The Hatching of – Bars, Veg and Things Unknown

2009 Targets

WORKING ON THE PLOT

The first activity planned for this year is the collection and spreading of manure tomorrow (Sat).  A team of us will be collecting the muck, kindly provided by a couple of local horses, delivering it and putting it on the plot.  This will rot down in the course of the next few months, adding condition and nutrients to the soil.  Mmmm (the plants will say!)

The plants in question are currently in the form of a seed order which is due to be sent very soon.  The focus for this season will be to grow a number of more traditional, hopefully easy, crops on the bottom plot.  Also planned is the establishment of some boundary plants for shelter on this plot, and perhaps a pond and some fruit bushes.  The hope is also that some funds will come through to allow the purchase of a greenhouse, shed, raised beds and other essentials for the top plot, which is looking to be the location for permanent structures.  I, personally, would like to see these things in place by the end of this year, so that they are in use by next season and we will be able to concentrate on the planting around them.

ADMIN, FUNDRAISING AND THE LIKE

Lisa, the Communities First worker, is in the process of putting a Trust Fund bid together for us.  If this is successful, then the plan is that it will pay for all of the above!  I have a copy of the funding bid so far, she and I need to work on it together next week and have it submitted by the end of Jan to reach the next round of applications (otherwise it will be a case of waiting ’til April).  Please pray.

We are also working on our corporate image.  Well, okay, we are sorting out a logo to use as a letterhead etc.  One of our Trustees has a friend who is happy to do this for a nominal fee, so this should hopefully be sorted with very little difficulty.

The next Trustees meeting is planned for the beginning of Feb.  This will be the forum where any other major decisions for forward planning are agreed upon.

Of course, this is simply the allotment side of the whole thing.  Watch this space for other developments in areas already mentioned by Jeff.  Also, do not forget to look out for the ‘Things Unknown’ . . . we certainly will!

Dith

Although my attempts at monthly updates and target setting have fallen by the wayside recently (Jan Target: Resume monthly progress posts!), I could not let this opportunity to look back over this last year go by unnoticed.  So…

WORKING ON THE PLOT

At the beginning of the year, we had the excellent assistance of Chris from BTCV and his volunteers.  This, combined with occasional help from my friend Jon, enabled us to clear the botton plot and plant a few crops.  Sadly, the loss of Chris’ help and other matters led to a slack period which meant that the only successful crop, apart from the potatoes, were the weeds.  This was soon rectified by the return of one of the BTCV volunteers and another very useful volunteer.  Due to sterling work by these guys most Monday afternoons since September, the bottom plot is now very well dug over and looking great.

Another boon was the help given by the Global Exchange (VSO) volunteers which endabled us to clear the top plot by the end of November.  The day of the Big Dig saw their random, but nevertheless effective, digging skills put paid to all the concerns about our losing the plot due to lack of attention.  Two other volunteers may also be added to our number as a result of their involvement in the dig. Overall, the day was alot of fun; involving much laughter, alot of mud, some hard work the consumption of a vast amount of soup and tea!

The two current regular volunteers and myself also sat down at the end of this year to plan a layout of the two plots and put together a seed order.  It was nice, at that point, to sit in a lovely warm cafe, and we have some good ideas for the coming year (see forthcoming post!)

ADMIN, FUNDRAISING AND THE LIKE

Despite a few problems initially, the Chestnut Fund grant that we applied for via BTCV came through and proved very useful.  It enabled us to supplement the money from a generous donor the previous year and purchase the necessary insurance for our work.  The Chestnut Fund also provided basic tools which have helped things to get underway.  In addition, we are now in contact with a local Communities First worker who has provided us with alot of information and support.  She is currently in the process of sourcing other funds which, if they come through, will be very useful in implimenting future plans, 

This year also saw the formation of a Management Committee and the appointment of Trustees.  One result of the Trustees meetings is that now have our own bank account (to put all the lovely grants in!)  These meetings have been really productive and provided a focus and support for the administrative side of the work.  Consequently, we now have a constitution, have registered as a business limited by guarantee and are looking at options for a logo for Sustaining Life.  Another vital function provided by the committee meetings is the fact that they can keep me from going off on tangents!

