by Suzanne Campbell (Project Manager, Gorgie Farm Site Development)
I started with EVOC in the middle of July, as the Project Manager for the Gorgie City Farm Site.
My role is to work with the local community and other stakeholders (is there another way to say this) to try and find a sustainable community-led future for the Site.
I applied for the role as I have lived in the Gorgie community for most of my life. I wanted to contribute to my own community after working in Leith for the past 10 years – I ran a community-based health project for young people.
One of my first questions – and maybe it’s one of yours too – is what does a community led, collaborative and sustainable future mean?
For me it is about one person not having all the answers.
It’s about developing with people in the community, finding out what might be possible and creating space to discuss that with everyone.
So, how I will start working with others to find out the answers?
Here’s a drawing (mine) of the ingredients we’re going to use to find and co-coordinate our way to that future…
What this actually means is gathering the views of lots of people, creating the right conditions for us to work together, having important conversations – helping everyone involved to listen and grow. Then we can find a way forward together, with the help of strong practices and processes. Not having answers is frustrating, but taking time to explore all the options and hearing from all the communities that wish to be involved will lead to a viable long-term future for the Gorgie City Farm Site.
In the meantime, you might like to know that we:
- Have applied for and been awarded funding by Community Enterprise to conduct a research project into sustainable farm models
- Are applying for funding to visit successful urban farms in the UK to learn more about the different ways they earn money
- Are looking at the health and safety of the land and buildings and what needs to happen before we can welcome members of the public back on Site
- Have started research into a constitution to set up a new organisation to take on the future running of the site
- Appointed Johanna to the part-time post of Gorgie City Farm Site Gardner and worked with her on a policy, systems and processes to let the Volunteer Gardeners back on site
We’ve set up new Facebook and Twitter accounts to share what is happening, what we’ve learnt and to start answering these questions. We’ll also tell you about consultation opportunities, so keep an eye out.
I’m looking forward to developing this plan with you!
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