Incredible Edible Dunstable, The Story so Far 

This is a guest-blog post from Albert Timson and the team at Incredible Edible Dunstable.

Our group, or as we like to say ‘team’, owing to the fact that we have an aim for all who work or support the garden, was formed out of a vision by our founder, inspiration and leader Mrs. Sahira Ward.  Sahira approached our local council in 2013, to ask permission to cultivate a neglected piece of waste ground (formerly a grassed area, surrounded by shrubs and brambles with a pathway through the middle) using the concept of Incredible Edible and using the organic ‘NO DIG’ system promoted by Charles Dowding. 

In that first year on all grass areas, mostly lost under weeds, brambles and rubbish, we built raised beds, raspberry rows, a Herb Pyramid and planted a few fruit trees. All other areas/pathways were covered with clippings to suppress weeds. The new beds were topped or built up with local ‘Top Soil’, and local horse manure. All proceeding beds, are treated in the same way. 

We meet indoors in January when very little work is needed in our garden, apart from tidying up after Christmas revellers and bad weather, to discuss and make a plan for what we want to grow in the garden.  We discuss what was most successful and look back at the 10%ish made over to experimental fruit and vegetables. We allocate specific areas to individuals who take responsibility for their area, knowing that each of us are there to support each other when help is needed. Success can only be measured by seeing all of the food harvested and none going to waste. Some crops do grow better, and keeping plants well-watered in the past summers has been one of our biggest challenges. So, runner beans will not be; but white aubergines will be (as an experiment) a part of our offering.  

We lost the well-designed hexagonal bench supplied by the local council when an established tree blew down during one of the high winds. We replaced it with two picnic benches, placed in the garden and already have a sitting bench in the disability (wheelchair access) area across the slip road. Shop staff and customers, and local workmen use them on a regular basis, taking a handful of fruit fresh from the garden, when in season. The young tend to use them as a place to ‘hang-out’. Local residents use the garden and often leave excess plants near the benches, for us to plant out as well as egg shells and coffee bags, which we use to deter slugs and snails. 

Top tips for growing in local spaces are KISS: Keep it Simple, S****d. It means anyone can join in and help with the planting and growing, especially as many are fair-weather helpers and the gardens are accessible at all times. We put notices up to let people know what area plants are ready for harvesting (and where they are not). We grow easily identifiable plants, or use signs to say what they are and how to use them. 

Local businesses are, by definition, in business to support their families by supplying customers needs. They see us as a great advantage for getting people to shop locally. We also are a great benefit to their staff’s well-being – support must never be measured in finance alone! 

A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.  

Growing food for others, is one of the aims of our volunteers. It highlights one of the most basic needs of all of us to give our lives purpose and meaning. We have some regular volunteers who were with us at the beginning of 2013 and one who has started this year with others in between. Being part of the team means developing friendships which exist outside the gardens work. Each of us are motivated to be altruistic for different reasons. One of our young mums wants for her children to see she is taking the challenges of climate change and carbon footprint seriously, by working with nature. We want to support her in that quest, as do all who are thinking of generations to come. 

Our fund raising has been irregular. We have won funding from competitions and requested grants in support of specific building projects. Plants, seeds, compost when and where needed are paid mostly by volunteers, our manure is dug & bagged by us and delivered by the local council.