Our vision
We will promote human well-being, by creating a world where people can enjoy their environment, for it’s natural beauty and aesthetic, biodiversity, and recreational and productive value, taking ownership over their community, food and herb supply, by sharing information to overcome the challenges of peak oil and changing climates and economies.
We will do this by providing premium quality regenerative gardening and grounds maintenance services that follow best practice with regards to ecological concerns, horticultural practice, and organic systems. Our maintenance programmes will aim for zero waste, making use of all potential produce from the garden, following “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” principles. We will build beautiful, productive, environments which will provide extra benefits, not only for our generation but for generations to come, such as helping to sequester CO2 and improving air quality through “Greening the city”.
Sharing knowledge and training internally to grow as a business, we aim to educate, inspire and empower people of all demographics to take control, making informed decisions around their own health and wellbeing. We will help people incorporate systemic organic practices into their life by landscaping beautiful permaculture gardens, as well as providing information with consultations, on the web, and at hands on workshops, where we will use horticulture as a tool to facilitate communities growing together.
Our mission statement
We are a workers cooperative of qualified and experienced gardeners committed to:
- Delivering regenerative landscaping, design and garden/grounds maintenance services,
- Making our services accessible to marginalised members of the community,
- Providing training and education opportunities to those seeking long term professional experience in gardening,
- Encouraging participation of communities in shaping their immediate natural environment,
- Sharing our extensive knowledge about gardens and wider ecological issues,
- Nurturing and protecting biodiversity and employing innovative solutions to waste management,
- Working together to create sustainable livelihoods for our members and partners.
- We work locally to where we live, in North and East London, as well as at the borders of Essex.
Our members
Kim Joseph
After completing a 9 month schools traineeship at Organiclea she progressed to gain a City & Guilds Level 2 in Horticulture.
Kim initially trained as a level 2 contemporary and traditional florist and has worked as a carer. She volunteered on many Organiclea projects and currently job shares ‘The Jammin project’ at The Hornbeam Café where she facilitates Jam and Chutney making with a diverse community, delivering AQA Qualifications. Kim is also part of a new project called the ‘People’s Kitchen’ a war on food waste.
Inspired by passing on her knowledge Kim is also working with local schools helping to bring the educational benefits, relevant skills and qualifications of horticulture to the classroom. Delivering workshops at day centres, housing estates and libraries, empowering adults and children to take an interest in horticulture and bring a healthy food system to their own gardens. She believes there is nothing more satisfying than learning how to grow, harvest, cook and eat healthy organic foods.
Jon Rackham
Having trained in Horticulture at the well renowned OrganicLea, managed the plant area of a garden centre, and worked for both landscaping and maintenance companies, Jon is currently a lead member of Gardens For All, a collective of socially conscious, eco-positive, gardeners based in Walthamstow.
Driven by a strong belief in mutually-beneficial relationships between people and nature, and in the empowering effect of knowledge, he has been delivering workshops for 3 years, demonstrating practical, simple ways to incorporate nature and harvest into our gardens, promoting both human and environmental wellbeing.