BRISTOL FOOD NETWORK Bristol’s local food update2013 community project news · courses · publications · events september–october

You know that the weather is back to (what passes for) the English normal when you’ve had to dig out your dusty copy of What will I do with all those courgettes?, the cupboards are full of jars of improbable pickles, and the demijohns are bubbling away with unlikely flavours. Also flourishing are community festivals and ‘village shows’ – why not celebrate your own harvest by joining-in with Bristol’s celebrations? Please email any suggestions for content of the November–December newsletter to [email protected] by 18 October. Trading Tales Trading Tales is the Bristol Independents We’ve already received competition to uncover the city’s hidden some great entries, gems and local heroes from amongst our but to spark your independent traders. suggestions, here are a just a few of my Have you ever experienced great service favourite things… ‘beyond the call of duty’? Do you know a deli that stocks the best range of pasta Ashton Fruit outside Italy? Has your local café found Shop, North Street, an innovative way to get kids to eat their Southville, for their great labelling, greens? and willingness to try stocking something Actually, different. Recently spotted: really local I’m a bit reluctant The Trading Tales competition was runner beans from Long Ashton, elephant to share this hidden gem, in case launched at the start of July, and prizes garlic and garlic-in-the-green from I can no longer get a table! – What are awarded at the end of the month for Illminster. ‘favourite things’ are you prepared to the best entries. You can enter either share? by sending in a photo of your favourite Homewood Cheeses at the Corn Street independent business which captures Farmers’market. Apparently I’m not the just what you love about it OR by telling only customer who’s said “there’s no us what it is that makes your favourite going back” after trying their versions independent so special. of feta and halloumi, made with sheeps milk from the Mendips. Entries can be submitted in 3 ways: www.homewoodcheeses.co.uk n via the Bristol Independents website: Lion Stores, North Street, Southville. www.bristolindependents.co.uk Bristol’s local food update is produced An old-fashioned hardware shop which by volunteers at the Bristol Food Network, n via Twitter: @bristolindies stocks absolutely everything in the with support from Bristol City Council. use the hashtag: #TradingTales smallest possible space – from vegetable The Bristol Food Network is an umbrella n or you can put your entry in the post to: scrubbing brushes to seasonal sledges. group, made up of individuals, community Bristol Independents Competition They once ordered-in a single box of projects, organisations and businesses who share a vision to transform Bristol Create Centre, Smeaton Road, staples for me – if they can get it for you, into a sustainable food city. The Network Bristol BS1 6XN then they will! connects people working on diverse food- related issues – from getting more people If you’re putting an entry in the post, don’t The Folk House Café, Park Street. For their growing, to developing healthy-eating forget to include your contact details and a under-stated no-nonsense great value projects; from tackling food waste, to caption for your photo. seasonal, local and organic sourcing. making Bristol more self-sufficient. Update from the Food Policy Council

Bristol Food Policy Council (FPC) met on n The main agenda item was about 3 July. The theme of the meeting was to completing the development of a Karim Farag’s review key project developments and to food plan for the city, defining further diary plan for the coming year. These covered: work and setting a timescale for its I am a lecturer in our EU URBACT funded ‘Sustainable production. Key proposed events in Food Production and Food in urban Communities’ project that the development of this are likely to Technology and the supports the FPC, Bristol Fair Trade City, be a food gathering in November and a Programme Manager Green Shoots (a new partnership project possible conference in May next year. for Food Production and Supply led by Probation Service), food poverty This latter event would coincide with Management at the Royal Agricultural (see the release of the Food poverty the proposal by the BBC for a fortnight University in Cirencester, and I represent report on p.22), Sustainable Food Cities of activities in Bristol based on their the food education sector on the FPC. Network, food waste, feedback from the annual Food and Farming celebration. communications group, developing a News about the new MSc in Sustainable food plan for the city, food conference Agriculture and Food Security The and ambitions for 2015. Notes and Kevin Morgan’s diary programme has been running for the first presentations from the meeting are Being able to time since 2012, with students applying available on the FPC website. Highlights respond effectively from all over the world. The students of the meeting include: and comprehensively are currently working on their research projects and are expected to complete n EU URBACT ‘Sustainable Food’ project to proposed national their dissertation. this year has included 2 visits to share regulation changes and explore good practice in delivering is one of the real Synopsis on the degree The Sustainable and enjoying sustainable food. Highlights benefits of bringing Agriculture and Food Security MSc included the Gothenburg approach to together concerns combines the principles of sustainable reducing embedded carbon emissions in and issues of the wide variety of food development with an examination of the food to help the city achieve its carbon interests in the city. An example of this various systems of food production in the reduction targets and local food delivery was the National Curriculum Review context of providing a secure supply to systems in Amersfoort. More information consulted on earlier this year. This was an meet the ever-changing requirements of a on these schemes can be found in the opportunity for the city to come together growing world population. It provides an project newsletter: http://goo.gl/n2cE4u and make recommendations concerning opportunity for graduates or professionals the role of food in schools, both in the in other disciplines to direct their careers n Green Shoots presents an example of curriculum content and in terms of towards agriculture and food supply. social innovation in the city. Partners providing food through school meals. include the Probation Service Bristol The Food Policy Council responded to this The principal aim of the course is to City Council, Avon Wildlife Trust, social and joined in with national organisations enable students to gain the specialised enterprise REACH who have extensive such as the Soil Association and Sustain knowledge, understanding, skills experience in working with offenders. to lobby for the reinstatement of cooking and attitudes necessary to contribute The project intention is to reduce skills as a core curriculum element. The effectively and ethically to strategic re-offending by providing quality place- result of this has been the announcement decision making, opinion forming ments in local food growing projects to of the School Food Plan. and operational management for the engage and re-skill ex-offenders, funded sustainable development of agricultural by EU and national sources. If the project This is a national plan of action to re- and food supply systems in both generates a profit by demonstrating introduce cooking skiils in school and developed and developing regions. effective rehabilitation this will be used to match this with improvements in the Recruitment for 2013/14 appears positive to further support local projects. school meals provision. The plan will be and the programme appears to be promoted to Headteachers to implement attracting more students year on year. n Steve Marriott presented feedback in their schools. Details can be found on from a meeting to explore reducing www.schoolfoodplan.com/plan/ food waste. This meeting was held in Tom Andrew’s diary May, bringing together some of the key Of course the hard work now will be to stakeholders in the city to explore how ensure that Bristol Schools commit whole- August 2013 saw food waste can be effectively dealt with. heartedly to the plan and that now needs the launch of the The wide range of good practice in the help of the food community in the city to Sustainable Food city was acknowledged before moving ensure this is followed through. I would Cities Network! After on to identifying gaps in provision. The welcome your thoughts on this and it more than two years meeting resulted in a set of messages would be good to see a discussion on how of planning and for key stakeholders and a commitment this could best achieved on the Bristol writing funding bids, to follow up with a set of quick wins to Food Policy Council facebook page: the project saw the aim for. Notes from the meeting at: www.facebook.com/ light of day on 6 August, supported by a http://bristolfoodpolicycouncil. BristolFoodPolicyCouncil brand new comprehensive website and org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ generously funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Mayoral-FC-surplus-food-and-waste- Foundation. The Network is a partnership notes.pdf of NGOs, led by the Soil Association, continued on p.3 2 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 Update from the FPC continued

