TARAGGAN
TARAGGAN is the Tennants And Residents Association Green Gym And Nursery (Educational Gardens)
Aims and ambitions of TARAGGAN [Tenants and Residents Association Green Gym and Nursery] and Educational Gardens
Members of TARAGGAN, with the help and guidance of many outside agencies are preparing and allotment site for the children, the disabled and elderly people living on the Gilfach Estate and in the Greater Bargoed area, where they could be encouraged to grow organic fruit and vegetables to promote healthy bodies and healthy lifestyles. It was envisaged that organic gardening would be a practical education for the children that would stand them in good stead for their future and possibly become a part of the school’s curriculum. It was also perceived that gardening would be a valuable source of enjoyment and exercise for the elderly and infirm, bringing them out into the sunshine and fresh air. Moreover, in these times of poor diet and obesity in children, organic gardening could set a trend towards health and vitality that would be passed onto the future generations of children, showing them how to eat healthily and without paying the earth to do so. (Please excuse the unintended pun!)
When the GAVO (Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations) office site was cleared it became immediately apparent that this was an ideal situation for an allotment because it was in a focal point of the Gilfach Estate, within a few metres of the large community centre car park, and also held a southerly facing aspect that is necessary for the successful growing of organic produce.
The head teachers and pupils from the Parc Primary and St Gwladys Primary schools, where there is little if any scope for gardening within the school grounds, have eagerly accepted plots, and in the case of St. Gwladys school, the gardening of their plot will be tied into the children’s science lessons.
For the last four years the children of the above schools have been involved in the annual daffodil planting in various parts of the Gilfach Estate, and thoroughly enjoy the activity. The residents of the estate, some of them parents of the children, also enjoy the results of the children’s work when at springtime, they ‘…behold a host of golden daffodils…’ all around the estate.
Having been encouraged by my grandfather when I was a seven year old boy, I then encouraged my own children to ‘help me’ with gardening. When they were ready I gave them a small plot of their own to cultivate, along with some quick growing vegetable seeds to maintain their enthusiasm, such as radish, lettuce, spinach and varieties of beans. The children then progressed to slower growing crops of various brassicas, carrots, parsnips, broad beans and pumpkins. Children have lots of fun growing pumpkins and are pleasantly surprised when they discover the taste of their pumpkins that can be cooked as a starter, main course and a pudding.
When the children’s produce was harvested, it was cooked and eagerly and proudly eaten by the kids who had grown it, thereby engendering a healthy appetite for greens in children who had previously turned their noses up at such health giving food. There is nothing as healthy and tasty as eating freshly picked vegetables, cooked within an hour of coming home from the allotment. From plot to plate, from garden fork to dinner fork in about half an hour, that’s the right way for a healthier life.
I know that, after being introduced to the delights of gardening with my granddad, it becomes a lifelong pleasure and a healthy pastime.
At a later date it is further envisaged that cookery classes will be set up under the auspices of the Residents Association and local schools to teach children how to cook the vegetables they have grown.
It is vitally important to the aims of TARAGGAN that the allotment remains organic, all waste is recycled in compost bins or heaps, to be ecologically friendly to birds, bats, butterflies and moths, hedgehogs, all insects, worms etc. No poisons will be used to control pests, (thrushes will control slugs and snails, ladybirds will control aphids, hoeing and hand weeding will control weeds), and overriding all considerations that the allotments at all times be child friendly and considerate of children.
THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF TARAGGAN EDUCATIONAL GARDENS IS THAT THE ALLOTMENT AL ALL TIMES BE A SOURCE OF LEARNING THROUGH ENJOYMENT AND FUN WITH CONSIDERATION OF ALL PEOPLE PLANTS AND CREATURES WITHIN THE ALLOTMENT BOUNDARIES.
The project aims to increase the number of people living in Gilfach & the surrounding area of Greater Bargoed using green space for exercise & outdoor recreation. It is part of the Mentro Allan project, which aims to introduce people who are inactive to live a healthier lifestyle by using the outdoor recreational environment.
The green gym project will enable people to become more active, healthy & happy and bring a strong cross-generational community spirit to the area.
Project Update
During the summer of 2009 the Cleaner, Greener Communities team and volunteers have been working on the site to prepare the plots for community groups. Two sheds, compost bins and raised beds were erected on the site but the main attraction has been the building of a huge plastic bottle greenhouse, the largest of its kind in the UK.
The workshops that took place during the summer at Bargoed Community Centre introduced people to the site and the greenhouse has now been completed thanks to a lot of hard work from local children and parents.
There will be 20 plots in total (16 of these have been allocated to community groups) to grow fruit and vegetables with one plot introducing an Arts and Crafts theme. To add to this, 3 of the plots are raised beds, which can be used for people with physical difficulties.
Several volunteering days have taken place recently to paint the inside and outside of the fence red and yellow and during the winter an Educational Centre and meeting and greeting area will be built after the group successfully bid into Cwm a Mynydd funding.
It is envisaged that an official launch day will take place in March 2010 to coincide with the Spring season.
A digital story was produced, earlier this year, about the project. Click here to view.
The TARAGGAN site is located at:-
The Old Gilfach Fargoed Nursery School
(next to Bargoed Community Centre)
For further information please contact:-
Ron Cooper, Chair: - 07592 454232
Mark Ellis: - 07876 233599 / 01443 878958.