Radcliffe Brownies have completed their Great Growing Challenge and earned their Grow Your Own badges after taking part in a ‘soil to plate’ experience with Radcliffe Community Gardens.
The group took over two small plots at the community garden’s Lees Barn allotment to plant and grow potatoes, tomatoes, beans, courgettes, carrots, onions and a giant pumpkin.
Community Garden volunteers also led sessions on bugs and beasties in the garden, the ecosystem of a garden and harvesting seeds to grow again next year.
The experience culminated in an evening at the allotment with the Brownies eating pizza topped with passata from their tomatoes and chocolate brownies made with the courgettes.
Alice Carlisle from Radcliffe Community Gardens, said: “It was a pleasure to have the Brownies at the community garden.
“They were very enthusiastic about the project, especially getting their hands dirty with digging and weeding.
“We also enjoyed seeing their surprise when they realised they were eating cake with vegetables in!”
Brownies leader Victoria Barlow, said:
“We had a fabulous time on our three visits to the allotments.
“It was brilliant to see the gardens in three different seasons and then experience the different jobs of a gardener, from planting seeds to harvesting.
“Some of the girls went on to take their Grow Your Own badge, and they all loved eating the pizza and brownies packed with hidden vegetables! What a great plan this was.”
Community gardens provide the opportunity to grow fruit and vegetables but with a greater emphasis on sharing skills, bringing people together and giving back to the community. Radcliffe Community Gardens began in 2020 and is made up of a small committee and a group of local volunteers whose skills range from extensive gardening experience to no gardening experience at all.
With several raised beds located around the village, as well as two allotment plots, Radcliffe Community Gardens aims to grow organically, using peat free, low plastic, nature friendly gardening.
The group meets every first and third Saturday of the month at 9.30am at Lees Barn Allotments.
For more information visit the Facebook page or email radcliffecommunitygardens@hotmail.com
The Great Growing Challenge was funded by the East Midlands Rail Community Fund.