Sustain, and Food Matters, and is about using food to improve people’s health and wellbeing, creating new businesses and jobs and reducing our impact on the environment. Food is not only at the heart of some of today’s greatest challenges but is also a vital part of the solution. The Sustainable Food Cities Network will create cities where every school, hospital, restaurant and workplace canteen serve only healthy and sustainable meals; where everyone has access to affordable fresh, seasonal, local and sustainably produced food no matter where they live; and where people of all ages and backgrounds have opportunities to learn about, grow and cook food. It is about creating cities where good food is visible and celebrated in Designer’s model for Solar ‘tree’ sculpture, mild steel, 2012: This item from the every corner and where people’s right to eat collections of the popular educator Dan Quiggin was constructed as a trial piece healthy and sustainable food is embedded for a much larger public art installation at the Edible Futures nursery in Brislington. into every relevant policy and strategy. Designed by artist John Packer and built by community members in a series of It is also an alliance of public, private and workshops, the giant welded ‘tree’ structure supported an array of solar panel ‘leaves’ third sector organisations using food as a which powered a water pump irrigation system on the plot. Like many such projects vehicle for driving positive changes. The Edible Futures sold high-end produce to restaurants in Bristol and focused on Network helps people and places to share education and empowerment for food resilience and sovereignty. challenges, explore practical solutions and develop best practice in all aspects In Jethro’s own words: “The celebrated n Edible Futures Nursery/Demand Energy of sustainable food. £1 million funded Wunderkammión was back on the quays Equality by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is to at this year’s Harbour Festival with a n Bristol City Council Sustainable City team be invested in the UK’s first ‘Sustainable new exhibition about food sovereignty As an afterthought to the exploration Food Cities’ programme, which will use in early 21st century Bristol. Produced and reflection of the Wunderkammión’s healthy and sustainable food to address in collaboration with the Bristol Food 3-dimensional wonders, we asked a few some of today’s most pressing social, Network, the exhibition featured documents people to record their ‘favourite food economic and environmental problems and artefacts from the many grassroots memory or experience of 2013’ to be including obesity, food poverty and projects that helped pioneer urban food included with future exhibitions: climate change. sufficiency around in the early days of In recognition of its pioneering work the movement. From growers like the “Eating a cherry tossed from a neighbour’s transforming food culture, Bristol has The Severn Project and Edible Futures to tree by a bird! Free, ethically harvested!” become a founding member of the UK- educational projects such as Lawrence “Eating some good Meschel lettuce & Red wide Sustainable Food Cities Network. Weston Community Farm and the Hartcliffe Batavia from my garden in June…” Health and Action Group, or the remarkable The network will help cities learn from “Kurdish Picnic at Castle Park after the Pedal Powered Transport company, small each other, picking up practical tips to Dignity for Asylum Seekers March…” make healthy and sustainable food a social enterprises and non-profits helped defining characteristic of their city as they lay the ground for the sustainable urban If you missed the appearance of the Future work to be formally awarded Sustainable food production we see today.” Museum of Good Food at the Harbour Festival, fear not! It will go on show at the Food City status. By the end of the three Take a look at Jethro’s website http:// Create Centre in September, dates to be year programme, more than 100 urban futuremuseum.wordpress.com for some announced through Bristol’s Local Food areas across the UK are expected to have lovely photos taken on the day (before e-update – if you aren’t subscribed, you joined the Sustainable Food City Network the monsoon began!), and above for a can do so at: www.bristolfoodnetwork.org and be well on their way to becoming tantalising sample ‘exhibit’… Thanks so Sustainable Food Cities. much to Jethro, Jane Stevenson, Mark It will be hard to top such an engaging Check out the new Sustainable Food Cities Leach (hero of the hour!), and all of the and collaborative experience, but website www.sustainablefoodcities.org wonderful local projects who donated here’s hoping that the URBACT Summer and follow us on Twitter @foodcities artefacts for the “Bristol Future Museum University will come close. of Good Food”! I’ll report back in the November–December issue. n Kristin Sponsler’s diary Co-Exist Community Kitchen n The Bristol Pound The highlight of my last month was the n The Blue Finger Alliance/Feed Bristol honor of collaborating with community n Lawrence Weston Community Farm artist Jethro Brice to revamp and revive n Pedal Power Transport/Severn Project the amazing Wunderkammión and bring n Pullins Bakery/Bristol Farmer’s Market it back for another appearance at Bristol’s n Hartcliffe Health and Environment bristolfoodpolicycouncil.org category/ Harbour Festival for 2013. Action Group latest-news/

3 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 On the web

Food Waste Fighter: An Interview with Jonathan Bloom digest: The author of American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food (and What We Can Do About It) talks about his work to prevent food waste, the great problems that it poses to the environment, and what consumers everywhere can do to eliminate waste. http://foodtank.org/news/2013/06/ food-waste-fighter-an-interview-with- jonathan-bloom

Blaise Walled Kitchen Garden The Permablitz: Transforming Urban Homesteads in a Single Day Situated in 650 acres of Grade ll listed Community open days digest: Barn-raising for the 21st century parkland in outer Bristol, Blaise Castle The garden will be open to the public for – communal transformations of gardens House was built in 1798 for a wealthy volunteering and other events from 1–4pm into productive urban spaces. merchant and banker. The grounds of on: www.shareable.net/blog/the- the house were laid out by a leading permablitz-transforming-urban- landscape architect, and included a n The second Saturday of each month homesteads-in-a-single-day dairy and orangery. The house is now n The fourth Sunday of each month a museum. There may be impromptu meetings on Land, apples, and political engagement Recently a group of volunteers from the Monday evenings, please call the contact in Scotland local community have, after a long wait, number for details at the time. digest: The significance of Scottish finally been given the go ahead by Bristol community growing lies mainly in its City Council to set up a community garden Finding us political dimensions, rather than its project on the site. They have been given The gardens are to the east of Blaise environmental ones – what matters is two 100ft greenhouses in the old walled house. When facing the front door of that local people are actively involved in garden to begin with. Blaise House, go left, through the rose shaping their surroundings. garden until you come to the entrance The greenhouses are in a bad state of www.opendemocracy.net/ doors to the walled garden repair and have no soil or containers. ourkingdom/max-j-muir/land-apples- OR, go behind the house and take the The group have access to plastic drums and-political-engagement-in-scotland door next to the orangery and go left and bits of wood to make a few beds. through a little door into the garden. City Bees, Country Bees There are existing coldframe spaces which they can fill with soil. Please wear sturdy footwear, and make digest: My life as a bumblebee. the volunteer leader aware of your arrival. www.ecologicalgardening. Getting hold of enough top soil on their net/2013/06/city-bees-country-bees. limited budget is proving challenging as The project is currently looking for garden html is repairing the broken glass, etc., in the volunteers. Please contact: glasshouses so they can meet current Christine Carroll · 0792 870 1369 www.ecologicalgardening. health & safety requirements. [email protected] net/2013/07/city-bees-country-bees- part-2.html The group are rising to the challenge and www.facebook.com/pages/ holding regular workdays. They hope to Blaise-Walled-Kitchen- Seeds of the People: Growing Local make a success of this first stage so that Garden/185261531628875?fref=ts Knowledge the Council will consider extending the https://sites.google.com/site/ digest: How to grow safely in the project to other areas of the site next year. blaisesecretgarden/ polluted soils of Chicago, developing a saved-seed library of locally-adapted vegetable varieties. www.shareable.net/blog/seeds-of- the-people-growing-local-knowledge

