Grow Jersey

GROW Jersey is a community project in which we tackle issues such as nutritional poverty, loneliness and isolation, low mood and mental health, drastic biodiversity loss, climate change, food waste and much more, through a number of partnerships and hard work. As with all Thrive project, we believe that the best way to resolve our community’s social issues must start from within the community itself – with GROW, our first site measuring 13 vergees, large enough to make a bold statement and a significant contribution towards reducing the deficit. Our aim is also to inspire change and to change mindsets in order for more islanders to start their own similar initiatives, thereby increasing the overall benefit. Our strategy demonstrates that within the confines of one field it is possible to design and manage a community-led operation which delivers a sustainable and diverse variety of nutritional foods, grown regeneratively in a way that also supports local biodiversity. All delivered in a way that fosters a sense of community, helping to combat loneliness and isolation. GROW aims to deliver a large amount of fruit and veg each year, the majority of which will be gifted to help combat issues around nutritional poverty. a comprehensive biodiversity monitoring programme, which will track the impact the farming model has on the local environment, with the aim of improving biodiversity over time. As well as being a sustainable food source, GROW is a location that provides a safe place to meet people, educate adults and students and show the rewards of growing healthy and locally sources food, all within a conservation backdrop that preserves the local ecosystems we depend upon. Grow Jersey is a collaboration between Thrive Jersey, the Parish of St Helier and The Good Jersey Life.