Herb-growing on Bowes Park station platform

Is anyone interested in communal herb-growing on the Bowes Park station platform? Herbs would be grown in large pots, weeded and watered by commuters and harvested as needed by them on their weary way home..

This is being done successfully by the 'Incredible Edible Todmorden' project in Yorkshire - see photo at (http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/projects/community-her...)

Capital First Connect who run the station are open to the idea in principle, and would like to see plans. Sustainable Bowes Park has some money left over from the Enfield Residents Priority Fund to pay for pots and seeds; the most important factor is volunteer labour!

The containers would be large and heavy enough to be immovable by any mischief-makers, waist-high for easy access, and filled one-third hard core (at the bottom), one-third with polystyrene as a filler, and the top third with compost and water-retaining crystals. Then planted with drought-tolerant Mediterranean types (rosemary, thyme etc).

Water may need to be carried to the station, depending on whether tenants/staff can supply it. Weeding would ideally be done by regular station users while they wait for their train in the mornings.

Please let me know if you can offer any watering/weeding help, or have any comments or suggestions.

Thanks very much,

Mary Blake

for Sustainable Bowes Park

3 members like this

Comment by Lindsey Berthoud on July 2, 2013 at 8:08: What a lovely idea! I always admire tube stations who do the 'in bloom' thing and love the edible bus stop idea. So I'm definitely behind this and interested in getting involved.

Comment by Mary Blake on July 2, 2013 at 18:09: Thanks for your interest Lindsey - I think we need a 'critical mass' of people to make this work, though don't know how many that is! The Todmorden people say they don't need to worry about watering much because it rains all the time there! Please spread the word - if there were say half a dozen people who pass or use the station as part of their usual routine and wouldn't mind doing a spot of weeding or watering, I think this scheme could have legs (leaves??).

Comment by Lucia on July 3, 2013 at 0:01: I'd gladly support the idea - I'm really interested in how we could do more with edible growing locally...so count me in.

Comment by EyeInTheSky on July 3, 2013 at 13:33: Yes, great idea. I look after the planters on Whittington / Myddleton Road, so the planters at the station are only a few more steps away. I've found that Homebase will donate free plants to community causes if you ask them. They gave me plants for the planters which I put in this week much to the excitement to some locals round here!

Comment by Lucia on July 3, 2013 at 20:46: Maybe sunshine garden centre would be forthcoming with donations...?

Comment by Mary Blake on July 9, 2013 at 13:47: Thanks to all who've made positive comments so far. Sustainable Bowes Park does have money in hand to buy materials to set up, but it might still be good to involve local businesses for the longer term, if they're feeling generous! People are the key ingredient though - are there any more takers for light weeding/watering duties? Many hands make light work..

Comment by Trish Dyson on July 10, 2013 at 8:37: Brilliant idea!
I'd be happy to help but can't commit to regular watering as I'm often away.

Comment by Christina Tawil on July 14, 2013 at 10:50: I use the station for my daily commute and would love to help weeding and watering!

Comment by Mary Blake on July 14, 2013 at 15:57: Thanks very much Christina, welcome to the herb club! Looks like it could happen with all this support, please watch this space..