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Gardening opportunities with Faiths 4 Change at St Michaels!

Sep 8, 2020

Chaplain contact: Lilly Nelson

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A weekly wellbeing space for students

Connect with the heart & natural rhythm of Liverpool! Roots in the City is a dynamic partnership between St Michael’s in the City & the environmental charity Faiths4Change. Together we’re creating a community connected eco hub in central Liverpool. We’re currently rethinking our seasonal celebrations in the garden and pondering forest church. But right now we can offer a distinct nature connected, weekly wellbeing space for students beginning in early October 2020 in the amazing Roots community garden. 

Looking for a gentle, quiet time out to reflect or have a cuppa outdoors?  Or more physical activities such as digging & tree planting?  We’ll be foraging in the garden and making natural good stuff to take away too as the weather gets a bit cooler & blustery.  The church hall offers us a cosy indoor place.

Opportunities to grow

Places are limited to 8 and booking is required, we may run more than one session if there is high demand. It is funded, although donations are welcome. In partnership with Myerscough College we’re offering a fully funded City & Guilds Horticulture course. This consists of one unit a week – for those who want to gain a recognised growing qualification too. This practical course also has 8 places and begins in early October too. Interested in either opportunity?  Email Annie [email protected] or text 07976 205 629 for more info or to reserve a place. Check out www.faiths4change.org.uk & find us on Twitter @faiths4change

The once overgrown and inaccessible land around the church is now a thriving community garden where people and nature flourish as one. Pre lockdown the garden offered a beautiful space to share lunch, make friends, learn, grow, dig and connect.  The many people who once attended agreed to our Coordinator & Volunteer turning more of the garden over to grow delicious organic veg & herbs for the food bank at St Brides hosted by Micah Liverpool.

So far we’ve grown & distributed almost 100kg of veg & herbs from chard and rhubarb, to basil and thyme to folk attending the foodbank, it’s harvested in the morning & distributed in the afternoon. Seasonal, fresh, tasty, highly nutritious & quality food!

Organic Therapy

But Roots is so much more than growing food to eat. People attending talk of “organic therapy”, “relief from anxiety” and “a little haven in the city centre to listen to the birds & smell the flowers”.  The small congregation are delighted and have enjoyed welcoming other congregations to celebrate in the garden, harvest 2019 saw over 50 people of all ages attend, share breakfast & give thanks together.

Author: Annie Merry – Director of Faiths for Change

Find Your Steeple Contact: Lilly Nelson (St Luke in the city)

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