Food / Kitchen / Sup Sup Gardens
Table of Contents
Food / Kitchen / Sup Sup Gardens
The main focus of these gardens is to provide affordable food, but they can cover several bases at once.
These can help prevent food scarcity, reduce personal or community footprints, boost biodiversity, and provide social/educational opportunities.
Types of Plantings
Different climates and soils may require different methods to help your edible plants grow.
Beds
Herb Spirals
This is is similar to a raised bed, generally built with rocks or bricks to create the edges and help hold the soil in place. These are a great way to provide a variety of growing conditions (microclimates) in a very small space. Herbs that love dry soils should be planted at the top, and those that prefer more water can sit at lower levels of the spiral. Sun-loving plants can sit on the sunny side, while more delicate plants won't mind sitting in the shadier sections.
Raised Beds
In wetter climates with poor soil, raised beds can be a great solution for keeping roots from getting waterlogged, and you can easily build healthy soil on top of clay or other troublesome soil types. Raised beds are often lined with wood, but you should be careful to avoid treated wood, which (though it can last many years in a garden) eventually rots down and releases toxic chemicals into the soil. Bricks and concrete blocks can be used, but may heat up the soil making them inappropriate for hotter climates, or beneficial in colder climates. Metal (such as livestock troughs) can leach heavy metals into soil, and overheat soil. They can however help create particularly high raised beds, which is particularly helpful for people dealing with mobility issues. People with bad backs, or who use wheelchairs may still be able to garden so long as the bed is a reasonable height. If using a metal container, make sure to drill come drainage holes, so that your plants don't end up swimming in the event of heavy or prolonged rains.
Vertical Gardens
Waffle Gardens
These are ideal for places with long droughts and arid weather. Clay soil is perfect for creating the edges and sections of a waffle bed, but you could include soil amendments including compost and mulch to help boos soil nutrition and maintain moisture around the roots.
Considerations
Resources
Oceana
Australia
Powerful Pollinators "is a program designed to increase the prevalence, health and diversity of pollinators in the landscape. The program encourages the strategic planting of ‘trees for bees’ and other pollinators and provides Powerful Pollinators Planting Guides developed by experienced botanists and field ecologists for use by landholders.
The Guides specify relevant information about pollinator habitat and floral resources to enable users such as land managers, Landcare groups, nurseries and gardeners to select the most appropriate indigenous species that provide value for pollinators."
Solomon Islands
Supsup Garden (PDF) This guide contains photos and pictures to help beginner gardeners grow their own food.
Click the Seed button to the right to find our seed resources. They include guides and apps to help you find the right species for your area, seed swaps, seed libraries, and companies who sell organic or heirloom seeds.
Maps
International
Butterfly Conservation: Wild Spaces: Put Your Wild Space on the Map "Our interactive map shows the number and types of Wild Space near you. When you sign up in the UK, your Wild Space will also appear on the map so you can show everyone that you're taking action and encourage others to get involved too."
Europe
UK
Butterfly Conservation: Wild Spaces: Put Your Wild Space on the Map "Our interactive map shows the number and types of Wild Space near you. When you sign up in the UK, your Wild Space will also appear on the map so you can show everyone that you're taking action and encourage others to get involved too."
Grants & Funding
Europe
UK
National award schemes There are a number of key organisations offering grants and advice to community based projects e.g.
Big Lottery Fund "Groups can apply to us for funding under £20,000, or over £20,001, depending on what they want to do."
Heritage Fund "We fund projects of all sizes that connect people and communities to the UK’s heritage."
Grow Wild UK "Bringing people together to value and enjoy wildflowers and fungi"
North America
Mexico
Community Seed Grants (CSG) "are available once every year for school gardens and community organizations with regional and cultural connection to the NS/S seed collection. They are offered to garden projects working toward collective food security, seed sovereignty, traditional knowledge, education, and other efforts of community wellness. We do not require CSG recipients to save and return seeds, but encourage those who are able to do so, to provide seeds for their community.
Our region of focus is the Southwest, which generally includes: Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah, southern Colorado, western Oklahoma, western Texas, southern California, southern Nevada, and northwest Mexico. Native communities in arid places outside of this region may also apply.
We strive to support projects in Mexico. Due to mailing restrictions it is best if you have someone in the US who can receive and bring the seeds to Mexico.
USA
A Well Fed World "Apply for a grant to support your plant-based feeding, farming and/or advocacy."
Community Seed Grants (CSG) "are available once every year for school gardens and community organizations with regional and cultural connection to the NS/S seed collection. They are offered to garden projects working toward collective food security, seed sovereignty, traditional knowledge, education, and other efforts of community wellness. We do not require CSG recipients to save and return seeds, but encourage those who are able to do so, to provide seeds for their community.
Our region of focus is the Southwest, which generally includes: Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah, southern Colorado, western Oklahoma, western Texas, southern California, southern Nevada, and northwest Mexico. Native communities in arid places outside of this region may also apply.
We strive to support projects in Mexico. Due to mailing restrictions it is best if you have someone in the US who can receive and bring the seeds to Mexico.
Seed Libraries are eligible to receive one pre-selected variety each year. More information about seed library grants can be found here."Eat The Change "ETC Impact™ is a grant program working to promote and expand access to climate-friendly foods. We're donating more than $1.25 million over three years to support a diverse group of changemaking nonprofit organizations."
Seeds of Change Grant Program "A foundation helping individuals sow the seeds of a better world."
Oceana
Australia
Western Australia
The Sustainability Grants Program (in the City of Cockburn) "offers funding for projects related to six sustainability themes. Open to small businesses, schools, not-for-profits, and collective households, successful applicants can receive up to $4,000 for their project."