Calder Food Hub: How Does Your Garden Grow?

Welcome to Calder Food Hub’s ‘How does your Garden Grow?’ competition. The aim of this competition is to inspire you to have a go at growing food in whatever space you have got and to share information as to your best successes and lessons learned. The competition starts now, so you have plenty of time to get your sowing and planting done.

We are running the competition in partnership with the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival, who are keen for all entrants to exhibit their gardens, however small, in the Festival Open Gardens Trail on the 10th- 11th July (you do not need to open your garden both days). We urge all of you to take part in this so you can show off all of your hard work and share your experience with others. Please indicate on the form if you are willing to take place in the Garden Trail. Judging will take place between 5th- 11th July (we will call you to arrange a time to look at your garden), with a prize giving and celebration feast taking place on Sunday 11th July once the gardens have closed for the day.

What will we be looking for?

  • Best use of space
  • Most food grown
  • Smallest garden
  • Most Attractive Garden
  • Best use of vertical space
  • Best low maintenance garden
  • Best use of light/ sun
  • Most interesting lesson learned
  • Best Use of shade
  • Most unusual Planters
  • Best Slug deterrent
  • Wackiest garden
  • Most wildlife friendly
  • Good use of water
  • Best design skills
  • Good use of plants

Each garden will be judged on its own merit so don’t worry if it only fits one of these categories or fits into one that we haven’t thought of yet!

What do we want from you?

  • This entry form emailed/ posted to us by 21st May
  • A before, during and after picture of your garden
  • Some kind of record of your experience (could be pictures, ideas board, journal, plant lists, garden designs, photos…be as creative as you like)

Some Useful Dates for your Diary

Monday 29th March- How does your garden grow?
Competition and Library Courtyard Garden launch. See Display boards in Hebden Bridge Library for information on workshops and how you can get involved.

Thursday 8th April- ‘Hardy Plants for cold spaces’.
Talk courtesy of the Calder Valley Organic Gardeners. £1 for non members. Venue- The Good Shepherd Centre, Mytholmroyd. 7.30pm. See www.cvog.org for more information.

Saturday 24th April- Seedy Saturday.
Seed and plant swap day. Bring along any unwanted seeds or spare plants and swap them for ones you would like. Refreshments will be available, plus there will be entertainment and activities for children.
Venue- Hope Baptist Church, Hebden Bridge. 12- 4pm.

Thursday 6th May - ‘Organic small food gardens & Container gardening’.
Talk with Colin shaw, courtesy of Calder valley Organic Gardeners. £1 non members.
Venue- The Good Shepherd Centre, Mytholmroyd. 7.30pm. See www.cvog.org for more information.

Saturday 8th May - Edible Mushroom Cultivation
Workshop with the Calder Food Hub. £25 (£20 members), lunch included. A day of learning how to grow your own mushrooms using several different techniques. Venue- Callis community garden. 10am-4pm. Call Kath on 01422 846540 or email calderfoodhub@ymail.com for more information.

Friday 28th May- Sunday 30th May- Big Green Weekend and Transition Town Hebden Bridge Launch Event.
A whole weekend of workshops, food, films and fun relating to all areas of sustainability. Taking place all over town, with Transition Town events on Holme St and at Riverside School. www.hebdenbrigetransitiontown.org

Sunday 11th July- Prize-giving and celebration feast for ‘How does your garden grow?’ competition.
6.30 til 9. Venue TBC.