Alternative Tomorrow’s World: People-Powered Flour Mill digest: Taking the Fife diet one step further with a people-powered flour mill to mill local flour. http://stirtoaction.com/alternative- tomorrows-world-people-powered- flour-mill/

4 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 News of the Traders’ food waste and recycling initiative Martin Fodor

Previous issues of Bristol’s Local time to match their business hours and emerges I shall be reporting back to the Food Update* have described the peaks varies. With premises of different traders and beyond on the success in development of the Traders’ Food waste scale and capacity not all have the same diverting useful materials from landfill and Recycling project, which launched a requirements, and it has been an issue to and preventing rotting waste from causing new local service in Stokes Croft in April find a good fit for a recommended service greenhouse gases. A video is also now this year.** Progress since the launch is with larger premises such as those in nearing completion that describes this described here. busier locations and central areas. The project and shall be available for showing best fit for a service dedicated to small to people interested in the scheme. A This project began as a response to the cafes and restaurants committed to a high range of the project learnings have been request by local cafes and restaurants environmental performance may not be incorporated in papers to the council, in Stokes Croft who were seeking ideal for those with different priorities, and also shared at a national food waste more effective ways to manage their as well as facilities that allow bin storage policy conference in Westminster, and fed unavoidable food waste responsibility. and mechanical lifting. While food waste into a periodical that informs the recycling (The scheme does not deal with usable recycling future-proofs businesses from trade, so the lessons from Stokes Croft are food waste, for which there are many rising landfill tax, the cheapest waste proving useful. initiatives.) Food preparation wastes and services will take a lot of bulk and heavy leftovers from cleared plates are the focus In September we’re planning a trip to waste for an unfeasibly low price as of the new scheme. GenEco in Avonmouth – the local facility waste companies undercut each other where the food waste is processed to The project was set up by local to gain business. In the short term this create energy and soil conditioner. This sustainability specialist Martin Fodor, can be attractive. The problem is that it visit was requested by participants who working with the Stokes Croft Traders leads to lower recycling and discourages are keen to see the destination of their and Business Group, with support from diversion from responsible solutions. recycling. The more awareness of the Business West’s Go Green initiative. It Only a dedicated recycling company like process by staff and stakeholders the has worked with local traders to help CollectEco, recommended to the smaller better the buy-in to the service, hopefully. them review their wastes, consider traders I have been working with, may take their recycling options, and find a the trouble to work with businesses to In conclusion, this has been a lengthy comprehensive service that enables avoid mistakes and to prevent loads from project, but a rewarding one. It meets higher recycling rates. It also aims to being rejected for contamination. One several local needs and shows the value share good ideas on how to reduce and of the issues I highlighted is the need to of partnerships to achieve multiple reuse materials as well, thus reducing work with managers and staff to get the outcomes: cleaner streets; better storage; the need for some waste to be removed. separation of materials right especially less waste; better use of resources; During the process a wider look at other through practical facilities and good advice. reputational benefits for businesses; packaging and materials took place and the promotion of the local economy; and the benefits of a complete waste solution Pressures on businesses overall benefits for the city in its goals to became clear: as material gets diverted In addition local businesses have to protect the wider environment. from waste a ‘pay as you throw’ waste contend with many pressures, from the Martin Fodor collection needs to be part of the system. community and local authority, such as [email protected] As the scope expanded it became of call for bin-free pavements which can be 0790 534 0972 interest to more traders in the Stokes in tension with other policies such as for Croft area, some with compostable a zero waste city. The benefits of better *See back issues including May/June materials, and others with offcuts that segregated recycling can complement and Nov/Dec 2012; Jan/Feb, March/ they wanted to get recycled. Interest grew initiatives for waste storage off the April and May/June 2013 at www. among others as well as it became clear pavements, as long as food wastes are bristolfoodnetwork.org/topics/newsletter- it is relevant to other traders’ groups not too near to sensitive areas used by archive/ in the city, too. Bristol Green Capital’s customers or for food preparation. This **See: http://visitbristol.co.uk/ Community Challenge Fund supports this can even help reduce vermin issues. destinationbristol/information/ extension of the project. However not all small businesses have news/2013/4/8/launch-of-the-stokes- adequate space for storage on their croft-traders-food-waste-and-recycling- Meeting local needs premises, so discussions with the council scheme-a2157 It has also been important to make sure around sensible places to locate bins the service devised for small traders where they can be used and also emptied http://bristolfoodpolicycouncil.org/ is flexible. As the work with cafés and became an issue in several locations – not launch-of-stokes-croft-traders-food-waste- restaurants took place, several issues an easy matter to resolve quickly! and-recycling-scheme/ emerged. For instance the barriers and needs of the traders cover a range of Outcomes and learnings issues. The priorities of traders is not just Meanwhile the number of Bristol traders price, as reliable collections at a suitable interested in the service grows. As data

5 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 A Golden summer of fun Lucy Mitchell

It’s been a great summer up at the the day chopping and chatting, dancing the community to come and help build garden even as we look into a future of round the kitchen and stirring huge it with us. So if you’ve ever watched uncertain funding. Our polytunnels are bubbling pots. Everyone is welcome to Grand Designs and fancied a go without full to bursting with aubergines and come and help and learn how to make committing your life savings then get in sweetcorn, tomatos and chillis and by chutney or share your skills. Please bring touch to find out dates! We’ll be running the time this is published we’ll have your own knife and you get to take home workshops on aspects of the build such as started munching on the watermelons. your own jar of chutney and the rest we’ll putting up a timber frame or putting on a Yum. sell at … green roof and we’ll need lots of helpers for all the bits inbetween. We hope to have This summer the garden has been … Our Harvest Fair on 14 September! the foundations, roof, and frame done this transformed into a place of wild fun with We’ll have morris dancing and music, year and then fill in the walls and do the the Golden Summer of Fun activity days for free activities for the kids including a floor when it warms up next spring. 7–14 year-olds. We’ve been building dens, chance to find baby newts in the pond and cooking pizzas, foraging for food, going on making cool stuff. There’ll be cakes and So we’re still open every Wednesday blindfold walks, sculpting with clay from face painting and delicious pizzas straight 10am–4pm and welcome everyone the pond, making bows and arrows and out of Mr Frog – our fab new pizza oven. to come and get involved. Our site is loads more outdoor good times! All the There’ll also a competition to see who can wheelchair accessible including the kids involved have loved it and I’ve had a create the best/funniest/scariest creature compost loo, and we’ve got disabled great time! We’ll be running more days like or monster out of vegetables – so get parking available on request. Just give me this so get in touch to find out more about creative and come along! It’s from 1–4pm a quick ring and I’ll open the gates. activities in the October half term. and £1 for adults and free for under 16s. See you in the garden! Looking ahead we’ve got a Community In other news we’re busy putting together Lucy Mitchell Community Project Worker chutney making day on 10am–4pm a design for our self build shelter. This The Golden Hill Community Garden: 7 September at Werburghs Community will give a us warm place for volunteers Horfield’s Accessible Allotment and Edible Centre get in touch or check the website to shelter from the elements as well Forest · 07506 905 394 for more details. We’ll be collecting up as an indoor space for workshops and surplus produce and unwanted apples meetings. We’ll have the design done by www.thegoldenhillcommunitygarden.com from around our area and then spending the Harvest Fair and then will we inviting

