator fees (£40 per session x 2 facilitators x 8 sessions)= £1600

Growing materials (seeds, compost, containers, insurance, volunteer expenses, monitoring and evaluation, etc) £800 

Coordination and outreach to ensure the programme is accessible and reaches those most in need. £2000

Total = £4400

Measuring Success We will track participant attendance, collect feedback, and assess skill development through pre- and post-programme surveys. We will encourage participants to report on their home food growing and share stories of impact within their communities. Regular updates will be shared with funders and the wider public through newsletters, social media, and our website.

Summary By making food growing accessible, practical, and inspiring, Grow at Home: Urban Food Growing for All will help build a healthier, more resilient, and climate-conscious Edinburgh-one balcony, bucket, and windowsill at a time.

This description aligns with the Grow Your Own Fund guidelines, clearly addressing what you will do, who will benefit, expected impacts, alignment with fund priorities, and how you will measure success