Made on My Patch (MOMP) is a sustainable community-based food growing programme that we want to develop in Wirral, Cheshire and beyond.

Piloted in 2024 with one MOMP network of 10 households, this programme brings people together with lived experience, to use any space that they can access to grow a wide variety of edible produce, in community. The programme includes a patch leader, a professional gardener, sponsoring garden centre, a link food bank, and up to ten patch network households. People join for a variety of reasons from making friends, building confidence in social settings, learning new skills, and growing food they can eat and share. After being onboarded by the patch leader, participants complete a baseline survey to help the leader understand the level, motives and ability to help during the programme.

There are monthly workshops/socials covering key stages of the season, from designing and preparing a patch, to nurturing growth and finally eating and sharing produce. A whatsapp group is also created for participants to offer updates and encourage eachother. Surplus produce is given to the link foodbank. All participants completed the pilot programme, developing skills, offering help, making new friends and feeling part of a community supporting each other.

Having completed the pilot, we now want to develop a strong digital presence, produce resources and buy equipment to help a growing number of patch networks engage and maximise their potential.