Now we are three
In April 2021 I surveyed the empty building and 8 acres of land at Roots4Life and thought to myself ‘What a project, what a space, what an opportunity!’
Growing up as the daughter of a fifth generation Kentish farmer, my childhood was mud, streams, harvesting my brother’s potatoes and hop-picking. In early September the farm came alive with temporary workers for a week and the heady smell of dried of hops. It was a wonderful childhood - outdoors in the mud, rain and occasional sunshine.
In the early 2000s I moved to London to work in charities. As a child I had laid in our fields of wheat and watched planes overhead. I wanted to travel and see the world but also help people. International development was my calling for over 17 years until sat in Geneva airport for three days in a conference watching planes taking off and landing, I wonder how much of airport work life I could take.
So I changed sector to manage an environmental education centre in Deptford. My commute to work always involved two minutes reflection in the morning watching the tide either drift slowing in or out. My work environment finally involved the outdoors.
But in March 2020 Covid hit and in July 2020 I was placed on furlough. While my partner and I had an allotment to grow I also wanted my furlough time to be meaningful so I started offering my services as a volunteer fundraiser to small charities and Roots4Life appeared on my radar.
The site, the vision and the premise was all perfect with the world in flux - green rights where 1 in 5 Londoners has access to a garden or green space, the opportunity to grow food and teach others to do so, plus a teaching kitchen for plot to pot and healthy cooking lessons. Led by Izzy (now our Deputy Manager) Roots4Life had done some astounding work delivering healthy meals to Greenwich residents in much need. I was hooked and very much in!
After several months volunteering as a fundraiser, I started as Manager. Our first event was a free picnic for local families who had been affected by the Covid Pandemic and I had 10 days to equip a kitchen, Covid-safety and compliance the building and grounds (indeed no visitors where allowed in the building apart from to use the toilet!).
I think it has been safe to say Roots4Life has been a whirlwind since! From our first Roots4Summer camp opened by Levi Roots, to all 450 Wyborne Primary School pupils visiting on one day for Science Week to our most recent Jubilee Meal with 100 visitors, it is amazing to reflect that we have welcome over 2,000 visitors now.
But there is much work to be done. Times are increasingly hard and our vision of being a grow bank, offering exercise, green space and healthy food for all, is much needed.
Which is why this blog post is entitled ‘Now we are three’. In December it was fantastic to have Izzy back as our Deputy Manager. In charge of the kitchens, Izzy and an amazing team of volunteers and freelance sessional deliverers, having been cooking up a storm. From beetroot brownies to healthy chicken burgers, the Roots4Youth Cookery Clubs where a massive hit with children and parents alike. Our last community meal was the best yet with 100 people attending. In April we welcome Cat Flannery as our gardener. With a back in horticultural therapy, Cat brings a wealth of knowledge on how green therapy can really help.
I don’t have much time to contemplate and watch planes at work right now. We are all so ambitious about what we what to achieve and what needs to happen. There is so much need. So if you have time, or no time but resources be it goods, money to donate or contacts and networks, get in touch.
With green love,
Sophie