Top: Golden summer facepainting Top: Edward and aubergines Glorious tomato harvest Bottom: Mr Frog pizza oven Bottom: Summer of fun bows-and-arrows

6 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 Project SOS An Active Citizen Project at Windmill Hill City Farm

SOS might stand for Sustainability on a Active Citizens Shoestring, Save our Souls or something Active Citizens is a long-term programme else altogether. We set up the project funded by the Nominet Trust. It has in September 2012 at our local farm. supported us to put together these ‘taster’ We’re a group of volunteers that wanted workshops. The purpose of the project is Window Box Gardening to find ways to ‘go green in the city’ to use the internet to help people connect and the farm was keen to support us. with local issues and each other. For more 1.30–3.30pm Saturday 12 October (£5 concessions) For the past year, we’ve been exploring details about Windmill Hill City Farm, the £10 different sustainability issues via film, SOS workshops and how to book, visit: If you’re low on space but high on community engagement, workshops and www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk/ green fingers, this workshop will teach festivals. It’s been a learning curve and course/workshops.html you how to grow fantastic herbs and a lot of fun. gorgeous salads in tiny, portable Project SOS Looking Ahead “Being based within a vibrant community spaces. We are looking forward to delivering hub such as the farm, a magical oasis of the autumn workshops, then we plan Healthy Eating on a Budget green in the heart of Bedminster, has been to evaluate their success and gather fantastic and really made us feel part of 1.30–3.30pm Saturday 2 November feedback with the aim to offer more something special.” £10 (£5 concessions) workshops on issues and skills that matter Aga, SOS Volunteer to local people in 2014. The final workshop Due to popular demand, we will will include an informal review session be hosting this inspiring workshop SOS Workshops with tea and home-made cake! To learn to help support and encourage During 2013 we surveyed farm volunteers more about what we’ve been up to, visit an alternative to supermarket and members of the local community to our blog at: dependency, embracing the freedom find out the kind of things they would http://windmillhillsos.wordpress.com/ of sourcing food elsewhere. You will like to know more about. They came up look at a range of low cost, healthy with some great suggestions. One of the We recently hosted a Schumacher Institute options and during the workshop will most interesting areas of feedback was ‘Prepare for Change’ workshop at the create a delicious, warming soup. that people were really curious about farm and there is information about this ‘going supermarket-free’ by sourcing food on our blog. In the next few months blog Christmas Chutney Making elsewhere and were looking for support entries will include a visit to the Centre 1.30–3.30pm Saturday 23 November and ideas on how to do this. We’ve put for Alternative Technology in Wales and £10 (£5 concessions) together an exciting series of autumn Transition Town Totnes. Never quite manage to eat all those workshops as part of the Active Citizens For more information contact: vegetables whilst they’re at their best? programme at Windmill Hill City Farm. Jules Allan, Community Development and There are several ancient options Some of them are listed here (right), but Co-ordinator for Active Citizen Projects that don’t involve freezing, including there are more on the website including [email protected] bottling, pickling and making chutney. a chance to get creative with ‘Innovative 0117 963 3252 Learn the techniques and take a jar Up-cycling’. home – the perfect Christmas gift. www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk

Video

Tristram Stuart: “Rebuilding the Foodshed” with Philip City Farming The global food waste scandal Ackerman-Leist and Asher Miller digest: A tour of innovative urban farming digest: Western countries throw out digest: Showcasing some of the most projects in Japan, the US and Norway. nearly half of their food, not because it’s promising, replicable models for growing, http://monocle.com/film/edits/city- inedible -- but because it doesn’t look processing, and distributing sustainably farming/ appealing. Tristram Stuart delves into the grown food, Rebuilding the Foodshed shocking data of wasted food, calling for a points the reader toward the next stages Local food grant films more responsible use of global resources. of the food revolution. It also covers the digest: A collection of inspirational food Tristram Stuart sounds the warning bell on full landscape of the burgeoning local- films from projects which have received global food waste, calling for us to change food movement, from rural to suburban grants from The Big Lottery Local Food the systems whereby large quantities of to urban, and from backyard gardens to fund. produce and other foods end up in trash large-scale food enterprises. www.localfoodgrants.org/foodetube heaps. www.resilience.org/stories/2013-06-07/ www.ted.com/talks/tristram_stuart_ webinar-rebuilding-the-foodshed- the_global_food_waste_scandal.html virtual-book-talk-with-philip-ackerman- leist

7 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 Tom Nielson Native American Plants display Amaranthus Lost crops of the Incas growing at Bristol Botanic Garden Alice Maltby

Bristol residents and visitors might not lost. The result, explained Tom, is that hungry squash which in turn provides expect to see ancient, Native American people have a poor diet with insufficient a living mulch shading the ground and food crops being grown outdoors fruit and vegetables. His experience reducing weed competition. but that is what is happening in the stimulated interest in native fruit and This companion planting system is University of Bristol Botanic Garden on vegetables and as he says: “turned me an excellent example of sustainable the edge of the Downs this summer. onto the ‘Lost crops of the Incas.’” agricultural practice reducing external This project has been developed by the Among the plants on display are Physalis resource inputs that today could be garden’s botanical horticulturalist, Tom philadelphica, tomatillo, which is a key applied on a market garden scale or even Nielson, and was inspired by his year ingredient in fresh and cooked Latin tried at home. long stay at the Bona Fide Farm Project in American green sauces. Of particular Tom has been delighted at the Nicaragua. cultural significance is Chenopodium complimentary comments he has received quinoa (quinoa.) The Incas held crops to Many of the plants being grown are about the display. One visitor was thrilled be sacred and described quinoa as ‘the not only vital food crops but have great to see Oca growing. The last time she had mother of all grains.’ The Inca emperor cultural significance for the indigenous seen it was when she was 12 years old on traditionally sowed the first seeds of the people who cultivate them. Prior to the her grandmother’s farm on the Venezuelan season. It had such an important status arrival of Europeans on the American mountainside. An American student was within indigenous religious ceremonies, continent, a huge diversity of food was very excited to see Solanum muricatum, that the Spanish conquistadors forbade its grown to feed the various native cultures the pepino dulce fruit, common in the cultivation for a time. including the Inca, Maya and Aztec southern states. civilisations. The rich variety of crops The Amaranthus with its stunning, catkin As well as introducing the more unusual rivalled those grown in Europe at the time, like cymes of densely packed flowers, plants to visitors, another part of the and while European crops were introduced is valued around the world as a leaf project involves looking at how these to feed the new colonies, many plants vegetable, a cereal and as an ornamental plants grow in a temperate climate. Tom is from the Americas were brought to Europe plant. Kiwicha, as Amaranth is known today pleased that although some are marginal, with great success. in the Andres, was one of the staple food- they have all thrived in our unusually hot stuffs of the Incas and is thought to have Most people today would struggle to weather. Similarly, pests have not been represented up to 80% of their calorific feed themselves without potatoes, too much of a problem. Last year would consumption before the Spanish conquest. tomatoes, beans, sunflowers, and foods have been a big slug problem. This year derived from sweetcorn, all of which A key, informative section of the garden there have mainly just been some aphids were developed by the native Americans. is the Three Sisters display. These are the on the lupins. There are, however, less familiar crops in three crops that formed the foundation The display garden contains a clear this display, such as Chilli Peppers and of sustainable subsistence agriculture planting plan and an explanation of the Chenopodium quinoa. Although some of in North and Central America prior to some of the horticultural concepts used. these crops are still relatively unknown, European invasion. With some regional The aim, said Tom, is to “make clear they may have great potential. variation to suit the climate and culture, the debt we owe to the people of South Sweetcorn, Beans and Squash were Tom’s work in Nicaragua involved helping to America in our everyday food.” typically grown in combination, each reverse some of the agricultural problems reciprocally supporting the other. The garden is open every day in the country has to face. The people had September and Sunday–Friday in been encouraged to grow cash crops such Tom explains that the general theme was October 10am–4.30pm as rice, beans and corn at the expense of that the tall Sweetcorn stems provide a native diversity and food security. Another structure for the climbing beans to grow The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, problem is that the indigenous and old up. The beans provide a source of nitrogen Bristol BS9 1JG farmers’ valuable knowledge has been through their roots, to feed the nutrient- www.bristol.ac.uk/botanic-garden

