Twig Planter Workshop
Learn how to give twigs and sticks from clearing your orchard a second life! During this workshop, we will be making zero waste planters for from twigs and twine, zero carbon footprint and biogedradable!
Eco Print Workshop
At this exciting workshop, we will learn how to use flowers and leaves to create stunning and unique prints.
We are going to apply this technique to paper, but in exactly same way you can make prints on fabric.
Seedlings Swap
If you are anything like us, you have sown way too many seeds of each variety of vegetables that you would like to grow this season, and now left with too many lovely baby plants that you feel sorry to throw away? Or have you forgotten to sow and now are afraid it is too late to start?
Whichever is the case, worry not! Come along to our seedling swap where we can donate and exchange the seedlings of all vegetables and other annuals!
Our Greenhouses will also launch sales of their young plants so you will be able to do some shopping from Socially Growing Greenhouses too!
Vegetable Growing Volunteering Session
Grab a great opportunity to learn from professional vegetable growers and get tips on how to grow your own food from the Royal Head Gardener!
During this volunteering session, you will help the gardeners’ team of the Gardens of Mey with planting potatoes, leeks, onions, garlic, cabbage, kale, cauliflower and other vegetables.
Gardening Tools Swap
Gardening swap is your chance to declutter your sheds from whatever tools you have in surplus, and pick up things that you really need, at no cost involved!
Gardening tools repair cafe
You are welcome to attend our gardening session of repair cafe at Thurso Community Gardens with you gardening tools that need mending, lubricating or sharpening.
Booking is essential please, as we need to get prepared for the type of repairs or maintenance you may require.
Get To Know Your Sewing Machine Course
Join the free training course to learn how to set up, maintain and use your sewing machine correctly and safely. The course consists of 4 sessions.
Seed Swap
Do you have some plant and veg seeds that you would like to trade and swap ?
Pop along to this free event and bring along any seeds you want to trade / swap.
End of Winter Woodland Clearing Volunteering Session
We are inviting all nature lovers to help the busy gardening team at the Gardens of Mey with clearing the large woodland area from leaves, fallen branches and other debris and prepare it for the spring. We shall also put up the bird boxes to encourage more wildlife into the Gardens.
We will be able to collect natural materials for crafting during the day - and sycamore branches are so beautiful and look amazing in home decor! Natural materials are free, sustainable, unique and look so elegant and tasteful - let’s refuse from buying home adornments in favour of foraging!
Craft Materials Swap
Reshuffle your cupboards and refresh your stock! Donate crafting materials you don’t need and come to see what new treasures you can find at the swap!
Winter Woodland Clearing Volunteering Session
Let's gather amongst the trees on the winter solstice day. Let's ground ourselves and work hard, it's always good for the soul. Let's warm up and share stories around the bonfires.
Film Screening: The Nettle Dress. Slow Crafts Sunday
A feature documentary by Dylan Howitt
Allan Brown makes a dress by hand just from the fibre of foraged stinging nettles over 7 years.
A modern day fairytale and hymn to the healing power of nature and slow craft.
Our film is a handspun labour of love too and follows him every step of the way.
Get to know your sewing machine. Slow Crafts Sunday
A very useful session for those who are keen to learn sewing but not feeling confident enough about using their sewing machines. At this session you will learn how to operate your sewing machine safely and correctly, go through the structure and key functions of your machine.
Participation fee is £3.
Spinning Wheel Interactive Demonstration. Slow Crafts Sunday
Magical craft of spinning the wool on the wheel, nowadays it feels like it came to us from fairytales.
It is extremely important to preserve this amazing skill and pass it on from generation, to generation. Come and watch how the wool is spun by our wonderful expert Ann Johnson, or even have a go yourself!
The event is free.
Craft Materials Swap. Slow Crafts Sunday
Reshuffle your cupboards and refresh your stock! Donate crafting materials you don’t need and come to see what new treasures you can find at the swap!
Crochet Toy Workshop. Slow Crafts Sunday
Exciting workshop for anyone who has the beginner level crocheting skills! You will learn how to crochet a cute little toy and you will take it home. All materials are provided.
Participation fee is £3.
Plant, Bulb and Seed Swap
End of autumn, before our gardens go dormant for the winter months, is the best time to divide, replant and repot the plants.
This swap is for all our gardeners in the community. Whether you are skilled and have established garden, or you are a curious beginner - we all can benefit from sharing our surplus overgrown plants and adding something new to our gardens.
