I like patriotic lettuce. Millions of leaves gathered with fellow crops during the long Jubilee weekend in June to share in a ‘Big Lunch’.

Organisers at the Eden Project estimate six million people shared celebrations in community get togethers throughout the UK. Even the carrots I sowed in February grew through the cold spring to get excited by harvest time.

The UK’s leading organic growing charity, Garden Organic, got excited by encouraging Big Lunching through their networks of enthusiastic Master Gardeners. Please see examples below:

London volunteer, Pamela, had an early lunch at Brockwell Park in bright sunshine with 40 people gathering through the afternoon:

“The locally grown produce included salad and dolmades. There was also herb bread, made with herbs grown in the community greenhouses in the park.”

Click here to see images of the dolmades from larger than average cabbage leaves…

Pamela’s later lunch shared local produce with a dozen residents and friends. There was baby leaf salad with puff pastry covered with spinach grown on her estate – as well as “sherry trifle to help us forget about the weather”!

Fellow London Master Gardener, Kate, celebrated with an “amazing mix” of shared food brought by everyone who came from Crescent Way. There was street art and games:

“The children decorated the street with chalk pictures. We had two sessions making bunting out of plastic bags, with one lady being very creative with recycled plastic bags. Then there was a tug of war for children and again for the adults. We were just about to start the sack race and the heavens opened!”

Battersea Master Gardener, Mel, took part in her local street party with lots of neighbours she’d never met before.

“It was a great days for kids. There are more than you realise living nearby when you put them all together! Loads of fellas turned up with their BBQs and everyone brought something to eat or drink. By the end of day, there was a crazy cricket game taking up over half the street!”

Meanwhile, Guy celebrated with horticultural style at Doddington Square and Community Roof Garden:

“I based myself on the ground surrounded by these wooden stump seats we have in a circle. I found it easy to encourage children and their parents over to see what was going on, working with two to three kids at a time. Each child took turn poking two holes in the prepared pots and placing in the beans.”

Complete with his official polo shirt, Guy sowed seeds with children, young teens and adults. Click here to read his full account.

I’m thoroughly delighted by these inspiring tales for people joining together. We may not have the Jubilee next year, but I feel sure the Big Lunch will continue growing every year.

Blog by Philip Turvil

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