LEGUP and Grow Govan

We were chased back to our home pretty quick on Tuesday as the skies were threatening to rain, but as we drove through Govan, Glasgow a sign caught my attention. 

We had driven  past this place a number of times and it always got my attention, as it looked like an allotment site, but the gates were always closed.  I became even more curious, when I saw a small vegetable bed had been dug up on the outside with canes... So the gates open and a welcoming sign for visitors, I coudln't resist.  I got D to park the car (not that easy, but we eventually found a parking spot) and then we stepped into this little green space hidden in Govan. 

Govan was once known for being the centre of shipbuilding on the Clyde and this hidden green space is not that far from the Fairfields Shipyards. 

The initiative is called LEG UP.  LEGUP is an acronym for Linthouse, Elderpark, Govan Urban Planters.  LEGUP have transformed a disused courtyard into a Community Gardeners Space.  I wish I had known about this place when I lost my allotment plot, as I would have enjoyed volunteering there, but sadly that is not to be the case as our move down south is inevitable.

The volunteers there were very welcoming, Guy and Moira.  They offered us cups of tea, gave us a little background to the set up of the initiative, showed us around - all in all they were extremely welcoming.    

Its still a work in progress, but here are some photographs.  The garden has made the most of recycled materials, such as tyres, wooden pallets, plastic bottles, etc.  Here the tyres have Jerusalem artichokes growing.  These are about the same size as mine at home growing in a large pot.

Some purple kale - the leaves on these were magnificent.  I would have loved to have known what variety they were as not one of these leaves were nabbed by the white cabbage butterfly, unlike mine last year that resembled lacework and worthy only for the compost bin.

Guy one of the volunteers there said we were welcome to take some vegetables if we wanted.  I couldn't resist the kind offer and said I would love to take some purple kale.  As I was leaving they also gave me a kale plant.  They were extremely generous.

It is most impressive how the project has made the most of nothing namely from recycled materials and the goodwill of volunteers.  There was a pyramid 'wigwam' built from recycled wood and branches; as well as plastic blue bins that were cut out with many holes and then filled with strawberry plants.  I'm sorry I don't have a photograph of either of these.

 These are wooden pallets that are covered in plastic and then built to make cold frames.

This is the inside of the greenhouse made with recycled plastic bottles.  It is due to be unveiled at the weekend, but one of the volunteers was kind enough to let us see it from the inside.

If you wish to read or learn more about the LEG UP project, follow this link.

I wish the people behind and working for the LEGUP project every success in the future. 

Streetland

With the sunshine blazing, late this morning we took a refreshing walk through Queens Park.  This time instead of restricting ourselves to the surrounding natural beauty, we thought we'd hit its streets too.
I'm very familiar with this part of Glasgow as work or friends took me there, but its been a while since I wandered there without reason.

For all the usual local hustle and bustle that takes place on Victoria Road, a main road in Glasgows Southside, you wouldn’t know that something different was happening in the area, but take a turn into Calder Street, Allison Street or Dixon Street and all this changes.

Streetland is a local festival of creativity and the street (taking place Friday 29 and Saturday 30th April 2011) in the heart of Govanhill.  It is now in its second year, the festival organisers suggest a showcase for visual art, live performance (improvised soap opera), poetry, Bollywood dance, Roma music, street games, walking tours, an outdoor cinema powered by bicycle showing short films and animation that explore local projects as well as a number of interactive workshops. A worthy programme of events, although in truth these had to be teased out by the visitor as I found myself going round the streets, more than once.

The initiative that got me most interested was the South Seeds: Seedlings for Change initiative.  I was interested to see local community involvement as well as be inspired.  Activities included mosaic making for bin shelters, seed planting and potting, seed bombing workshop and make over a local vegetable patch.

Events such as these often take place in the West End of Glasgow.  So for me this was rather refreshing and I applaud the Streetland Festival for casting a light on the Southside, and moreso on Govanhill as it has so much potential.

Govanhill is perhaps Glasgow's most ethnically diverse area.  It certainly has the largest concentration of Pakistani and Roma families in Glasgow, and Scotland as a whole.  It also has some of the most severe housing problems in the U.K with some flats being described as slums and for this reason it often gets negative press.  Today though it was about community spirit.

Local children happy to get their hands dirty at Westmoreland Street Community Garden.  In its former life this derelict space was used for fly tipping and other anti-social behaviour.  So this transformation can only be positive.

Local foodies are encouraged to pick up ingredients for the 'Ultimate Pakora Challange' and push their boundaries of what goes into the vegetable pakora.  I wonder how my Wild Garlic pakora would do here, or even a Stinging Nettle pakora! 

Some appealing pakora spices.  I like the methi aka fenugreek leaves.

Bunting made with local community groups.

Naeplace by Jamie Cooper.  These broken forms of streetlamp sculptures in The Chalet's back lane.

Among some established and emerging artists, we stopped and checked out various forms of creative art hosted by the Polka Dot Punks. We were warmly greeted as we winded our way up the stairs of their home.

Govanhill Baths - sadly closed, but not for too long. Throughout the year Govanhill Baths Community Trust puts on events to help raise awareness to the cause and to get people together in the community. Its such a beautiful building and you can see why community events still take place here.  Events in the past have included 'Govanhill Baths Burns night' and 'Soup, song and a swally'.

The Trust's goal is to re-open the baths as a Wellbeing Centre and contribute to the wider social, cultural and built regeneration of Govanhill as a community through a range of activities.  I wish the Trust and the Streetlands Festival organisers the very best for years to come.

Meringues and sage the size of my palm

This was our last day in Paris and the sunshine decided to show it's face to us. We left the hotel and walked over to the Brazza to get our shot of café noir, but it was closed for the whole day. As we wandered the streets, it became apparent to us that a number of places were closed for most of the day on Monday.

We planned to pay another visit to Jardin de Tuilleries, then it was off to St Denis again where we stopped and had a quick light bite to eat. This is perhaps the most authentic of french vegetarian food there is: Oeuf mayonnaise.
We also shared a generous slicing of gateau fromage blanc. It looked heavy like cheesecake, but it was really light and melted in your mouth beautifully.
Then we wandered over to St Martin and a little place called passage Brady. It is a narrow street decked with maharajah style chairs and tables by the various Indian and Pakistani restaurant owners all vying for your custom. St Martin is also a location buzzing with student activity.

We stumbled upon a school/community garden. There was so much already growing, the broad beans and potatoes already flowering, lettuces and various herbs. If you look closer you will see a person sleeping on the bench, serene.

I was astonished to come across this patch of sage, the size of my palm!

Then we took a casual stroll along Canal Martin which was surrounded by a number of trendy shops and trendy people.

These little colourful meringues were a delight for the eye. We had to get a few edible gifts for friends at home, so why not these?! But right now, which one for me - eeny meeny miny mo

Ah a pistachio meringue for me! So chewy, so rich and so creamy.