About us

Nourish and Grow is a Community Interest Company (ie a social enterprise). We use the income from our microbakery to support our work running local community growing spaces.

Microbakery
Our microbakery makes Real Bread by hand, with no preservatives, for communities in Barnes and Mortlake.

We offer a range of artisanal loaves, which can be ordered directly from our online store. The bakery also supplies fresh bread to the Barnes Foodbank each week and you can sponsor an additional loaf for a foodbank client as part of your order.

We also offer small-batch preserves, made where we can with produce from our growing spaces, as well as other seasonal goodies.

Growing spaces

We bring people together at our growing sites to grow organic food together, teach others how to grow, share the food we produce (including with the foodbank) and eat what we have grown. We want our spaces to be both rich in natural biodiversity and places of sanctuary and hospitality for the local community.

Our founder

Our founder, Helen, has lived in and around Barnes and Mortlake since 2003. She worked as a doctor for over 15 years, before trading her stethoscope for an apron and wellies. Trained as a consultant in public health medicine, Helen is passionate about reducing health inequalities and supporting people to live healthier and more active lives.

Helen has baked her own bread since she was a student. She is proud to be a Bread Angel and part of a nationwide network of microbakers who provide good bread for their local communities. Helen trained as a Bread Angel with Sara Ward at Hen Corner in Brentford. She is also a supporter of the Real Bread Campaign.

Despite living in London, Helen’s heart lies in the French countryside. Her approach to food has been heavily influenced by shopping in France, buying fresh, seasonal produce, made or grown locally, often directly from the producer.

Helen is a strong advocate of the health and wellbeing benefits of connecting with nature outdoors. She is a keen outdoor swimmer and grows fruit, vegetables and flowers on her allotment.

Helen is a member of the Community of Hopeweavers and the work of Nourish and Grow is informed by her Christian faith, specifically the biblical principle of ‘love your neighbour.’ Our work is open to people of all faiths and people of none, however the value of love your neighbour remains a core part of our ethos.

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