Action Research
We work with communities, social enterprises, businesses and the public sector to support and carry out participatory and action research around food. See below for some of our current and previous work.
Mountainall Greenspace, NHS Dumfries
In 2024 we started working with NHS Dumfries and Galloway to look at sustainability and community involvement across their greenspaces. Mountainhall is an 11acre site which lends itself to nature connection, foraging and wild food, forest schools and more!
So far we have supported 4 engagement events including one 'BioBlitz' to record nature through citizen science. Click the link below to download the report from the engagement events.
We are looking for a Creative Practitioner to support ongoing work and engagement and to help pull together a steering group for the site. The project is supported by DesignHOPES and the What we do Now Network.
Lothlorien Therapeutic Community
In early 2023 we began work with the Lothlorien Therapeutic Community in Dumfries and Galloway. The community was established in the 1970s and provides a place of sanctuary for people experiencing difficulties in their lives. Propagate was asked by Lothlorien to carry out a feasibility study, looking at the potential for groups to use the land there for activities and workshops, and for a possible social prescribing scheme for day visitors. We spoke to over 30 people and organisations who were keen to build relationships with the community. We hope to continue our work with Lothlorien over the coming years.
Groundwork Market Gardening Toolkit
We developed a new toolkit for aspiring market gardener in Scotland, on behalf of Glasgow Community Food Network. This contains information on how to access land, designing your growing space, growing methods, logistics, and business planning.
Check out the Groundwork page in our Resources section to see the whole thing!
Community Composting Research
This research looks at the different community-scale composting initiatives and models. It covers a short history of composting in Glasgow, looks at the pros and cons of different composters, estimated costs and details how to set up a compost club. It was commissioned by Glasgow Community Food Network as part of their Food and Climate Action Project.
Braes Shieldhill, Falkirk
Between January and August 2022 we worked with Braes Shieldhill Greenspace, to engage local people in conversations and design workshops that imagined food growing spaces in their community. This has been part of the Falkirk Food Futures programme, which has seen loads of great projects all over the region. We have supported local people to establish a new group: Braes Food Growing Collective
SWG3
We have been working with arts venue SWG3, in the West End of Glasgow since 2019, leading on engagement and consultation with local people on a new community garden. This work continues and the garden is nearly finished. We will continue to support ways for the local community to use the space.
Kinning Park Pitches
In 2019 we worked with Kinning Park Complex to carry out consultations around the Kinning Park Pitches to see what local folk would like this abandoned space to be used for. We chapped on doors, held consultation workshops and invited groups to the space to imagine what it could be. The community decided to prioritise sport over food, so our involvement ended there!
Roots to Market
Our Roots to Market research was carried out in 2018, and looked and the need, demand and next steps for building a resilient local food economy in Glasgow. We spoke to 25 growers, and around 30 cafes and restaurants. We identified clear steps for growing the local food economy - access to land, increased skills and better infrastructure. This work was carried out in collaboration with Glasgow Community Food Network, who we continue to work with.