8 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 Black

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Community Farm news CMYK (print)

Harvest Celebration Invest in the farm

12–5pm 14 September Did you miss out on the chance to invest RGB (screen) in the farm and become a lifelong member Well, this year there will be a harvest! when we held our Community Share offers? Unlike the very poor one last year and Well, now you can invest at any time. We despite a cold spring followed by a near have just launched our Open Share Offer drought, this year we have plenty of and for a minimum investment of £50 you, White delicious organic vegetables at the farm too, can become a part of the Farm with a with the sweetcorn just about ready too. voting right. Why not find out more here: Why not help us celebrate by coming www.thecommunityfarm.co.uk/ along to our Harvest Celebration on membership/how-to-become-a-member/ 14 September? We’ll have food and Learning refreshments, local produce, children’s activities, farm tours, cooking Our learning programme is always being demonstrations from Jo Ingleby of the updated so keep in touch by checking the Vegetarian Cookery School and Josh website here: Employees from Burges Salmon and Eggleton of the Pony and Trap, but most www.thecommunityfarm.co.uk/learning Lloyds have recently helped build some of all we’ll have a warm welcome for all We’ve held seed saving workshops, forest crop rotation demonstration beds and our visitors. The event is free but a gardening courses, plot-to-plate cookery paths. donation of £3 per adult would be courses and many more. Our recent welcome to help us cover our costs. plot-to-plate with Jo Ingleby of Bath’s School Visits and Farm Forest School Vegetarian Cookery School was a great Our educational visits for schools are Join the Carrot Club! success harvesting produce from the field proving very popular and are proving Bristol Good Food Awards recently and cooking it in the yurt – baking bread a great way for children to learn about announced us as Best Local Grower, in the cob oven and sharing a delicious sustainable food production and over the which is great news for us. Great news for tagine. More of these are planned so summer holidays we have held the first our customers too, who can now join the check the website for details. of our Farm Forest Schools. We also held Carrot Club, the farm’s very own loyalty a fantastic ‘Play in a Day’ in June with the scheme giving a 10% discount on boxes Team-Building Days Travelling Light Theatre Company working and 15% discount on courses for just £35 We can offer team-building days and with a group of children to produce A a year. If you’re a regular customer you’ll employee volunteering days to help with Midsummer Night’s Aubergine (very get your money back in no time. Visit: projects on the field. If your place of work loosely based on the Shakespeare classic www.thecommunityfarm.co.uk/ would be interested in this please contact with a similar name!). This is an ever membership/carrot-club-loyalty- Claire Rosling for more details contact developing area for us, so to keep in touch scheme/ [email protected] contact Claire for details.

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Above: Jo Ingleby of the Vegetarian CMYK (print) Cookery School · Right: Volunteers from Burges Salmon build demonstration beds

RGB (screen) 9 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013

White Before and after Southmead Community Fruit Garden Kandace Tiala

Hidden away in the heart of Southmead, slog of digging roots out of heavy clay But we aren’t slowing down! At our most a transformation is taking place: soil. Volunteers fuelled by tea and cake recent committee meeting we discussed brambles and bindweed are giving made progress with the raised beds, and creating a herb garden, extending the way to strawberries and raspberries the Community Payback Scheme blitzed orchard, making a living willow structure in the new Southmead Community the bramble patches. Combined with and building wildlife hotels. There is Fruit Garden. It is also a resurrection, our Wellbeing funding, the generous still endless weeding to be done and a re-incarnation of the community donations of Chew Valley Trees, Greggs growing space to be used creatively. Most garden that was once located behind the and B&Q enabled us to purchase an importantly, we want to grow our team of Whitehall building. assortment of trees and soft fruit bushes people. Volunteers enjoy the friendship to populate the newly cleared ground. and community that comes from working But six years of unhindered bramble growth in the garden together, not to mention is a sight to behold, as I witnessed when Since then, the summer weather has truly the fresh fruit to take home. As one of our I joined a team of energetic volunteers transformed the garden. We’ve seen our local volunteers said soon after we began, to clear the garden last year. Clearing an tiny bushes flourish, producing flowers “I’ve been waiting for this to happen in overgrown garden is a bit like digging for and fruit. Nasturtiums have blanketed Southmead for 20 years!” Over the winter buried treasure – you never know what the beds and peppered them with red months, we will be brewing ideas for ways you might find underneath the weeds! flowers. Trees have unfurled new leaves to welcome the people living and working We discovered multiple raised beds, a and branches, roses have climbed in Southmead into the Fruit Garden. Watch wishing well, a miscellany of rubbish and feet up the fence, wild geraniums have this space! an impressive slow worm population. appeared out of nowhere. Most satisfying has been picking fresh fruit – fruit that We’ve all brought our different skills to With enthusiastic support from the I like to imagine is made entirely out of the garden so far, and we are excited to land owners, St Stephen’s Church, Southmead soil. We’ve had punnets of see how it could develop with new people the resurrection of the garden began. strawberries, gooseberries for crumble, and new skills on the volunteer team. We Permaculture courses were attended, blackcurrants for jam and today I spotted need bakers, builders, bramble-bashers designs were drafted and re-drafted, two ripening plums. and befrienders as well as gardeners! So funding was acquired and local volunteers spread the word, especially if you or your were sought. We returned to the garden in With all that is left to do, it is easy to forget friends live in BS10. Get in touch to get February this year, equipped with a vision how far we’ve come in six short months. involved, or like our Facebook page for to create a community fruit garden. Our Our dedicated volunteers have made the regular updates. Or pop in to look around aims were threefold: garden beautiful with flowers, benches for yourself – we will be there on the first and the most unusual planters. We had a 1. To create a space that is beautiful. Saturday of every month, 10am–3pm. great time at the Get Growing Trail where 2. To involve local people in growing their You can find usbehind the Whitehall on we used old shoes to create plant pots own food. Glencoyne Square, BS10 6DE. We’re a and hanging baskets. Our regular open 3. To inspire people to use their own green friendly bunch! day from 10am–3pm on the first Saturday spaces better. of each month has become established. www.facebook.com/ Being blessed with brambles, bindweed As I look around the garden today, I am Southmeadfruitgarden and horsetail, February was a gruelling amazed at the transformation. [email protected]

10 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 The Better Food Festival