OVERALL THOUGHTS

It has become obvious to me, as I have been typing this summary, that much of the focus to date has been upon what we have done in a very physical sense.  Whilst that is not a bad thing, I personally do not want to forget who I serve and why I am doing this.  At the end of the day, it is not about growing nice crops and making me look good!  It is about honouring the Lord and serving those he has given us.  Please pray that we do not forget this as we progress into 2009, and join us in thanking the Lord for how far he has brought us already.

As you will see we are starting to change. Now that plot has “hatched” we are expanding and it seems that the blog will need to as well. We are no longer just a one trick pony but beginning to expand into other areas.

We are moving into the work of visiting prisioners and as part of that I have been in contact with the local Youth Offenders Institute (YOI) a few miles away from us. We are already visiting another young lad at a YOI a little farther away.

I find that such people are written off by society and demonised by the media. Once you are tarred with that brush it nevers seems to come off. You can try to hide what you’ve done but you’re always worried that someone may find out and judge you on what you were and not are now.

In addition many have no one to visit them or require someone who’ll just sit, listen and not judge them. There is a lot of male postering going on in institutions and it can be hard to be yourself. You’re locked up for hours on end with nothing to do but can socialise for a few hours a day. So all you do is sleep and think – not much of a way of rehabilitating people is it.

So prison visitors can be a great help and distraction.

It’s odd that I have this as a calling as small talk is not my strong point.

Today saw us have the BIG DIG. It was indeed BIG and we did indeed DIG. Yes! even me.

We were joined by Lisa and Shane from Communities First and about 18 young people from the Global Xchange project that has been working in the area for the last 2.5 months. Dave & Paul, our volunteers/service users, were also able to come.

We can now report that the top plot is now clear of unwanted growth and has been dug over.

On Monday we’ll be visiting the local Nationwide to open our bank account. This will enbale Lisa from Communities First to begin applying for cash so that we can begin buying a shed, greenhouse and other needed things.

We’re also aiming to hold our official launch early in the new year and open to service users around that time. So be warned that there will be a dedication service, if any wibloggers are interested in attending.  The date is to be arranged but probably in a half term or other school holiday – see we are family orientated as well.

Today saw a meeting between myself and a very helpful Communities First person. After a productive chat, she is now looking into getting hold of some funding for the project. This should hopefully result in us getting some money for shed, greenhouse etc. This means that we need to get the bank account sorted asap but, as we agreed that this was a priority at the most recent Trustees meeting, this is not a problem at all. We also have a finalised constitution as a result of this meeting.

We had a good session at the allotment itself this afternoon. Got a fair bit of digging done, despite the nasty squall of sleety stuff at one point. The two regular volunteers give me a good run for my money, comparing their digging speed to mine and teasing me at every possible opportunity. It is a good thing that I am well trained in being mocked, I am married to Jeff after all!

One thing that is getting a bit frustrating, however, is a lack of progress on the Big Dig. I am beginning to think that, at this rate, the whole thing may not go ahead, with the VSO people at least. Please be in prayer that we manage to get things sorted one way or another. Thanks.

UPDATE: To answer Ian, the wheelbarrow is a sporty little black number with red trim.

The wheelbarrow has landed! Well, it has been delivered to our house, but that sounds a little less impressive. So, that is the final bit of kit we ordered via the recently awarded grant.

I will save the rest of the news ’til tomorrow, as Monday has become my official Allotment Day. Also, a 10.30pm post on a Sunday eve is likely to be a litlle less than coherent. See you again soon, I hope.

