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BOOK
LAUNCH |
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The
Cable Street Gardeners is a portrayal, in words and black
and white
photographs, of 57 people in a small corner of the East End
of London. For more than twelve months, throughout the seasons,
Chris Ketly photographed the gardeners and asked them what
they grow, where they come from and why they love their
green
space amid the dust and noise of the metropolis.
"A
delightful publication enabling us to meet the people behind
the plots and share their enthusiasm. This booklet captures
the very essence of allotment gardening in the 21st century."
GEOFF STOKES,
NATIONAL SECRETARY, NATIONAL SOCIETY OF ALLOTMENT AND LEISURE
GARDENERS LTD.
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| The
booklet will be on sale for the first time, price £4.95, at
Eastside bookshop, 166 Brick Lane (near Shoreditch tube). Learn from
the experts about organic produce and composting. |
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Preview...
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AGATHA ATHANAZE
I've been gardening here for 12 years. I was born in Dominica
and came to Tower Hamlets in 1961. I've done different jobs. I've
been a machinist and a cleaner. I live in Wapping now. I have
four children, three born in the Caribbean and one here. I had
a garden in Dominica so I did have some experience. The vegetables
came first. I grow cabbages; onions; spring onions; runner beans;
carrots; tomatoes; rhubarb and kidney beans. I like flowers too.
I've ordered roses from Holland and from Spalding. I just like
to come here and grow things. There are two benches but I haven't
time to sit down.
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ANWARA BEGUM
I was born in Bangladesh. My father was a businessman and had some
land. My seven sisters and I helped mother with the farming. We never
had to buy food from the market and we sold bamboo and bananas. When
I was 16 years old I came to live in Tower and 10 years ago I started
gardening at Cable Street. The four children helped when they were
younger but now they are busy with other things. They have to study
and help with the housework.
I'm studying too: IT; childcare; maths and English. | And I'm taking
Bengali GCSE as well as doing voluntary work in a nursery school.
Here I'm growing potatoes; onions; garlic; coriander; tomatoes; rhubarb
and different varieties of beans as well as some Bangladeshi vegetables.
There are two reasons for gardening. First, it saves money and second,
it's good exercise. I don't want to stay inside and become fat. |
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CONRAD, DONALD
AND JAMES KOREK
I garden here with my wife Catherine and our two younger sons, Donald
who's 10 and James, six. Our eldest boy isn't interested now. We've
lived in the borough for 14 years and started gardening at Cable Street
about a year after we arrived. We have a flat nearby and we like to
spend time outdoors. I was born in north London and Catherine was
brought up on a farm in Scotland so she has more experience of growing
food.
It was hard work preparing the ground but now we grow potatoes; sweetcorn;
peppers; courgettes and onions as well as some flowers. James likes
weeding and he supports Arsenal. Donald is a West Ham supporter and
he's good at picking up stones and chatting to the other gardeners.
I work for the Home Office in Croydon so I spend a lot of time commuting.
Catherine works part-time locally Gardening is very therapeutic. It
takes your mind off other things. |
MOHAMAD RAHMAT
ALI PATHNI
I have always been a gardener. I started on my father's land in Bangladesh
and when I came to live in Birmingham in 1978 I had a garden behind
the back yard. I have lived in Wapping since 1983 and started gardening
in Cable Street in 1995. I work here two or three days a week on my
own allotment and on other people's plots.
I'm enjoying myself. And it helps my frozen shoulder. I taught my
children - two girls and two boys - to garden and my wife often works
here too. Many of the gardeners provide food for other people and
I regularly give vegetables to friends. I also write poetry which
is printed by local Bengali printers in the Eurobangia News Weekly
And I am a member of a London writers' group. We meet monthly and
encourage young people to write.
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