Meet the Green Gym Volunteers
CHRISTOPHER STROUD - Redditch, England
July 2004 to December 2004 – Community Fruit and Vegetable Gardens
My name is Christopher Stroud, I am 21 from Redditch, near Birmingham.
I first heard about Conservation Volunteers when looking for employment opportunities whilst finishing my foundation degree in wildlife and countryside conservation at college.
I work for Conservation Volunteers as a volunteer officer on the Community Fruit and Vegetable Gardens project. I hope to find paid work in a similar field in the future, after gaining some practical experience as a volunteer. My current placement is for six months.
My interest in gardening started as a child. Growing up in a fairly industrial area, I always found sanctuary in the garden. I often feel that I could be outdoors all the time!
I feel that the work I am involved with in Belfast contributes to making the world a better place. It does this by encouraging people to be proud of their local environment. At the same time I encourage people to grow their own fruits and vegetables. I believe that has further reaching benefits than just improving diet. In todays consumer society it is easy for people to loose contact with the simple facts of life and the origins of food. By growing their own, their awareness of the essential elements are increased as well as general well-being.