Hopeful Beginnings: a Germinating Seed

If the seed for Room to Be was sown at the turn of the new year, then now is the time of its germination. Thank you to all who were able to join us for our first informal drop-in. It was a beautiful thing to finally see faces and meet minds and not only hear about what draws you to the project, but also what you are willing to contribute - the wealth of experience, passion and skill you each bring. For those who were unable to make it, you missed out on coffee, cake, colourful collage, excellent conversation, laughter and some spontaneous performance poetry (thank you Amara!).

There was even talk of having a formal meeting with an agenda and perhaps even the creation of a committee, words that usually make people run a mile! And with seven people around the table at one stage, it felt like we had the makings of a board meeting… perhaps minus the flowery collage in the middle.

Next steps for Room to Be therefore is to set a date for a formal meeting, (dare I say ‘AGM’?). From this meeting we will be able to build our constitution, create a steering committee and collect our members ideas for the project. Who knows, perhaps we’ll even provide lunch. If you are NOT interested in the organisational side of things, don’t fret. You can still get involved with Room to Be simply to garden or make art or drink coffee or read poetry.

Some great suggestions were floated during the meeting, including the creation of a Tiny Gallery for tiny art, a textiles project to explore trans identities, community-clean-up volunteering days, and an online platform where members would be able to promote events, activities and meet-ups. One of the goals of the project is to support members to lead on their own ideas, so if you want a board games night, a nature walk or a book club, Room to Be is a space in which you can call out for members to join you.

Whilst an AGM is in the pipeline (we will keep you updated!), more immediately Room to Be will be promoting the project at Boomerang Community Centre for International Women’s Day on the 8th March, 12- 3pm. It is another opportunity to come meet us and see the centre in Stobswell where we will be starting the garden project.

Our first garden meet-up (seed sowing and garden planning) will be in mid-March. It would be great if those who have space on a sunny windowsill could help tend to seeds for the garden. If you already have seeds that you want to grow, let us know and we’ll plan them in.

Thanks again to everyone who popped in on Saturday. And thank you too to Cake or Dice for offering us the space and to the members of Dundee's Community Garden Network for sourcing us a big pile of gardening magazines to cut up for our creative endeavours.

We very much look forward to the next time and to meeting other new faces as we continue to grow.

Making progress with our garden Pride Progress flag

Tears to a Flower

by Amaranthine Craigie (Sept 24)

Oh that I had wings and were able to fly watching the landscape go by.

Feel the wind on my cold skin lashing at my hair, leaving my emotions bare.

Tears of freedom would pour from me irrigating the earth, abling flowers to grow, showing my passing by.

What a wonderful way to cry.

I would circle the earth making flower grow for all,

a sign of freedom to people who would know the call.

They would not pick or gather the flower, instead leave them in the ground to grow, knowing their power.

The humble bee each flower would pollinate spreading nature's kiss,

a blessing from our mother which we reciprocate with love and attentive care,

ensuring the earth is never bare.

I would teach the secret of flight onto others and an army of tears like rain will pour,

making sure the earth was never dry and have flower buds of freedom for ever more.