Kent Community Foundation helps to fund Pilgrims Hospices kitchen garden
Generous funding from the Environment Fund administered by the Kent Community Foundation has allowed the Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury to create a kitchen garden, providing the hospice with homegrown, fresh, seasonal produce that will be enjoyed year-round by patients, volunteers, visitors and staff.
Several plants and herbs, such as rhubarb, salvia, parsley, chives, basil, rosemary and leeks, have already been planted. The many fragrant herbs and spices, which have been carefully chosen, will not only be used in the kitchen but, due to their scent, colour and textures, can also help create a calming and reflective area for patients and families to enjoy a space away from the clinical areas.
We are already noticing the positive difference the kitchen garden is starting to make to the charity. Not only is it helping to save vital costs, meaning more funds can be used directly towards providing care for patients, we are starting to have fresh, home-grown produce readily available for meals.
The kitchen team have already been able to add a homemade leek and parmesan risotto, and homemade fish cakes with chips, peas and parsley sauce to the menu using leeks and parsley picked fresh from the garden. They have also created a delicious salmon niçoise salad using green beans straight from the garden. We have picked our very first crop of fruit, which includes strawberries and cherries. We find many patients enjoy having these added to their salads, cereals and desserts.
In the future, we will be able to grow so many vegetables and salad items that we can make into dishes for our patients. Melanie Harris, Head Chef, explains: “It’s so nice to be cooking in the kitchen and be able to quickly pop outside to go and pick some fresh parsley to add to a dish. It really is wonderful being able to say that the herbs or vegetables have come straight from our very own kitchen garden.”
Involving patients in all aspects of the care is so important to Pilgrims Hospices. Once the garden becomes even more established, patients who wish to will be able to help the kitchen team and pick their own produce for their meals, creating a mindful and reflective experience in a supported environment.
The kitchen garden has been installed in an area that is accessible for patients and their loved ones to enjoy the outdoors. Hopefully, in spring and summer 2025, we will start to see patients, including those attending Therapy Centre, sessions exploring and enjoying their new garden as well as helping to maintain the garden.
We are extremely grateful for the Canterbury Army Careers Volunteers who helped with the building of our new kitchen garden. They were joined by Canterbury’s own kitchen team and volunteer gardeners, including Liz from the Pilgrims finance team, who together took on a wide variety of jobs including clearing ground, building the raised beds, and much more.
Inspired to volunteer for Pilgrims Hospices? Check out current volunteering opportunities at pilgrimshospices.org/volunteer.
Find out more about Kent Community Foundation by visiting their website and Facebook page.
