Chillies and roses
Inspiring multi-ethnic involvement at community gardens and farms
Written by Kerry Rowe. Photo by Perry Barr.
City farms and community gardens are unique environments that provide a wealth of stimulating activities and opportunities for local people. Ensuring these benefi ts are accessible to all, including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, is a challenge that requires a thoughtful, innovative approach.
More than 70 per cent of BAME communities live in many of the most deprived urban areas in the country. As a result, the local community garden or city farm is often one of the few areas of green space available, placing it in a unique position to actively engage with diverse ethnic groups.
Many of the hundreds of city farms and community gardens in the UK do this successfully. They present a safe and welcoming environment where people from BAME communities can try a range of activities, such as ethnic food-growing projects, arts initiatives and events based on tasting and sharing food from different cultures. Individuals from BAME communities are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities not just as visitors, but also as club members, volunteers, staff or board members…