Our Community Current Projects Produce to Plate Community Plant Swaps Community Plant Swaps We built five pallet plant swap tables and gave these away to be managed by the community, with the idea being that these would stay in circulation and the responsibility for managing these be rotated, generating community interest and support and also raising money for Outside Lives and other charities! We made the local papers too! WHY START A PLANT SWAP IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Encourage the benefits of 'growing your own' food at home Create something positive in the community Raise money for a local cause or community garden project Work together to keep the stand stocked Retain and encourage a strong sense of community There's a real link between gardening and being outside and improved mental and physical wellbeing and this is really important to us. The connection between nature and wellbeing as you will know, is key to our focuses here at Outside Lives and is a golden thread through many, if not all of the projects we run for the community. WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO CREATE YOUR OWN TABLE... A plant swap table - you can either use a trestle table or make one like we did out of pallets / old wood A collection tin for donations - we used some wonderful ceramic pigs from Spavens in Mold A plant swap poster for the table - maybe work together to create your own artwork (make sure it's weatherproof) A little blackboard for your stock - we painted some old boards with blackboard paint! Some compost Small envelopes for your seeds Some plant pots for people to take - and encourage people to donate their old plant pots too! Chalk and plant labels - old lolly sticks or cut pieces of plastic from your recycling tub will work too! A GREAT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY FOR SCHOOLS! Aside from watering the plants and taking care of them (no one wants to buy / swap for a sad plant!), there's so much to learn from running a plant table which could cover lots of core areas as detailed below... Design posters and flyers to let the community know that it's there - ART Decide who you'll fundraise for and manage the donations (remember to bring this in daily and count the donations) - MATHS Be encouraged to stock the table by growing bits at home - the SCIENCE of growing Let the community know its there! Perhaps write a news paper article? - MEDIA Take photos that document your progress - PHOTOGRAPHY Write a story about why this is good for a community. What positive things have you observed? - CREATIVE WRITING Interview the people that use it and gather community feedback - COMMUNITY WORK It really is something for everyone, young and old and of all abilities! Need a little more encouragement? Listen to what last year's plant swap table custodians had to say!