Bristol’s Better Food Company Pigs at The Community Farm celebrates the best in local and organic food, in its second annual Better Food Festival, 14–21 September 2013 Bristol’s award-winning organic food stores and café are promoting organic farming and local food in a week-long series of events (14–21 September 2013), including farm visits, a panel discussion, a family ‘pub quiz’, a cookery talk and a chance to meet some local producers. Managing Director Phil Haughton says, ‘We want to celebrate organic food, farmers, nature, weather and the harvest, because we work with some amazing people who frankly deserve to be made a fuss of every now and then. The Better Food Festival is becoming the Bristol alternative to the national Organic Food Festival. Phil continues ‘Michelin star chef Josh Down on the Farm Day The Story Group, Wrington Vale Eggleton is cooking with fresh field Farm Including BBQ lunch kindly Saturday 14 September produce as part of our day out to Chew sponsored by Triodos Bank. Meet Bill and £7.50, £5 under 14s, includes transport Valley visiting some of our favourite local Emma Yeats, poultry and pig farmers at and BBQ lunch (kindly sponsored by farms. In sharp contrast to recent scandals The Story Group of organic farms. We’ll Triodos Bank) in conventional farming, we’re so proud be shown around the pigs and poultry, of ours, we want to take you out to meet In sharp contrast to recent scandals in and meet the Christmas turkey fledglings. them!’ conventional farming, we’re so proud of We’re very proud of their exemplary ours, we want to take you out to meet farming methods, and of their high animal In another event, Telegraph writer Xanthe them. So come and meet our fabulous welfare standards. Clay, Bristol Food Awards Life Time farmers, who get up early each morning, (www.thestorygroup.co.uk) Achievement winner Barny Haughton take in deep breaths of good clean and organic farmer Bill Yeats are among The Community Farm, Chew Somerset air, get their wellies on and get panelists discussing the fact and fiction Magna Including cooking demo with out there and FARM … The tour includes: of food accreditation in front of an invited Josh Eggleton. We’re delighted to have audience and the general public. A pub Severn Project, Temple Meads The been invited to join the Community Farm quiz style evening takes a lighter hearted Severn Project was formed in 2010 on their open day. The highlight of the view of the world of food, farming and the by visionary Steve Glover as a way of day is a cooking demo by Michelin star environment. helping, in very practical terms, people chef Josh Eggleton from The Pony in Trap, coming out of drug and alcohol treatment Chew Magna, using fresh farm produce. These events are raising money for Avon programmes. It’s a win-win operation, See the wonderful farm and its increased Wildlife Trust’s Feed Bristol project. offering social reintegration though facilities including the educational yurt The Better Food Company has heralded training and employment to its workers, and gardens. The farm is producing over organic food and farming for some and excellent produce to a growing £4,000 of produce a week, supplying 15 years, under the leadership of Phil band of retail and restaurant customers, over 30 restaurant and retail customers Haughton, himself a member of the Soil currently 450kg worth a week – that’s a and around 500 box customers, with Association’s Board of Trade. lot of leaf! (http://thesevernproject.org/) additional produce from local growers and national distributors. ‘We’ve always tried to be more than Yeo Valley Yeo Valley’s Garth Clark (www.thecommunityfarm.co.uk) just a shop,’ says Phil. ‘We are proud takes us on a trip to the hippest farm to be working with the best suppliers in the country. We know and love their and producers around Bristol. We’re yogurts, butter, cream and milk, so come well placed to serve the community with and meet the cows that make it. They are information and inspiration, as well as super-healthy, grazing close to Blagdon some of the best artisan cheese and Lake in beautiful surroundings. organic bread! We want all the people of (www.yeovalley.co.uk/ Bristol to know where to come for food and other goods that support wildlife and are packed with health and vitality’. more Festival events continue on p.12

11 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 More Better Food Festival events

The Soil Association and the Better Food Company keep Bristol buzzing! In response to the near catastrophic Locally grown organic veg decline in bees and other pollinators in the UK, the Better The facts about organic, and the hidden Better Food Festival Pub Quiz Food Company has teamed up with Bristol-based organic campaigning dangers of modern foods from 7pm Friday 20 September charity, the Soil Association, to get 5.30–6.30pm Wednesday 18 September St Werburgh’s café Bristol buzzing! St Werburgh’s café · Free Suggested donation of £5 per team for Avon Wildlife Trust’s Feed Bristol The Soil Association’s campaign to Maria Bez talks about organic food, and campaign get bee harming pesticides banned the hidden dangers of modern foods. saw a victory for the bees recently Maria Bez, Bath-based Nutritional Wine/beer and light suppers available, when the EU voted to suspend Therapist and graduate of the College showcasing our new Autumn menu. the use of three neonicotinoid of Naturopathic Medicine, loves good, Bring friends! Bring Family! pesticides in agriculture – widely healthy and organic food. It was central to What’s cullen skink and how old is the believed to be one of the main her Italian upbringing. Her own health has oldest carp? Sort yourselves into teams, reasons for the decline in bees. In benefitted from changes in her diet, and think up a silly name and pit your wits partnership with the Better Food she’s here to talk about why she thinks against other environmentally-savvy folk Company the Soil Association organic is best. in our pub-quiz style evening of fun and are offering packets of organic Food Credentials: discover the truth fund raising. Phacelia seeds available from the Better Food Company for £1 with behind the symbols The winning team gets a £25 Better Food all proceeds going towards the Soil from 6.30pm Thursday 19 September Voucher. Association’s campaign to save St Werburgh’s café the bees. The Better Food Company Free, with donations to Avon Wildlife Trust Meet the Producer Day has stores in St Werburghs and who run the Feed Bristol Project Saturday 21 September Whiteladies Road, Clifton. Wine/beer and light suppers available, Free, throughout the day in both stores showcasing our new Autumn menu Stephen Last from the Soil Our busy band of local producers take a Association says “Bees love Red Tractor, Freedom Foods, Fair Trade day off and come to meet their public … Phacelia and the more bee-friendly – do you trust food labeling marks and Details to be confirmed, but we’ll have spaces we create, the better for terminology and what do they mean to you bread, booze, veg and dips, and lots the bees. We want to see Bristol and the choices you make when you’re more besides. We’ll also have The Story buzzing and the people of Bristol shopping? Group of organic beef farmers outside our leading the way in helping to Whiteladies Road store with a BBQ. A stellar panel of those in the know, rebuild the bee populations of including Xanthe Clay (Telegraph food Britain”. writer), Jenny Foster (Bristol and South Better Food Company’s Phil West Fairtrade Co-ordinator), Rob George The Better Food Company Haughton agrees. “I’ve seen very (Soil Association Technical Manager) Organic shop and café, food hall and deli few honey bees this year, which and Steve Glover (The Severn Project) The Proving House, Sevier Street, highlights their plight. But the good discuss the perception and reality St Werburghs, Bristol BS2 9LB news is that we can all contribute of food accreditation, what’s really 94 Whiteladies Road, Clifton towards bringing bees back to our happening down on the farm to wildlife Bristol BS8 2QX fields, farms and gardens.” and biodiversity, why it matters, and how www.betterfood.co.uk all this filters through to shoppers. Phil Haughton chairs and we are inviting our staff and interested parties from around the city to join us for a lively debate ...

