Words & Pictures by Harvey Smart
This summer saw 10th anniversary celebrations for Bellsmyre community garden.
Since taking over the derelict plot of land on Whiteford Avenue a decade ago, the gardens have expanded dramatically, growing from a small community garden to a highly successful model for similar projects across West Dunbartonshire.
As well as growing their own space the local community gardeners have shared their knowledge and provided materials, support and training for the likes of CATRA gardens in Alexandria, Knowetop in Castlehill and Beardmore Gardens in Dalmuir.
They are now also developing eco-friendly techniques – saving money and increasing their growing season.
Recently they replaced their diesel generator with solar panels, supplying them with power for their tools and appliances. As there are no mains electricity or water connections on site the excess energy charges two large lithium-ion battery banks.
“We were using maybe a grand a year in diesel, plus it’s a lot easier, cleaner and quieter,” Martin Love, chairman of the project, explains.
The solar panels were provided by the owner of a local business that sells them for a living.
His donation is a testament to the positive impact the gardens have had on the community over the past 10 years.
Martin adds: “He had a wee girl who would come in for strawberries, about a year old – she’s probably about Primary 3 now. I’ll never forget that.”
Her dad was so grateful to the gardens for supplying her with fresh strawberries over the years that he provided the panels free of charge.
“He gave us the solar panels and we bought the batteries ourselves. They’re absolutely brilliant,” Martin beams proudly.
When I visit the site on a rare sunny day in September, the batteries are full, despite the draw from a cement mixer and vibrator, which are being used to build raised garden beds out of concrete, which they supply to other gardens.
These will last far longer than the wood ones which tend to rot after years of exposure to the elements.
The growth of the gardens can only be owed to the graft of Martin and fellow volunteers, with most of the guys there today having backgrounds in the trades.
“After retirement, I needed something to do. I grew up in the area so it’s good to give something back to the community,” one comments.
“I’ve known Martin for years,” another tells me. “I just bumped into him one day and that was it. I got press-ganged!”
A lot of hard work has gone into building the gardens into what they are today, complete with polytunnels, woodworking shop, and more than 60 raised beds of their own, from which much of the fresh produce is sold to the local community to fund new projects.
“We do everything ourselves,” says Martin. “With doing the beds, selling the flowers and the veg, we make enough to keep ourselves going.”
The crew hope that the new solar panels will allow them to keep growing inside over the winter, despite the reduced sun and shorter days.
“We need to wait and see what the winter is like. If we get enough energy over the winter, we’ll maybe do hydroponics, so we can have salads and that going. But you need heat and lights.”
Beyond the next growing season, Martin wants to encourage more young people to get involved.
“We’re all getting to that age where all the ailments start to happen” he says, gesturing to the guys sitting around the table, sipping cups of coffee.
“We need more young blood in. But if they’re working they can only come in on weekends.
“The few sponsors we have aren’t willing to give money to fill a job. They’ll give for basic things, but they don’t want to provide 20 – 30 grand a year for somebody to come in and run it.
“If we could get that, that would be ideal.”
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