As you will know, we have had some good progress with our allotment project. This is only part of what we would like to do, given the time and funds that we can raise. It is the main work for now but is something that Judith enjoys far more than I do. Too me a plant is a weed unless I know what it is. I can’t tell a potato plant from a sapling.

I feel that my work lies in other areas.

One of the things that has interested me in recent years is the work that we can do to help to rehabilitate criminals in a more effective way. There are organisations, such as Victory Outreach, that do this already. I don’t see us participating in the same way just yet but I think I can offer something to those currently being entertained at Her Majesty’s Pleasure.

I’ve been in a similar position that some of these youngsters are in but was lucky not to find myself imprisoned. I was lucky enough to prevent myself falling any further down the slope but these guys need someone to help or just listen.

Today we were able to visit a nearby Youth Offenders Institute (YOI). We had never been to such a facility before. Thankfully we were prepared for what we would find by Smudgie’s own postings. Unfortuantely there were no sniffer dogs on duty this afternoon… Smudgie still has time to show us her impersonation!

The lad that we visited had been woken up as no one had told him that we were visiting today. He knew that we were coming at some stage, just not when. We remembered the rules as to what we could and could not discuss and had a very enjoyable hour.

What made it even better was that none of us felt very uncomfortable, as you might expect too during a meeting with someone you don’t know. It took a little time for the conversation to flow but it did. Thankfully the lad concerned understands what has happened and has accepted that he has a few years to try to put things right in time for his eventual release.

For a while I have thought that this is something that I’d like to do. After today I want to do more of it. I’d like to find the opportunity to do this more often. I’m not there to preach to them but to show them that someone cares and is willing to help. They don’t need sermons they need people who can show that they are not forgotten and alone. They need to be shown that there is hope for them and a real opportunity at a new life.

TRUSTEES
- We have had two Trustees meetings this past month and now have a constitution drawn up thanks to some hard work put in by Jeff. We also have all of the officers allocated (Chair, Secretary and Treasurer).
Targets: There is another meeting planned for later this month to set up the bank account. Also, Jeff is planning to have registration as a company limited by guarantee in place by the time of the next meeting.

WORKING ON THE PLOT
- The insurance documents arrrived and we now have a regular volunteer session on a Monday afternoon. We have two guys who come each week and it looks like there is a lass who may be interested in joining the sessions too. Over half of the bottom plot has been dug over and is looking pretty tidy.
- All of the tools have arrived, except for the wheelbarrow, which I am still chasing.
- The Big Dig plans are now in very much underway. Matt the Youth Worker has agreed to lend us the tools and the VSO volunteers are lined up to lend a hand towards the end of the month. Both plots should therefore be lovely and weed free by the end of October.
Targets: Keep the regular sessions going and continue with plans for the Big Dig at the end of the month.

Thanks for the prayers, people, things are really taking off now and the plots look set to stay with us. Yay!

Tomorrow sees me having to read through the information pack we have to enable us to write our constitution in preparation for Monday’s trustees meeting. I also need to draw up the agenda for the meeting. After this we’ll be ready to complete our application to set up our Company Limited By Guarantee.

I think it will also be time to think about widening our work. We have the allotment, Plotting To Improve, and Judith has started work on this. We have some volunteers and attendees and have the preparations underway for The Big Dig – which the Indian and British members of the Global Exchange will be helping us out with. This is more Judith’s work than mine. I’m not a lover of gardening/allotmenting.

I have ideas in another area that have been rattling around for quite a while and, following recent events elsewhere, look like turning into something more concrete. This would be something that I know I’d really enjoy and find rewarding.

So prayers please as we move forward.

Jeff

Last night we had our long awaited meeting of the potential trustees. By the end of the evening we had our Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer in place. Now the things can progress to get everything up and running soon.

We have another meeting set for a week Monday with the aim of agreeing the Constitution and finalising the application to set up the Company Limited by Guarantee. Then we can get the bank account up and running.

Things are now moving apace.

Jeff