The Allotment Market Stall Growing Healthy - Veg Garden Development

An £8,050 funded community growing project expanding local food production while supporting mental wellbeing through outdoor volunteering and skills-sharing.

Priority Area:

Disused outdoor space for food growing

Funded by:

CMHW Fund

Organisation:

The Allotment Market Stall

Organisation:

The Allotment Market Stall

Project Summary

The Allotment Market Stall (TAMS) is an established Aberdeen-based community food project that redistributes surplus produce from local allotment sites and sells it through seasonal park market stalls. An award of £8,050 from the Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund in 2022 supported the expansion of TAMS’ growing activities, strengthening volunteering opportunities and wellbeing outcomes.

TAMS were also awarded grants from the Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund in 2023 and 2024 for subsequent projects, you can explore more projects at acvo.org.uk/funding/cmhwfundprojects

What Was Funded

The £8,050 grant supported the development of a new growing plot of approximately 2,000m², allocated to TAMS by the local authority. This built on a successful 2020 pilot, where volunteers grew and sold over 100kg of produce from a smaller site.

Funding helped to:

Prepare and develop the new growing plot
Purchase tools, materials and infrastructure
Support volunteer-led gardening activities
Create a safe, accessible outdoor space for participation

What Happens

Through the project, volunteers:

Grow fruit and vegetables using healthy, sustainable gardening practices
Learn skills related to soil care, planting and biodiversity
Take part in garden construction and maintenance
Join community days, gardening sessions and cooking demonstrations

Produce grown is shared with volunteers, sold through TAMS market stalls, and donated to local food banks.

Why It Works

The project supports mental health and wellbeing by:

Providing regular, purposeful outdoor activity
Encouraging social connection and teamwork
Building confidence through learning and contribution
Creating routine and structure for volunteers

Community Impact

The funded project has:

Increased local food-growing capacity
Created meaningful volunteering opportunities
Supported mental wellbeing through green activity
Reduced food waste and supported food banks
Strengthened the long-term sustainability of TAMS

The funding was provided by the Scottish Government’s Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund and distributed locally by ACVO.

Easy to Replicate

This project shows how access to land, volunteer support and relatively small grants can be combined to deliver wellbeing-focused growing projects. The model can be adapted by other communities with allotment links or available green space.