Green fingers in Finsbury Park

Britain in Bloom judges will today turn their attentions to a local community gardening project for a prestigious national gardening award.

The Three Sisters project, located on neighbouring streets around the station, uses a Native Indian Iraquois method of growing complementary crops together. Sweetcorn, runner beans and squashes grown together help each other thrive naturally - the corn provides a trellis for the beans and the squash traps moisture in the soil.

40 local households took part in the project, growing the three crops in their front gardens using grow-bags and seeds. Some residents saw their tasty crops grow as high as twelve feet. Front gardens from Ambler Road to St Thomas Road have played host to the street gardens, which residents are hoping will impress RHS judges today.

Transition Finsbury Park members have also been busy planting out Stroud Green Road Library and tidying up the Harringay Green Lanes station plot. If you've been inspired to garden by our local street gardeners, help is always wanted maintaining the growing sites at Parkwood, Jamboree and at the end of Gloucester Drive, and spare plant cuttings are always welcome. Contact Jo Homan if you'd like to help out.

Transition Finsbury Park will also be hosting a local plum forage this Saturday: meet outside 32b Gloucester Drive (N4 2LN) and bring a push bike!

Image: Amanda Slater