Our Earthworkers
Earthworks offers weekday placements to people aged 16 years and upwards who have a learning disability, who are known as Earthworkers. Our Earthworkers receive work experience and informal training in horticulture, ecology and conservation, small-scale construction, woodwork and crafts.
At Earthworks we all work and learn together. Every Earthworker and volunteer contributes to maintaining our beautiful garden, cultivating the fruit and vegetables in our market garden and allotments, selling to the public and building habitats around our ponds, meadow and woodland.
Earthworkers also help Earthworks move forward. Along with volunteers, they contribute observations and ideas to quarterly Project Group meetings. Through the Project Leaders and Trustees, this feedback informs the direction of development.
Not that it’s all work, work, work. Many friendships have been formed over the years as the Earthworkers, volunteers and staff swap stories and jokes or party away on Bonfire Night and at the Christmas bash.
If you or someone you know would like to become an Earthworker, you can apply to join here.
A typical day at Earthworks
Activities at Earthworks change with the seasons. Tasks include growing fruit and vegetables, general gardening, mowing and strimming, country crafts, woodwork, bonfires, basic construction, chopping fire wood and kindling, making deliveries, selling produce and building wildlife habitats around our ponds, meadow and woodland. Whether you plant a single onion seed or paint a whole fence panel during the day, your contribution makes a difference.
There is also the chance to attend events to represent Earthworks, man event stalls, talk about Earthworks to community groups, and sometimes even appear on local radio. Our Earthworkers have a voice that is respected and appreciated in the wider community.
The staff and volunteers are always at hand to help Earthworkers enjoy their favourite jobs and learn new things. Everyone is supported to take part in a way that is most suitable for them. Although the jobs change, each day follows the same basic routine.