There is lots more than weeding that takes place at the therapeutic gardening community that is the Muddy Boots Gardening Project! Read this incredible story, shared to us by Volunteer and fellow gardener, Christine, about some of the regular's who get so much more than a warm cup of tea and green fingers from this amazing community initiative.
"We have been a Place of Welcome at the Muddy Boots Gardening Project for more than four years. Muddy Boots was already established as a therapeutic garden with some regular visitors who grew plants for themselves and to sell and we had free tea and coffee and conversation. We were very pleased to be asked to be a Place of Welcome when this initiative was launched and soon we were putting the Place of Welcome A-frame board outside on the pavement at ten o’clock every Thursday morning inviting anyone just to walk in and join in with our community for snacks, conversation and optional gardening.
"Janet’s support worker brought her along to Muddy Boots’ Place of Welcome in April of this year, 2023; she is coping with a variety of mental and physical health problems and needed more company. Janet settled into the garden room and very quickly got to know the other regulars, taking a keen interest in their wellbeing and making friends. Despite physical difficulties, Janet made a point, right from her early days, of welcoming people and frequently volunteered to make the teas and coffees. She even began to contribute specialist coffees herself and took pleasure in remembering everyone’s preference.
"Janet is a warm and sociable person and a keen observer: it wasn’t many weeks before she arrived at Muddy Boots with a beautiful hand-made card for someone’s birthday. Inside, the card had an affectionate and positive poem, made up by Janet, which aptly and cleverly reflected the receiver’s nature. This has now become a regular feature and every couple of weeks, Janet brings another lovely card, made with love and skill and containing a poem, all presented in a decorative bag. We call Janet our “poet in residence” and she tells us that she enjoys the company and camaraderie of our Place of Welcome.
"David was first brought to our Muddy Boots Place of Welcome by his support worker, two years ago. His life is impacted by schizophrenia and at that time he was also feeling very isolated and had difficulty communicating, especially with unfamiliar people. Sitting in a room with several others was a challenge for David, but the very next week he arrived with his friend Brian in a shared taxi with no support worker and has been coming ever since, even when Brian can’t come.
"David is a friendly, gentle man who we have enjoyed helping to get to know other regulars, gradually talking more freely- and occasionally bringing his guitar and singing songs of his own composition. He continues to struggle with his mental health, but is able to talk about it from time to time. David has also taken part in some gardening throughout the year and says that he enjoys the company and variety of things to do. He is a delightful and much-appreciated member of our group."