The work brings older and younger generations together at the Farm, building relationships and understanding between people who live and learn in the same community – but may not otherwise have the chance to be together.
Activities are chosen so skills and ideas can be shared between old and young, and the rich environmental stimulus of Hackney City Farm informs project themes.
Since 2008, we have joined with The Sundial Centre and St Paul’s with St Michael’s School to produce intergenerational creative projects :
- Lassoing Cabbages and other Stories -multi media depiction of memories of gardens and allotments
- Waste not Want not -visual arts and crafts making sessions based on Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Spring into Summer -hand made clay tiles illustrating the use and roles of plants – present and past
- Made in Hackney -presentations on Hackney’s industries – buildings and older peoples’ work reminiscences
Projects average 6 meetings between young and old and run in the mellow straw bale room at the farm.
“Intergenerational work gives me an insight – it boosts me up….it gives me an energy to carry on” (older person on Made in Hackney project)
First hand reminiscence is used to connect with the past. One older person recalled the cow that lived at Lewis’ Dairy, Hackney Rd – “all of us lot, peering in through the window, jostling for a view of the milking”.
“the elderly have to most knowledge from the past. It was great to have them” (young person at St Paul’s with St Michael’s aged 11)
Enquires welcome from local groups wanting to join our project – contact Charlie@hackneycityfarm.co.uk