12 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 On the web

The Impact of Transnational “Big Food” Companies on the South digest: Traditional long-established food systems and dietary patterns are being displaced in Brazil by ultra-processed products made by transnational food corporations. www.resilience.org/ stories/2013-07-11/the-impact-of- transnational-big-food-companies- on-the-south-a-view-from-brazil

Horfield Organic The power of creating an edible high road Community Orchard digest: A temporary orchard comes to the strets of Kilburn. Come and enjoy the fruits of our www.resilience.org/ Apple Day researches, as well as the fruits of our stories/2013-07-15/the-power-of- trees, at an extra special Apple Day 2–4pm Sunday 20 October creating-an-edible-high-road All welcome celebration in the orchard on Sunday 20 October. As well as marking the 15th Can an urban food growing project n Taste local and different apples anniversary of HOCO, the images and cure a ‘sick city’? n Juice pressing information gathered during the ORB n Make merry with Pigsty Morris digest: A social venture is improving project will be on display. n Refreshments, local produce, and trees employment and health in Stoke by for sale How to find the Orchard teaching young people how to farm and n Find out the stories behind local (nearest postcode BS7 8JP) sell local produce. varieties Walk down the lane beside 22 Kings Drive www.theguardian.com/society/2013/ n Learn about Orchard Roots Bristol (between Bishop Road and Kellaway jun/11/urban-food-growing-project Avenue), turn left and it’s the first gate on An Orchard Roots Bristol ‘All Our Stories’ Small-scale producers key to event the right. OR take the lane beside 134 Longmead attaining food security and ending Avenue until you come to the last gate on hunger Celebrating Bristol’s Orchard the left. (Dogs on leads, please.) digest: Strengthening producer organisations and co-operatives can Roots with Horfield Organic Contact: Shannon Smith [email protected] · 0117 373 1587 empower them to become partners Community Orchard in locally-oriented, participatory www.community-orchard.org.uk The roots of Horfield Organic Community development. Orchard (HOCO) run deeper, spread wider, www.theguardian.com/global- and are probably older than you think. development-professionals- Enabled by a grant from the Heritage network/2013/jul/10/hunger-food- Lottery Fund, orchard members have security-small-producers been exploring the history of food and fruit growing in the Golden Hill area of The Energy Cost of Food Bristol for their Orchard Roots Bristol digest: In 2002 it took 12 calories of (ORB) project. We’re also learning more fuel to produce 1 calorie of US-grown about the fruits we grow – with origins in food. In 2013 the energy cost had risen the traditional orchards of Somerset and to 15 calories of fuel. Gloucestershire – and are in the process www.resilience.org/ of indentifying some of the ‘mystery’ trees stories/2013-07-22/the-energy-cost- discovered on the site when the brambles of-food were first cleared in 1998. Can Agriculture Reverse Climate Hearing a wide range of stories from many Change? A Future Tense Event Recap founding HOCO members has also been instructive and inspiring. We’ve gathered digest: Key shifts in the way we some great stories from people with produce food could take agriculture personal and family connections to market from a climate bust and turn it into a gardens near Bristol’s ‘Blue Finger’, local climate boon. allotments, and Long Ashton Research www.slate.com/blogs/future_ Station (active in studying and improving Photos show… Top: interviewing for tense/2013/07/26/future_tense_ commercial cider production, fruit growing Orchard Roots · Immediately above: event_recap_can_biochar_and_other_ and preservation). labelling at the orchard © Jamie Carstairs innovations_help_stop_climate.html

13 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 On the web Making money from your vegetable Feed Bristol’s patch digest: Schemes to help gardeners and growers sell their produce are Wild Summer Days growing in popularity. www.theguardian.com/money/2013/ Go outside into your garden or allotment, jul/26/making-money-allotment- a local park or onto a nature reserve and gardeners take a good look around. Mother nature is putting on an amazing display, with Wild crop seeds could provide vegetables and fruit ripening, flowers £128bn boost to economy blooming, all attracting a wide range digest: Research strengthens case of fascinating insects including many for storing wild relatives of potato and pollinators from carder and bumble bees, apple crops to help humans adapt to to hoverflies, and beautiful day-flying climate change. moths such as the red and black cinnabar. www.theguardian.com/ Our harvest at Feed Bristol is promising to It’s a great way to celebrate and explore how environment/2013/jul/23/wild-crop- be a bumper one. The site looks gorgeous nature has helped us grow. So come along seeds-boost-economy and we are looking forward to showing it to our Frenchay Road site in Stapleton, or go off at our‘Wild Harvest’ festival on on to the website and find out more about Surge of investment in farming 7 September. volunteering and other opportunities for threatens £5trn catastrophe individuals, families, groups, schools Another one of our free, informative and digest: Agriculture in UK and around and corporates. If you miss the event, we fun events, it will include exciting wildlife world unable to recover costs will also be holding an apple pressing from natural disasters because of workshops, nature activities for children, day and Pumpkin Mania on 5 October. hands-on harvesting and an opportunity speculative boom. In November we will be getting a little to feast on fresh vegetables grown by our www.independent.co.uk/ nervous as we wait to find out who has volunteers. The event also includes live environment/climate-change/surge- won the Local Food Recognition Awards music, craft stalls and a café and runs of-investment-in-farming-threatens- 2013 – a national award run by the Big from 11am to 4pm. Live music includes 5trn-catastrophe-8753153.html Lottery Fund’s Local Food scheme! headliners Crinkle Cuts and fresh produce Open Pollinated: Seeds of Value cooked up by our resident chef James who www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/ runs the Market kitchen. digest: Open pollinated seeds are feedbristol your seed freedom. Without the ability to save seed, your food sovereignty is lost. The right to grow your own safe and nutritious food is one of your primary rights as a citizen. Sims Hill update www.restorationseeds.com/pages/ open-pollinated-seeds-of-value can see smiling and happy at the end of good day’s work [left].) We want to give Slow Money Entrepreneur of the Year them all a very special thank you from Focuses on Food Justice the Sims Hill community, as having this digest: Revision, a Denver-based very needed infrastructure will help us to nonprofit, has helped more than 240 extend both our growing season and our low-income families to grow food growing power. in their yards by providing needed This is a time of reflection for our small resources and technical assistance. but growing co-operative as we ponder http://slowmoney. the best direction to take our enterprise org/?p=2843&option=com_ forward. We will be putting some very wordpress&Itemid=170 We hope that you are all enjoying the exciting questions to our membership lovely growing weather! All the crops at our next meeting on 24 September, Living laboratory for coping with at our main field at Sims Hill and our so we are hoping to have as many of our drought in Brazil shared growing spaces at Feed Bristol members there as possible. digest: Ponds, tanks, connected are shooting up and tasting gorgeous… reservoirs and concrete surfaces, We are still recruiting new members collect nearly 1.9 million litres of Our big news is that our polytunnel is as well, so if you are interested in water in normal rainfall years on this up at long last! You can follow the story joining Bristol’s only local community- 10-hectare property. of how that was accomplished (many supported agriculture project, long weekend days of hard labour put please let us know by writing to us at http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/living- in by our hardworking team of growers, [email protected] laboratory-for-coping-with-drought- workshares, and members, who you or visit us at simshill.co.uk. in-brazil/

