The
Meaning
Here’s what Blooming Gardeners Means to us
Here’s what Blooming Gardeners Means to us:
A Snapshot of quotes from our:
• Gardeners
• Volunteers
• Staff
• Support workers
• Carers/parents/guardians
Gardeners:
• I like planting flowers in the boxes. I am learning to grow fruit trees.
• I like finding the biggest vegetables to give to the foodbank
• I love sitting in the hut around the fire and chatting. The staff (trainers) are great, they help me when I get cross.
• I enjoy talking with the young people and working together.
• You get gardening experience which you can use at the field (other site in Alness) and at home.
• I like working with X (trainer) to learn new things about gardening
• Sometimes I am sad when I come here, but I get happier through the day with (trainer) and my friends
• I like learning new craft work and painting with (trainer). I have already made some (wooden) planters which we sell
• I love working outside because everyone is so friendly.
• Being here makes me a great gardener! I learn a lot about gardening.
• When I first came here all I did was weeding. But now I can grow lovely flowers which we can sell
• Being outside and working is good for your health
• I love having tea breaks and talking about Ross County with my friends
• I like being in the fresh air and watching the scenery (nature)
• I like pointing out to my mum the planters in the high street that I made
• I planted sunflowers and collected the seeds to plant next year. I have made pretty planters for the high street. Everybody says they are nice.
• I like raking and digging and pulling out thistles and feeding the chickens.
Volunteers
- I love helping the gardeners to grow vegetables and chat with them about Strictly!
- Coming to Blooming gardeners is a joyful experience. It’s amazing how many people are supported in the community.
- It’s the most welcoming, supportive, inclusive group I’ve ever encountered. I’ve got so much out of it.
- I’d encourage anyone thinking of volunteering with Blooming Gardeners to do it.
- The day-to-day running of the project is undertaken by three salaried part-time horticultural trainers who work closely with our gardeners. The project runs 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year.
Parents/Guardians/Carers:
• Blooming Gardeners gives my son a sense of purpose and direction, he gets up in the morning happy he is going to work. He is a lot happier at home as a result.
• With my own health problems I struggle to look after my son. Gardeners gives me a wee break.
• If it was not for Blooming Gardeners my daughter would be at home watching TV all day.
• My son struggles with his emotions, when he is physically active he is a lot happier.
• The project is a lifeline – simple as that.
One Gardener’s Story (written jointly by the gardener and his parents)
I attended the gardening project that was previously run by NHS Highland for about 6 years. When we heard it was to close in 2019 my parents and I were devastated. When Blooming Gardeners was set up, and allowed the gardening project to continue without any period of time when I had nowhere to go, was fantastic news. If I didn’t attend Blooming Gardeners 3 days a week, I would have absolutely nothing else to do on these days. I would attend Blooming Gardeners on more days if funding was available.
I have learnt so many horticultural skills during my time with Blooming Gardeners and I really enjoy the social side of things. My friends are my colleagues, the trainers, and co-gardeners at Blooming Gardeners.
I really enjoy my days at Blooming Gardeners as you are made to feel part of a team and we have lots of tasks to do that makes my day feel so rewarding.
It has also been a massive help to my mum and dad as we don’t know what we could have done without Blooming Gardeners. The time our son spends at Blooming Gardeners takes the pressure off us and allows us some time to get on with other day to day tasks.
Gardeners’ support assistants:
• It’s a great atmosphere – relaxed, easy going, but doing amazing work. Its great to see how much (gardener) has developed in his confidence and skills
• I love coming here and seeing how (gardener) really concentrates to learn new things. She is so proud of what she achieves
• It’s a great opportunity for folk to come together in such a positive, healthy environment. Its so much better that watching TV.
