Community gardens rejoice in producing storytelling films and so can you

Posted on July 13, 2022 by Brighton & Hove Food Partnership

Community researchers from Albion Hill and Bevendean have produced incredible storytelling films about their local gardens, with the aim to inform, inspire and involve more local people.

The videos were made as part of a project called FoodSEqual, which is working to provide people with more choice over the food they consume and deliver an affordable, healthy and sustainable diet. To this end we have trained a group of local people to be community researchers and to empower their communities from within. Making the videos gave space for thoughtful learning and discussion around what food and community means, along with learning new skills and ways of working as a team.

Grassroots Visual Storytelling

The work was guided by an excellent free online course called Grassroots Visual Storytelling. In contrast to professional productions, grassroots storytelling is where people tell their own stories so they can improve things or inspire different futures. Storytelling can be a way to share our attitudes, values, identity and define our community.

Community gardens thrive on input from all kinds of people in their area but this can sometimes be a challenge, so the films aim to act as a call-out for potential volunteers to get involved.

Bevendean Community Garden

I thought I needed connection and this one place where that grew in a way I hadn’t expected. People access the joy of having your hands in the dirt through to the joy of having something fresh on your plate.

Bevendean community garden volunteer

“I have really enjoyed the process of making the video about Bevendean Community Garden.” Community Researcher Sara Fernee shares, “It’s been an opportunity to ask volunteers about what they value about the place and to share what their favourite spots are, and experiences they have had there. I wanted to use the video to share their voices, and what they found special about it – it’s been fascinating!”

Sara’s film uses different techniques to explore people’s experiences of the garden, she says she “found people were most comfortable with doing voice recordings, rather than being interviewed in front of a camera. I learnt things I didn’t know, people where very open about the positive impact the garden has had on their wellbeing, in terms of connection to others and being outdoors. ”

The film is also peppered with memories and pictures from volunteers at Bevendean Community Garden, “We have so many photos and snippets of videos from the garden over the years, it was lovely to go through them and put them together to show how it changes over the seasons.”

Albion Community Garden

“I wanted to be more physically active, get outdoors more, get involved in the community…make new contacts and new friendships” one Albion community garden volunteer shares.

Screenings

The videos were presented at a recent Circular Economy community food event at the Old Boat Corner and received a great reception. Community Researchers Sara and Amanda also hosted a successful Q&A, taking some thought-provoking questions from members of the public and other local food growing organisations to further strengthen their work.

There will be another screening at Bevendean Community Garden in the Autumn, more info to be published in the Food Partnership newsletter soon. All welcome!