Tag Archives: self-sufficient; food-growing

Join the Food Revolution

With reports of food frozen in the ground as The Whistler went to press in the middle of January, there’s never been a better time for self-sufficiency. Everyone’s talking about growing your own veg these days: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on TV, countless articles in newspapers and magazines and the Government’s latest food strategy. There’s a huge renewed interest in growing but many of us lack the skills to get out and do it.

A course in ‘successful composting’ has kicked off a training programme for people interested in growing more of their own food. The courses are organised by Harvest Brighton & Hove, a new city-wide project which aims to get more residents growing their own and eating local food. Other topics to be covered in 2010 include an introduction to organic growing, container growing and how to plan your plot.
The training is focused on providing hands-on experience and practical skills so those who attend can go home and get growing in whatever space they have available. The courses will be delivered by growing experts from local community food projects.

More information,venues and booking for courses is available at http://harvest-bh.org.uk/projects/66-projects/80-training.

Happy Birthday to Garden Sharing

The popular Grow Your Neighbour’s Own garden share scheme celebrates its first year of running. The scheme matches people who don’t have space but would like to grow their own food, with other residents who have gardens but aren’t able to, or interested in, growing food. In doing so the scheme brings underused and neglected gardens into productive cultivation, develops new skills amongst people in the community, and helps gardeners and garden owners share fresh, local food. The scheme has over 90 members and has been busy connecting garden owners and land managers with aspiring gardeners over the last year. It is run by volunteers with a passion for bringing the community together, reducing our carbon footprint, and reviving food growing skills.

With so many people keen to grow food but with nowhere to grow it, Grow Your Neighbour’s Own is appealing for more owners to share their garden with a member of their community. There are all sorts of benefits; making new friends, putting unused land to good use, and sharing the produce being just a few. If anyone has space of any size they would like to share, the scheme would be pleased to hear from you.

For more information about the scheme and to register as a garden owner or gardener, please go to the website:
www.growyourneighboursown.org.uk
or call Julie Green on 07796 172196 / 01273 735795