This summer is the best time to KICKSTART your own 'Mini Growing Space' .
Congratulations on taking the first step to transform your small outdoor space! We are here to help and guide you in this straightforward process to ensure a successful start!
First, once you have registered and received the allocation of the funding for your community, please remember to complete your application and challenge as quickly as you can!
The quicker you complete your challenge, the faster we can help! It's only 5 simple steps to get started!
So apply today to receive 8 weeks of continuous support for your mini team of growers!
This summer is the best time to KICKSTART your own 'Mini Growing Space' .
Congratulations on taking the first step to transform your small outdoor space! We are here to help and guide you in this straightforward process to ensure a successful start!
First, once you have registered and received the allocation of the funding for your community, please remember to complete your application and challenge as quickly as you can!
The quicker you complete your challenge, the faster we can help! It's only 5 simple steps to get started!
So apply today to receive 8 weeks of continuous support for your mini team of growers!
Last week the children started planting their garden! They learnt all about the gardening club and worked as a group to plant the dahlia flowers, white onions and hyssop. They had so much fun and were all very excited!
The first group of orders have been placed for our nursery garden!
All deliveries should be here by the end of the week and we are all very excited to get started with planting and upkeep of our lovely garden.
Hello the Acorn Team, following the site visit last month, I have now some ideas for you for the planters. Thank you for your feedback on the original thoughts and ideas. When would be a convenient time to meet next to get started with the purchase then build of your mini growing space? Looking forward to get you started and create your beautiful place for your children! Pascale
Quick update!
Site visit has not being done today (5thSep) and it was such a pleasure to visit your school and you future growing space!
Lots of wonderful ideas and potential. We are now moving on to the design phase.
Suggestions for the space:
Kitchen Garden : 2 raised beds, against/along white fence (opposite the dollhouse)
Growing area (for leafy vegetable and more. 2 long beds (100-110cm each)
Woodland corner : bug hotel, ladybird hotel and other wooden features , + small water feature for birds?, bird box (in the tree)...
Potting area + window boxes (near a bar or some fixings) : long bench for the kids to do potting and gardening, potting tray, gardening tools, etc..; underneath would go the 2 small trunks to free the space for the woodland corner....
Planting design will be finalised once the raised beds and material has been ordered.
Other Suggestion:
move and possibly repaint the storage to a 'nature wall' : kids and parents could be involved at some point in that stage.
Drawings of nature/animals on white wall.
Action steps:
1) get second opinion & approval of design with the team
2) get exact measurement of the outdoor space
3) make final changes to the design (ask site manager to send plan if possible)
4) once all the above are done, make a list of all the material needed and search for the right deals. We suggest that you order once everyone is happy with the plan.
5) once material is ordered, organise a day to build everything... its nice to get people like parents to help with the soil bit and planting too !!
Let me know if you have any questions and remember that I am here to help you achieve your project so feel free to post your questions here or join the weekly call with the other groups (will send an email for the link) !
Hello The Acorn Nursery team! Please do get in touch soon to kickstart your project! The next step is to schedule a quick call and also a site visit before design and planting are planned.
Looking forward to working with you team soon!
Well done for completing all the steps! Looking forward to connect to plan your future space!
Action plan:
Timeline: When will you be able to start your project? How often will your team meet? Are there any key dates to share for the project? - We will start our project from the 2nd week of September and will be meeting biweekly.
Budget: You don't need to share exact prices, but please share how you're planning to spend the seed funding & what costs you're anticipating to get your project up and running:- We are planning on spending the funding on seeds and tools needed to start and maintain our project.
Location: If your project requires physical space, have you decided the location? Do you have all necessary permission and permits to carry out your project at the chosen location?- No permits are needed, the project will be in our nursery garden.
Additional questions
Please answer the questions below as much as you can.
Growing Space will review the information you provide before your kickstart call.
This will help save time and get you started straight on your project once you receive your seed funding!
1) Please take a few pictures of your site (at different time of the day ideally and when the sun is out).
2) Please write here a small description of what you would ideally like to achieve- Ideally we hope to achieve a small and sustainable garden so that childen can learn about the process of growing vegetables, herbs, fruit as well as learn about the enviroment around them.
3) Please confirm the age group of children you are working with and that will be involved in the implementation of your project- 2-4 years old.
4) Please give us the estimate of the number of children that your new Mini Growing Space will benefit (can be directly and indirectly)- 85 children who are part of the nursery.
5) What activities do you plan to offer that will include your community (other than children) (for instance, parents, neighbours, extended families of children or else, elderly people) - For the children and extended family to enjoy the garden space, be part of growing and maintaining the space. Bringing the community together.
6) What do you already have in your site that can be reused (material, structures etc)?- 1 raised flower bed.
7) Water access - please state if you have water access on your site and if you are willing to install a water butt (not obligatory) - We have water access, 1 tap and hosepipe.
8) Please confirm in writing here that you have permission from a manager or landlord (of the building or head of a school (as necessary) that says that they are happy to make the improvement of their outdoor space and let you lead the project.- I have permission from the head of school Carla Rodrigues.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ask a written permission to the site owner. The process is simple but essential to avoid delays in the future. This can be done an email or official head letter from a landlord or manager etc. Thank you for being diligent.
That’s all for now!
We are excited to get you started!