Volunteers (workers, people with burnout, unemployed, people with psychological disabilities, asylum seekers) grow vegetables together, under the guidance of a garden coordinator, for people who have to get by on little money and therefore buy few fresh vegetables.
Problems and purpose
In 2020, 700 private households in Middelburg were in poverty for four years or longer (income excluding benefits below €9,250 per year). People in such circumstances often buy too few vegetables to put a healthy meal on the table. The primary goal of CitySeeds is to provide these individuals with free home-grown vegetables. A second main goal is to offer meaningful daytime activities to people with free time or few opportunities for a regular job. In addition, secondary goals have been set, such as vegetable garden and nature education for children from primary schools in the area, involving local residents and strengthening the ecological quality of the environment.
Background history and context
CitySeeds was founded in 2013 from a Christian church community. The group of volunteers soon became more diverse in composition. People from all backgrounds are now welcome. Horticulture started on a site of 5,000 square meters, which lay fallow because planned housing construction stagnated due to the financial crisis of 2008. The land was made available free of charge by the municipality of Middelburg. In 2019, the vegetable garden was moved to three lawns between social housing flats, where approximately 3,000 square meters are in use. Volunteers work one to three mornings a week. Customers receive a referral from a social work organization or another organization that knows that too few fresh vegetables are purchased due to poverty. Customers come to pick up vegetables once a week. Due to the location between the flats, where some of the customers live, it becomes natural to try to involve these residents as volunteers in the work in the garden. And to contribute to strengthening vitality and interconnectedness in an environment where many people live on their own. Care for the earth was already working without chemicals and later the motivation arose to increase biodiversity and ecological quality.
Organizing, supporting and financing entities
In the beginning, almost everything was done by volunteers. A coordinator and material expenses were paid from incidental start-up contributions from private funds. After this lapsed, it turned out that the unpaid coordination, which was taken up by an enthusiastic retired volunteer, was too heavy ("I have never had to work so hard"). The municipality of Middelburg offered financing because of the meaningful daytime activities for some of the volunteers, who would otherwise be eligible for subsidized professional daytime activities. This financing amounts to approximately €24,000 per year. At the location between the flats, the social housing organization provided the land, three garages for storing materials and an apartment with a kitchen and coffee area free of charge.
Recruitment and selection of participants
Participants (volunteers) are recruited via the website, social media and via the vacancy bank of the welfare organization of the municipality of Middelburg. Residents of the asylum seeker center come to work through this welfare organization. There are publications in local newspapers several times a year. In addition, word-of-mouth advertising is important. Some of the volunteers cannot be assigned normal duties. They can participate in the work within their capabilities. The care of ex-detainees and young people with criminal contacts turned out to be impossible without professional guidance for these target groups.
The recruitment of participants (customers) is done through organizations that are familiar with the people and their situation. After receiving a referral letter, these participants are registered and invited to pick up vegetables.
Methods and tools used
Horticulture takes place without fertilizers and pesticides. Most seeds and planting material are of organic origin. A food forest was created in 2021 and part of the site was designed according to the principles of agro-forestry. Biodiversity is increased by adding landscape elements (wadi, cairns, etc.).
The work in the fields is planned and managed by paid field coordinators. The volunteers are welcomed and supervised by a paid volunteer coordinator. Some volunteers form the formal board of the foundation, which maintains formal relationships with the housing organization and the municipality. The board also takes care of the financial administration.
What happened: process, interaction and participation
The initiative lay with a small, close-knit group of pioneers who wanted to help people with poverty by growing vegetables for them. Private funds helped with the start. The municipality was helpful in obtaining land. Changes quickly took place in the group, causing the group was composed more diversely. There is a relatively strong flow of volunteers. New volunteers often lack clarity about structure, roles and working methods. Gradually they notice how it works and their influence increases.
Prior to the relocation, a location survey was conducted under the supervision of the municipality, which ultimately led to the acceptance of the housing organization's offer, which had been made early in the process.
Occasionally organizations visit to view the project, such as the supervisory board of the social housing organization and scientific researchers. People find it remarkable that this initiative differs from other Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), because there is no affluent group of buyers.
Influence, results and effects
Approximately 25 volunteers work for more than 60 client families. Not every volunteer or customer comes every week. About 750 benefits are provided per year (that is, a customer comes and takes vegetables as needed for his family). The volunteers are not classified based on characteristics. It is a challenge to properly deal with the vulnerabilities that people notice in each other. People are proud when problems are solved. It is based on the positive contribution that everyone can make to the community.
Analysis and lessons learned
An initiative that arises in a specific group can open up to others and become widely accessible. Private funds do not yet contribute to the maintenance of initiatives, even though there is a need for this. Municipalities and social housing organizations are sometimes prepared to provide the conditions for maintaining an initiative. In an organization with a large turnover of volunteers, a paid coordinator is important for continuity. Vulnerable people are often difficult to commit to an organization for a longer period of time. The promising people also move on to (better) paying organizations after some time.
Also see
https://cityseeds-middelburg.nl