This swap is flexible - you can donate and adopt as many plants, cuttings, bulbs, seeds as you need.
Sharing plants locally is very crucial to our carbon footprint, given that nearest large nursery or garden centre where we can get considerable variety of plants is a hundred miles away. We can significantly cut down on the carbon footprint from our gardening if we skip the step of individual travels for plant shopping.
We are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday the 28th of October, at Thurso Grows Community Gardens, from 12:00 to 14:00, for the swap.
Gardening tools repair cafe
You are welcome to attend our gardening session of repair cafe at Thurso Community Gardens with you gardening tools that need mending, lubricating or sharpening.
Booking is essential please, as we need to get prepared for the type of repairs or maintenance you may require.
Seed and cutting collecting day at the Castle and Gardens of Mey (free event)
Limited availability!
A small group of lucky participants will be invited over to the Royal Gardens at the Castle & Gardens of Mey to harvest seeds and cuttings from the immense variety of plants and learn from experienced gardeners.
Zero Waste Food Contest
The Blue Door Diner is opening its doors for hosting Zero Waste Food Contest!
Everybody is welcome to enter their favourite zero waste recipe to our contest.
Please submit your dish here indicating the category you would like to compete. You can select multiple categories, or none, then we will decide what category your dish fits better, for you.
At the end of the event, the strict but fair panel of judges will select winners in various categories.
Climate Fair
On 16 September, Thurso Precinct Street will turn into the center of climate action, with representatives of environmental agencies, community organizations and local big and small businesses sharing their stories on the path to be more sustainable, circular and environmentally friendly.
“River” Halladale Hall Film Night
On the 9th of September we will demonstrate the "River" film telling us how rivers have shaped not just our landscapes and our journeys but also flew through our cultures and dreams.
“JUST EAT IT” Halladale Hall Film Night
On the 8th of September you are welcome to watch "Just Eat It" film about the frightening scale of food waste and what we can do to change this grave situation.
Thurso Riverside Foraging Walk
Let’s rediscover Thurso Riverside walk as a splendid and generous source of natural resources with Natural Path Natural Ways and RSPB.
All fuss about the grass
Are you tired of mowing your lawn?
Do you want to stop wasting your money and time on keeping it neat?
Are you passionate about wildlife and biodiversity?
We are inviting you to Thurso Community Gardens to talk about low-maintenance, sustainable and wildlife-friendly alternatives to endless lawns, and make a mini alternative lawn in a container to take home with you.
You'll get tips and techniques from the Species on the Edge team on how to encourage and sustain wildlife in your garden for the benefit of the wider environment.
Tea and cake included!
All fuss about the grass Newtonhill
Are you tired of mowing your lawn?
Do you want to stop wasting your money and time on keeping it neat?
Are you passionate about wildlife and biodiversity?
We are inviting you to Newtonhill Community Woodland Cottage to talk about low-maintenance, sustainable and wildlife-friendly alternatives to endless lawns, and make a mini alternative lawn in a container to take home with you.
You'll get tips and techniques from the Species on the Edge team on how to encourage and sustain wildlife in your garden for the benefit of the wider environment.
Tea and cake included!
Back to School Swap
Any school related items swap Thursday evening 3 Aug and Friday afternoon 4 Aug at Thurso Community Cafe!
Repair cafe during Thursday 3 Aug session, to assist with any mendings for school garments or accessories!
Please drop off your donations in advance to Socially Growing Shop, Monday to Saturday 10 am - 4 pm.
Back to School Swap and Repair Cafe
Any school related items swap Thursday evening 3 Aug and Friday afternoon 4 Aug at Thurso Community Cafe!
Repair cafe during Thursday 3 Aug session, to assist with any mendings for school garments or accessories!
Please drop off your donations in advance to Socially Growing Shop, Monday to Saturday 10 am - 4 pm.
Rubbish Quiz
Are you rubbish at quizzes?
Come to Thurso Town Market, try your luck with our Rubbish Quiz!
Match 20 items with the right waste bin - and get £20 worth of gift voucher!
Do What You Can Clothing Swap and Repair
Do What You Can is a part of the Climate Fringe Festival - and we are looking for clothes you no longer need, want, wear so do the DROP at the shop in Thurso precinct 'Socially Growing' and then come and do the SWAP, bring anything you fancy working on to REPAIR, (We'll teach all the basics), eat with us and watch the film 'Fashion Reimagined