This is a first for me, starting a residency as artist gardener for the growing season, just as pandemic restrictions ease. I create pop-up gardens for festivals and events, and for the past year any mass gathering of that kind has been banned. The Government’s announcement on April 12th held a special significance for all of us whose livelihood relies on interacting with members of the public, making possible so many projects that were placed on hold when lockdown began.
The Takeaway Garden is one such project, and I am so pleased finally to be making moves towards starting this. My plan is to take one of the empty shops in Newcastle town centre and turn it into a living pop-up garden from now until October; a whole growing season. Visitors to Newcastle will be able to watch as seedlings grow, flower and set fruit, and I’ll be at the shop during certain weeks to meet and chat and exchange gardening stories. I’ll also be repurposing junk into colourful planters. You can found out when I’ll be at the Newcastle Common shop here.
However this week I joined the stallholders on the Monday market, and created a mini pop-up garden on a vacant stall. I must admit to a certain amount of trepidation, as usually when I attend events, they are entertainment events; food festivals, or flower shows, and people come for a day out. This time, I was meeting people during the course of their daily lives, and I had no idea if they would even notice that stall. The first half an hour I spent watching focused people rushing to work, or escorting their children on the school run. Then, the mood changed, and the market began to fill with people looking for things to buy, and many were happy to stop and have a chat with the woman with flowers on her stall, who wasn’t even selling anything!
I spent an enjoyable day in the sun, talking to the shoppers in Newcastle town centre, swapping seeds for their gardening stories and tips, and they were so interesting, ranging from one lady who owned just one plant – a cactus, that she was very proud of, to stories of plants going on holidays with their owner, and one top tip on growing peas. One lady uses Batchelor’s dried peas as seeds rather than buying expensive branded seed peas. She says the peas always germinate reliably. I’m definitely going to try this one, once I’m in the shop!
Many thanks to Nick and Andy, and everyone at the market who made me feel so welcome!
Don’t forget to share your experience of coming to the Takeaway Garden, your gardening tips and memories using #TakeAwayGarden on social media.
Ladybird Su
Garden artist for the Growing Season
Newcastle Common
