This year we made lots of new friends – both on the allotments and further afield.  We took part in Refugee Week and the Moorside & Newcastle Allotment Shows; at the Ouseburn Farm we sampled the jams and preserves, and had our first experience of weaving with willow.  We were so enthused that we organised our own willow weaving sessions, and have lots of ideas to keep this going.

We had great days out to Tynemouth and Gibside, giving us the chance to relax and meet up with other Comfrey Project members and their families and friends.  It was a chance to relax and forget about the stresses of everyday life – and we were lucky to have perfect sunny weather.

We welcomed many visitors to the allotments including the Mayor of Gateshead and Sir Stuart Etherington – it is good to know that we have so many people who want to give us their support.  Tyne Tees Television made a short film – “Giving Comfort” – which enabled us to show why we feel happy coming to the garden.  Other opportunities came up to work with partner organisations, and we have been creating soup recipes and ceramic bowls, inspired by our memories from our time in the garden.

Meanwhile, the hard work of digging, planting and sowing still continued in the allotment garden and by the summer we had lots of produce to eat and share.  At the end of the season it was time to lock up the tools and the sheds and move indoors.  It is important to continue to meet with our friends and we used the time to learn new crafts such as jewellery making and batik, learning from artists and each other – it has been a busy year and we are looking forward to more to come.

Download the report to read more:  Annual Report 2010-11

Titled ‘The Revolution will be composted: adventures in radical gardening’, Ruth’s blog looks sure to be a must-read.

Follow it here: http://gu.com/p/34py7

GARDENING CLUB

Want to learn about gardening, seed sowing, weeds, and planning for next year? Join our gardening theory class, in a warm classroom with a friendly crowd of enthusiastic gardeners.

On occasions there will also be trips to Newcastle College for planting sessions in a greenhouse, and at Scotswood Community Gardens for wildlife recognition and work with bees and pollination.

It takes place at The Park Centre, Cruddas Park Shopping Centre NE4 7RW on Tuesdays from 10.00am to 2.30pm.

COOKING CLUB

There are two cooking clubs at The Comfrey Project.

One is on Tuesdays (with creche) from 10.00am to 12.00pm, followed by a shared lunch.  On Wednesday the club runs from 11.00am to 1.00pm, also with a shared lunch (currently fully booked).

You’ll learn about cooking from  other cultures, using unusual ingredients, healthy cooking and eating, and making flavourome food on a budget.

ART & CRAFT CLUB

On Mondays you can work with an artist to create jewellery, textiles, sewing, batik, glass paintings and many other creative skills.

Come and find out what you’re good out and learn new things. The class is from 12.30-2.30pm on Mondays.

All classes are free to registered Comfrey Project participants. For more information ring Yvonne on 0191 226 3615

Courgette Leaves

Ingredients
Courgette leaves
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 onion
1 green pepper

Method

1. In a large pan, gently cook the onion for five minutes, until soft.
2. Add the chopped courgette leaves
3. Add tinned tomatoes, bring to boil, then reduce heat, cover pan with a lid and cook for 15-20 minutes.
4. Season to taste and serve.

There are many different ways to cook courgette leaves, including adding peanut butter. Send us your recipes for courgettes.

Remember: when preparing courgette leaves, carefully peel the stalks to remove the spikes.

Mandy Jetter was the manager of the Comfrey Project until 2009 and has just published a highly-readable publication which looks at refugee issues such as:

• When do you decide it’s too dangerous to stay and you have to leave?
• What are your priorities once you’ve found refuge?
• How do you set about rebuilding your life?
• What and who do you leave behind?
• And where is home now?

To answer these questions, eight refugees in North East England tell stories from their lives.  They talk of the experiences they most want others to hear and understand.

This collection of stories based on recordings is now available.

Community workers, teachers, trainers, faith leaders, academics, students, health workers, policy makers will find these stories extremely useful in their work.

86 pages, A4 ring-bound, free of charge.

If you would like a copy, please email: amanda.jetter@btinternet.com

We went to the Baltic with our friends from Edbert’s House to take part in some art activities.

Following a tour of the Baltic, a first for some of us, we worked with Karen Davies to make some textile work  inspired by Robert Breer, who is exhibiting at the Baltic. We used images from the exhibition and also images from the garden to inspire our work.

Funded by Your Homes Newcastle

After participating in a willow weaving workshop at the Ouseburn Farm, we decided to go ahead and arrange some workshops for the rest of the gardeners at the Comfrey Project.  It’s an excellent activity as it provides an opportunity for working together, and is practical, so language is not a barrier and it’s great fun.  We have lots of willow at two of our allotment sites, so now we’ll be cutting and weaving our willow for years to come.

As we were worried about the rain, Moorside Allotment Association kindly allowed us use of the sheltered area around the office and allotment shop.

Ruth from Sylvan Arts has been an excellent teacher, and we’re going to use the skills she’s taught us in designing other willow structures.

We quite fancy some living chairs, but that may need to wait to another day…

Indian Spiced Chickpea and Oven Roasted Tomato Soup

Members of the Comfrey Project, Edberts House and Gateshead Council’s Cultural Volunteers have worked together with ceramic artist, Paul Scott, to create our own personal soup bowl designs. Using illustrations, photographs and text we have created patterns inspired by our memories, and lives in Gateshead.

Working with chef, Sam Storey, we created a delicious soup, Indian Spiced Chickpea and Fire Roasted Tomato, which was served at the preview.

An exhibition of the work was displayed at the Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead until 3rd of April 2011.

We were delighted to be part in this event, we have tried different versions of the soup, created a few more recipes, and look forward to making a “soup garden” at Felling Allotment.  If you want to try this for yourself then download the recipe below.

• Indian Spiced Chickpea and Oven Roasted Tomato Soup

Offering comfort

Sir Stuart Etherington joins The Comfrey Project for lunch

Sir Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), came to Newcastle last Friday to visit the Comfrey Project and the East Area Asylum Seekers Support Group.

After a tour of the west end allotment site, lunch was served in the willow bower with some tasty food from around the world, cooked on the spot by the project’s users. Staff and trustees also appreciated the visit and got some useful tips on funding and connections. Unsurprisingly, the visit closed in a sudden downpour but a good time was had by all.

In the morning Sir Stuart visited the East Area Asylum Seekers Support Group, one of our partner organisations that do fantastic work supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the East End of  Newcastle.