Growing for gold...

Angela and Stevo from Steppin' Stone
Seeds are beginning to sprout in the gardens of homelessness agencies up and down the country as work gets under way for the for the Places of Change garden – the biggest plot to be shown at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Angela and ‘Stevo’, clients from the Steppin’ Stone day centre in Oxford, talk about their involvement in last year’s show and how they’re going for gold in 2010…

What did you enjoy about being involved in the Key Garden last year?
Angela: I really enjoyed planting the plants but it was hard work! Going to Chelsea was very exciting – we even bumped into Alan Titchmarsh!
Stevo: I was so chuffed to be one of the people representing Steppin’ Stone at Chelsea. I’ve been interested in gardening since I was a kid so it was fantastic to walk around and see all of the plants – some were even bigger than me!

How are you involved in the Places of Change garden this year?
Angela: We’re growing vegetables, herbs and edible flowers… We already grow vegetables to eat at the Steppin’ Stone centre and we’ve been using this experience for the Places of Change garden.

What have you learnt from being involved in these projects?
Angela: We’ve learnt a lot. Our support worker, Nigel, got us to do an horticultural course for this year’s garden. The course taught us, amongst other things, about health and safety and crop rotation.
Stevo: We also learnt about the type of ground that different plants need to be able to grow in successfully. We got a certificate for doing the course.

How do projects like this make a difference to homeless people’s lives?
Angela: It encourages people to be more active and go out and get some fresh air. All of your worries go away because you’re too busy concentrating on what you’re doing.
Stevo: Gardening is good therapy! I have anxiety and depression and getting out in the fresh air does me a world of good. I think a lot of homeless people can end up feeling depressed so projects like this are a good way to keep their minds off their problems.

What are your personal goals for the future?
Angela: I’d eventually like to get a small flat with a garden of my own so I can have a cat and grow my own plants. Bamboo and ferns are my favourites.
Stevo: I’d like to find a flat closer to the Steppin’ Stone centre and also have my own garden.

What are your aims for this year’s garden?
Stevo: Being involved in the Chelsea Flower Show gave me a real sense of achievement and I can’t wait for this year’s show which will be even bigger and involve lots more people.
Angela: This time we want a gold medal!