Volunteer plants new seeds at Keighley church with yard transformation

A volunteer is planting new seeds at Keighley Salvation Army by transforming an unused space into a garden which is already growing an abundance of produce to help feed the community. 

Matthew, 39, first came to Keighley Salvation Army through the church and charity’s cookery class The Victory Programme, which helps people cook meals on a budget, then started to help out in the food bank.

Keen to make use of the outdoor space at the church hall and community centre in High Street, Salvation Army leader Major Imogen Stewart suggested Matthew take it on as a project. 

Despite having no experience in gardening, just a few short months later the space has been transformed - and Matthew is now preparing to enter Keighley in Bloom. 

Matthew said: “I can honestly say this has been lifesaving for me. I came to The Salvation Army after rehab for alcohol addiction, and they gave me this opportunity. I started it from scratch and I'd honestly live out here now, I absolutely love it! 

“We’ve got carrots, peas, strawberry plants, herbs, lettuces, wild garlic, different varieties of chillies, a hybrid gooseberry plant, a pumpkin tree, potatoes growing in old baby bath. We’ve even got a mushroom greenhouse and I've got an experiment going on to grow a cucumber combined with a melon – a cucamelon. 

“I’ve got no experience in gardening, I’ve learned it all from watching videos on YouTube and adapting it. I use everything I can get my hands on, whether that’s donations from the charity shop or discarded seeds from the peppers used in the Victory Programme. Everything is used for compost and nothing is going to waste. 

“All that’s being grown is being used for the Victory Programme, to feed people who are homeless, for the food parcels and for the café to save costs.” 

Having experienced homelessness and alcoholism himself, Matthew knows how important it is to keep busy when trying to overcome addiction and finds being in the garden really helps. He is also encouraging others to get involved. 

He continued: “It's very, very good for people's mental health. Getting through rehab it was tough and coming out of it I knew it would be a challenge which is why I joined the Victory Programme. I think this saves people's lives because it definitely saved my life, I’ve been clean for a year now. I don't know what I'd have done without it. Now I want to help others. I like to give people a chance.” 

Preparations are now underway for Keighley in Bloom where Matthew plans to enter the Best Yard competition. He’s also been busy planting flowers at the front of the building to brighten up the entrance and car park. 

They are also going to paint a mural and create an outside covered seating area so that people using the café at The Salvation Army, which is open Monday to Wednesday between 10am and 2.30pm, can sit outside. 

Major Imogen described the garden as their eco project, which fits with The Salvation Army’s ethos to Care for Creation. She said: “What Matthew has achieved with this in such a short space of time is amazing. He's developed so much as a person and really has transformed his life, and he’s now encouraging others to come and help him. I'm so proud of him.” 

Rachel, who runs the Victory Programme, said: “It’s been brilliant. We’re already using a lot of the produce to add to the meals we cook for our Victory Programme course and for our café menu. This means we are not only saving money, but can demonstrate how items can be grown from seed. Last week we gave him seeds from the peppers which he has already planted.” 

Keighley Salvation Army runs a number of activities throughout the week. Find out more here or search for them on Facebook.