Masters of gardening
Post categories: compost,Ìýinspiration,Ìýorganic gardening,Ìýseasonal tips,Ìýveg
| 12:13 UK time, Thursday, 24 March 2011
Growing cabbage isn't easy.
Islington Master Gardeners
First you need to get to grips with oddly firm planting: then urgent butterfly protection. That's where come in: they'll decode seed packets, interpret the mysteries of cabbage collars and generally save brassicas from potting shed dormancy, keeping new grow-your-own-ers growing.
These enthusiastic volunteers are recruited by national charity (previously known as the HDRA).
But Master Gardeners aren't Master Chefs. Nor can they match the towering expertise of a retired wood-turner I met at my local theatre, building sets. Volunteers include newer growers, because they know exactly what beginners are going through and can advise them so well. , for example: she helped 79-year-old Pearl to grow seedlings in her flat for the first time.
So young cabbages are witnessing Master Gardeners in their 20s to 80s, from two years' spud growing experience to decades - but all helping their community. Beverly in Norfolk, for example, supports whole families with her . Ted helps ; while Nigel in Warwickshire mentors 13 office buddies at a well-known carmaker.
London Master Gardeners are often spotted in community gardens, such as in Islington where and swap tips at events. While south of the river, Claire volunteers across Wandsworth, Lambeth and Southwark using to inspire locals, including Wimbledon Transition Town.
This cascade learning began with the setting up of the '' scheme a few years ago. Now there are over 550 volunteers nationally, also supported by Garden Organic. They reported lots of fruit and veg questions prompted by renewed national interest, but saw the need for a horticultural shoulder to cry on when cabbage lost 'heart', so to speak.
Master Gardeners in training
Many of us have already had a 'Master Gardener' in our lives: I'm still grateful to my childhood neighbour, Ivor. He explained the virtues of mulching when my sweetcorn had no ambition. Then I learned to temper humidity to favour my greenhouse cucumbers rather than delight grey mould (Botrytis cinerea).
But for those who haven't got a ready source of help and advice, Master Gardeners are there, stopping new allotment holders staring at empty plots after 10 years on the waiting list without a clue what to do next, and offering inspiration to disappointed windowsill growers.
Since launching in May 2010, I'm proud of the 10,000 food-growing conversations Master Gardeners have had; that's nearly 2,000 hours, and soon 500 mentored households. The subtle logo (with subtle polo-shirt to match!) unites 200 volunteers in four UK areas.
The diversity in the ways these lovely volunteers reach people upholds my belief that food growing is accessible to all: there's such inventiveness and enthusiasm, like when taking home his windowbox filled with pea seedlings after an event.
Yet that's not to say we don't disagree sometimes - and I warmly encourage Master Gardeners to do so. During training, my team of excellent co-ordinators and I still haven't got a consensus over when to sow carrots. And this is wonderful! An open-minded, learning attitude involves Master Gardeners with communities rather than putting them off.
Master Gardeners are looking for another 100 new volunteers and hundreds more new growers to mentor in , , , and - and now .
We're also looking to . You can .
Philip Turvil is a horticultural adviser for Garden Organic and runs the Master Gardeners programme.
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