National Volunteers Week: Homelessness charity Emmaus in Bedfordshire is calling on green fingered volunteers

If you can't devote your time, maybe you can donate unwanted plants and seeds
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Calling all gardeners - Emmaus Village in Carlton is appealing for your help during National Volunteers Week.

As part of the homeless charity's garden project, residents grow vegetables for meals - with any surplus used in the kitchen of the charity’s on-site Bistro as well as being sold directly to customers in its Home Store.

But the charity is hoping to develop the work - and that's where you come in.

A vegetable harvest from the garden at Emmaus Village CarltonA vegetable harvest from the garden at Emmaus Village Carlton
A vegetable harvest from the garden at Emmaus Village Carlton

As part of National Volunteers Week - from June 1 to 7 - Emmaus Village Carlton is hoping new volunteers will join the team, and is appealing for for gardeners to donate unwanted plants and seeds.

Sharnbrook resident Jenni Wright, who started volunteering for Emmaus two years ago, said: “I find volunteering here very rewarding. I really enjoy working with the people being supported here, as well as with other volunteers.

“When I got involved with the Emmaus Village Carlton garden project, the area had just been cleared. We’re using a poly-tunnel and greenhouses to nurture seedlings and our harvest now includes strawberries, raspberries, kale, French beans and cucumbers which are used in the kitchen.”

Angela Foll, chief officer at Emmaus Village Carlton, said: “We’re hoping more green-fingered people will come forward to volunteer their time in our garden, whether for a one-off day or as a regular visitor.

David, one of the formerly homeless people being supported by Emmaus, working on the garden projectDavid, one of the formerly homeless people being supported by Emmaus, working on the garden project
David, one of the formerly homeless people being supported by Emmaus, working on the garden project

"Equally, if anyone has any spare plants or seedlings that we could nurture to use or resell, we’d be really grateful.”

Anyone interested in volunteering or donating plants should call 01234 720826 or emailing [email protected]