The Green Team recently set the Stickyeyes Group the challenge of growing their own plants or produce during lockdown. The results were surprisingly impressive!
From herbs and microgreens in a city centre flat to a back-garden allotment, it was great to see the amount of enthusiasm and talent for growing.
Gardening and growing your own plants is not only a good way to keep occupied during lockdown but brings a multitude of other benefits including improved mental health (which we champion as part of our Stick Together culture) and increased appreciation for nature and the food we eat.
Growing even a small portion of your own food is also great from an environmental perspective as it reduces food & plastic waste and has a tiny carbon footprint. Lettuce is the most wasted food item from supermarkets as it spoils so quickly, so growing your own for when you just need a handful of leaves every now and then can be a lot more economical.
Here are a handful of resources that might inspire people to have a go at growing something new or up their current gardening game:
Articles and online resources
- Low-maintenance gardening for busy bees - https://www.giveitagrow.info/low-maintenance-gardening
- 10 ways to garden during self-isolation - https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/10-ways-to-garden-during-self-isolation/
- Growing easy edible plants - https://www.giveitagrow.info/easy-edibles
- Top tips for a biodiverse garden - https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/how-to-make-your-garden-more-biodiverse
- Things to do in your vegetable garden this summer - https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/things-to-do-summer-vegetable-garden
People to follow on social media:
The following accounts share plant care and growing tips and inspiration on their feeds, as well as being advocates for sustainability.
- James Wong - https://www.instagram.com/botanygeek/
- Claire Ratinon - https://www.instagram.com/claireratinon/?utm_source=ig_embed
- Dominique Drakeford - https://www.instagram.com/dominiquedrakeford/?hl=en
- Darryl Cheng/ Houseplant Journal - https://www.instagram.com/houseplantjournal/?utm_source=ig_embed
- Plant Kween -https://www.instagram.com/plantkween/
- Lily Kwong - https://www.instagram.com/lily_kwong/?hl=en
- Timothy Hammond https://www.instagram.com/bigcitygardener/?utm_source=ig_embed
- Charles Loh - https://www.instagram.com/mossingarden/?utm_source=ig_embed
- Short Press Leeds - https://www.instagram.com/short.press/
- Poppy Okotcha - https://www.instagram.com/poppyokotcha/
- Coco and Seed Indoor Garden Shop - https://www.instagram.com/coco_and_seed/
- Prick LDN - https://www.instagram.com/prickldn/
TV & Films
- The Big Flower Fight (2020) - Netflix
- SEED: The Untold Story (2019) - Stream online
- Grow Your Own at Home (2020) - ITV Hub
- Big Dreams, Small Spaces (2014) - Netflix, BBC
- Love Your Garden (2020) ITV Hub
- Sustainable (2020) - Stream online
Books on growing and the environment
- Rewilding by Isabella Tree
- Grow Food for Free by Huw Richards
- Wild about Weeds by Jack Wallington
- Your Wellbeing Garden from the RHS
- The Yorkshire Forager by Alysia Vasey
- 30 Ways to Join the Food Revolution by Ollie Hunter
- The New Plant Parent by Darryl Cheng
Happy Growing!
The Stickyeyes Green Team is a cross-department group of individuals who are passionate about the environment and want to encourage greener behaviours both in and out of work. Previous campaigns have included a new recycling initiative, a zero-waste talk and giving out plants for staff to look after on their desks.
