F3 garden providing for Salisbury Pantry needs taking over

Sue Brandon, 79, and her husband Mark Brandon, 80, began the F3 project 19 months ago.

Mark said: "We saw the huge queue outside the pantry and we went to find out what was going on and what we could do to help. What they really wanted was fresh fruit and veg. 

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"We literally went onto Google Earth and looked at the green places around Salisbury, saw this school and contacted the headmaster who couldn't have been more helpful. They gave us this plot."

The project involves the growing of fruit, vegetables and flowers, which are donated to local charities, mostly Salisbury Pantry. They use a plot at Chafyn Grove School on Bourne Avenue.

Sue and Mark have loved leading the project, but they said: "As we enter our eighties, our health has begun to deteriorate and so we would like to pass the baton on to others."

Of course, they will still be around to lend a hand - living just minutes down the road.

The person, or people, in charge will be responsible for overseeing the running of the garden daily, and responsible for planting, harvesting and taking produce to the pantry on a Tuesday morning.

Sue said: "I wouldn't say it takes 100 per cent of your time, a modest assessment would be around 40 per cent of your time.

"If you said seven days a week, it might just involve you coming and watering the garden, or it might involve the Salisbury Pantry having brought some leftovers and then seeing to the compost. None of it's going to be a full day's work by any means.

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"There's no hard physical work involved, no digging, just a little bit of weeding, planting seeds in the garden and greenhouse, and then harvesting. It's time as much as anything."

Mark said: "It's extremely rewarding. The fact that you see something for what you're putting in and the pantry is so grateful for everything - it's really nice to do."

Although they are looking for someone to run the garden, an existing team of volunteers and an oversight panel mean there's a lot of support. 

Mark added: "You need to be a people person, you need to be dedicated - if you do take it on, you really have to take responsibility.

The garden operates a "no dig" regime, meaning that soil life is left uninterrupted and little to no weeding is required. There's also an automatic watering system, a shed and a greenhouse.

Sue has even made a manual for every vegetable they grow, explaining how to look after them, so anyone unfamiliar with growing produce is able to get stuck in.

To meet Sue and Mark and learn more about this rewarding role, email thef3project@outlook.com or call 01722 328259.