one year on... - Islington Council

Overcoming trauma through food growing, Room2HealRoom2Heal is a community thatsupports victims of human rightsviolations in their lengthy anddifficult journeys towards a senseof personal safety, belongingand fulfilment.Edible Islington helped Room2Healset-up a therapeutic food growingspace with a variety of vegetablesand herbs. The garden bringsmembers together, providing,through food growing, a spacefor gaining skills, relaxing andsocialising, a key part oftheir therapy.Members designed and set up the plot themselves making key decisions as a group on layout,plants to grow and tilling the soil. The process has helped them to learn gardening skills andimportantly to work in unison.“The prospect of growing healthy food has been strongly welcomed by our members andprovided further opportunities for our members to enjoy fellowship with each other andwith local residents, as well as a site for cooking and sharing a meal....”Mark, Room2Heal staff memberMembers use the garden as a space for remembering their past and preparing themselvesfor their future.“It is more than just about gardening for our community. It is their therapy. It is wherethey can dig their hands in to the dirt and interact with other people. One of the userssaid that this bit of garden is his land – the only land that he now has. Many of the usersplant trees, flowers and bushes in memory of lost family members. Food growing also...”represents a bit of the rural life that was part of their past. It really helps them.Mark, Room2Heal staff memberAs a result of being involved in the Edible Islington project, some of the members are gettingmore widely involved with other activities in Culpeper garden and volunteer on other projects.Room2Heal therefore hopes that a group of skilled volunteers who are willing and able tospearhead a new food growing project on another site will emerge.For further information contact: mark.fish@room2heal.org.uk13