Karin Chipulina

BACHIP

The Bridgend Allotment Community Health Project – or BACHIP for short – is based on the organic allotments near Cameron Toll in Edinburgh. It serves the Craigmiller area. The Project is funded by the NHS and has recently been awarded lottery funds.

I have participated in BACHIP for quite a while as an outreach worker and have helped in a variety of ways: for example with the maintenance of a productive organic fruit and vegetable garden.

Generally we encourage participants not just to learn how to grow things but also how to cook and eat their produce in a healthy manner. In so doing we hope to improve their general well-being as well as their social skills.

My remit also entails helping the community develop land which can be used to grow food. Once the work starts I teach them how to grow things and help with fund raising.

I also work with several schools in the area including Lismore Primary, Liberton Primary, Newcaighall Primary and Castleview Primary. This last school was recently introduced to the Greendykes Community and took part in orchard planting activities.

More recently I was involved with Panmure St. Anne's School in the Grassmarket and worked on a World Heritage workshop that produced six murals to were to be placed in their courtyard.

I was also involved in mural work with the Wheels and Sticks group at the Gilmerton Community Centre and with Gracemount Primary where the whole school took part in the painting of murals and in outdoor environmental workshops.

If you want any further information please follow the link to my website Home Page or contact me directly.

KARIN CHIPULINA