Shed on Wheels

In 2009 I was commissioned by Plymouth Art Centre, Take A Part and the Heart of Efford Community Partnership to work in Efford, Plymouth. I created Grow Efford to provide new opportunities to experience and learn about the green spaces in Efford and to grow, eat, cook and forage food together.

The project took many forms and included: community meals (for up to 300); harvesting and apple juicing; community chutney and jam making and selling produce; blossom quests; foraging walks, planting a dispersed orchard in people’s gardens (30 trees); creating an edible library garden and a community allotment. I also developed the Efford Apple Sock, an urban harvesting tool, which was commissioned by Plymouth City Art Gallery & Museum and Craftspace as a spin off from the Slow Craft touring exhibition. I work in collaboration with grower Tess Wilmot on this project.

In 2012 I initiated the Shed on Wheels (S.O.W.) as part of Grow Efford. S.O.W. is a mobile space designed as a meeting place, a site of creative gatherings, exchange, sharing, eating and discussion. Belle Benfield and Rufus Maurice were selected as makers and Community members in Efford generated design ideas and supported with the build. S.O.W is a modified electric milk float made from recycled and reclaimed materials. S.O.W. hosted events at green spaces and parks across Plymouth for many years and was used as a pop-up event space by other groups and organisations.