This summer we were pleased to be able to support NeuroSpicy Mind CIC in their journey of cultivating a community garden. With the help of our Garden Tool Library and plant starter pack, we have been privileged to play a part in their objectives of fostering creative and reflective community-based opportunities in the city, specifically focused on supporting neurodivergent persons and those dealing with direct and inherited trauma from African and Afro-descendant backgrounds.
Here are some photographs of their garden project as it takes shape:
Who are NeuroSpicy Mind CIC?
NeuroSpicy Mind are growing in their ambitions and offerings of creative and holistic healing programmes for community members. Co-founder Violetta Liszka says:
We have expanded their programs to include drama, music, yoga, dance, poetry and gardening by collaborating with different art & health specialists. They integrate African spirituality within the context of trauma and neurodivergence. They want to raise awareness and eliminate stigma especially within African and Afro-descendant communities. Inherited trauma concept refers to the psychological impacts transferred from individuals who directly experienced trauma to their descendants. This issue is significantly relevant to the Black African and Caribbean communities due to the tremendous hardship and effects of slavery, colonialism and systemic racism. The consequences influence mental health and social dynamics across generations. They believe that healing this trauma is essential to overcome cycles of pain and foster a more resilient community.Â
My personal connection to inherited trauma comes from my family's experiences in the ghettos during World War II in Krakow, Poland. Marcelle Bitimbhe, fellow NeuroSpicy Mind Co-founder and Director, a autistic woman from Cameroon, understands the intersections of racism and neurodivergence. She is raising an autistic son and sharing her story: "In my experience, discussing autism within black minority communities is not easy. There's a pervasive stigma and many misconceptions about neurodivergence, often seen as a taboo or even a curse. This has led to under-diagnosis and reluctance to seek help, resulting in perpetuating these misunderstandings."
The Power of Gardening
Gardening is more than just planting seeds; it’s a powerful tool for community building and personal growth. It provides a therapeutic outlet for creativity and self-expression while also fostering social connections. By developing a community garden, organisations like NeuroSpicy Mind can foster spaces of growth and healing that encourage collaboration with other community members, as well as with soil and plants. In this way, community gardens can serve as space spaces where individuals can explore emotions, share stories, and connect with one another.
Our Garden Tool Library supports this vision by removing the financial barriers that often prevent community groups from engaging in gardening. With tools readily available at Aldermoor Farm and Sholing Valley Study Centre, you can easily access everything you need to bring your own garden to life.
You can keep up to date with NeuroSpicy Mind CIC via their Facebook page.
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