14 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 On the web

Digging Out from Prison: What’s New at A Pathway to Rehabilitation digest: Looking at successes River Cottage Canteen and failures in prison horticulture projects. the 600 acre Somerset estate. The oil is produced from seed grown, harvested www.resilience.org/ and pressed directly on the farm. Even stories/2013-06-24/digging- the by-product from the crushed seeds out-from-prison-a-pathway-to- is fed to the cattle as a high quality feed rehabilitation supplement known as ‘cow cake’. Food, Farms, and Fracking in The cold pressed rapeseed oil has just California won a single Gold Star with Great Taste digest: In California, fracking is Awards 2013. The golden oil has a lovely expanding into areas that are home nuttiness which adds something special to some of the most productive to everyday cooking but equally won’t farmland in the world. The Private Dining Room at the Canteen. overwhelm the natural fresh flavours of www.cuesa.org/article/food- the food. The unique qualities of cold farms-and-fracking-california Monthly Canteen Newsletter Be the pressed rapeseed oil includes a higher first to know about what’s going on at burn point meaning it can be used for Growing Out of Trouble the Canteen by signing up to receive practically everything in the kitchen from digest: Review of Growing out of our monthly newsletter. Every month it salad dressings to stir-frys. To top that, it’s Trouble – Monty Don’s account of features a recipe from Head Chef, Mark also healthier for you than olive oil with a project to get young offenders Stavrakakis, a drink recommendation and half the saturated fat and ten times more running a smallholding. one of our fantastic local suppliers, plus Omega 3. news of forthcoming events and offers. If www.transitionnetwork.org/ Along with the original rapeseed oil, Bath you are interested please send an email to stories/caroline-jackson/2013-06/ Harvest Oils also produce a popular range [email protected] with the growing-out-trouble of infused oils including garlic, rosemary, subject heading ‘Canteen Newsletter’ and lemon and chilli. Products are stocked in The Gleaning Network: we will add you to the list, and don’t worry many local independent farm shops and The Arable Spring we promise not to share your details with delis, please check the website for details anyone else. digest: A new initiative to salvage www.bathharvestoils.co.uk or follow on surplus produce from farms across Private Dining Room Now available for Twitter @BathHarvest. the country, by coordinating local hire, carefully restored in keeping with Follow us on Twitter @bristolcanteen or volunteers, growers and food the rest of the 19th century church hall more information visit: redistribution charities to bring fresh that is home to the Canteen, the room www.rivercottage.net/bristol and nutritious food to the most comfortably sits up to 16 people and vulnerable members of society. is a perfect venue for private events or http://stirtoaction.com/the- business meetings. Available at no extra gleaning-network-the-arable- charge for private parties or gatherings, spring/ for more information see: http://bit.ly/14VZ1qD Jenny Gellatly on The Power of Just Christmas party menu Join us for your Growing Stuff Christmas party, our special menu is digest: What does it take to find the available for groups of 6 or more at a great confidence to step over into actually price of £19.50 for two courses and £28.00 starting a Community Supported for three courses. Your party organiser Agriculture scheme? could also receive a free lunch. More www.resilience.org/ details at http://bit.ly/13QCxkq stories/2013-07-11/jenny-gellatly- on-the-power-of-just-growing-stuff

Supplier of the month of Community kitchens and Bath Harvest Rapeseed Oil connectors developing to foster new food businesses Bath Harvest Rapeseed Oil was started in 2011 by Debbie Keeling, farmer’s wife and digest: Using an ecample in working mum of two children. The farm Michigan, the Fair Food Network is situated on a Duchy of Cornwall estate shows how local food can grow the in a small hamlet called Wilmington on local economy. the outskirts of Bath. The rapeseed oil is www.annarbor.com/ a means of further diversification for the Bath Harvest cold pressed rapeseed oil, entertainment/food-drink/ farm, which already produces Aberdeen winner of the Gold Star Great Taste Awards community-kitchens-develop-to- Angus beef cattle and arable crops on 2013. foster-new-food-businesses/

15 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 Policy matters: how an EU consultation could benefit Bristol Sophie Laggan

Considered a tightly knit network of is expected to rise to about 126 million by the Bristol Food Network, will support public and private actors from farm to tonnes a year (from a 2006 baseline) regional efforts. full belly, the farming system is shifting in the EU by 2020. There is a concerted At a local level, innovation has real added- toward a more pragmatic and solution- effort from national and local actors value for growers and the environment; led industry. to reduce the unnecessary purchase behaviours, relationships and long-held of goods and restore balance. This-is- As part of EU’s commitment to increase norms and values can all change in light rubbish, a Community Interest Company production and sustainability by 2020 of it. The city farms and growing groups set up in Wales, has a strong presence in (under the European Innovation across Bristol are testament to this. Bristol and is keen to reverse this trend. Partnership), innovation-driven trans- Demand for allotments continues to rise, Launched at Feeding the 5000, and disciplinary research has superseded and even ‘fish allotment’ schemes have pushing for an industry wide food waste science for science’s sake. Whilst been trialed in Bristol. audit, it is clear to see they are making scientific research still remains a crucial their mark across the South West. Most recently, a Consultation on component, not least for its importance Sustainability of the Food System has the in the expansion of agriculture extension Innovative ideas potential to drive forward Bristol’s local activities, the practical relevance of The overarching dogma of current day EU farming movement and is open to all. research can no longer be overlooked. food policy is one based on innovation. The Consultation has placed the Back in 2006 the Environmental Impact of Seen as necessary to save the day, soapbox at your feet. It wants to hear Products (EIPRO) report concluded food and the future, of farming, innovative your thoughts on how to reduce waste, and drink caused “20–30 per cent of the methods have been employed to increase promote sustainable food production and various environmental impacts for private competiveness whilst, at the same time, consumption, and improve understanding consumption and more than 50 per cent restore sustainability. With two such on the environmental impacts to deliver for eutrophication*”. Amongst the food distinct goals, it is hard to imagine how more coherent food policy. goods causing the damage, meat, meat they can complement each other: How products and dairy were ranked highest. can you increase outputs whilst reducing The Department for Business Innovation inputs? and Skills released The Future of Food [*eutrophication is the ecosystem and Farming (2011) report to request response to the addition of artificial or Yet, “Innovation starts with mobilising “radical changes to the food system natural substances, such as nitrates and existing knowledge,” states EU Standing and investment in research to provide phosphates, through fertilizers or sewage, Committee on Agricultural Research novel solutions to new problems”. to an aquatic system.] (SCAR), 2012. “Social innovation with Across the EU, policy makers are taking urban farming and food projects can All manner of issues, as I am sure you are heed and listening to stakeholders. The contribute to improved quality of life in aware, affect farming at present. Most Communication on Sustainable Food poor neighbourhoods of big cities with damning, from the view of the grower at (expected later this year) is set to lead high levels of unemployment and high least, are the consumer demands which the way. It will utilise the input from the rates of obesity.” dictate much of what is grown today. With Consultation to direct future strategies exposure to evermore exotic and out-of- Local action and holds great promise for the way we season foods, consumers expect a variety think about and produce our food. Agriculture is one of the world’s most of often resource-intensive foods all year polluting activities, but it is also, one The Consultation is interested to know round. This puts a strain on not only the could argue, the most concerned about what you consider priority areas. Be it resilience of our soils but also the security its contribution. With 76% of land in the food waste or emissions, you could play of household food budgets that must deal UK dedicated to farming, it should not a part in European policy and ultimately, with the drastic fluctuations in pricing of come as a surprise that it has emitted the assistance available to continue to essential commodities. the most. CAP reform in 2015 will provide support the Bristol Food Network. Not forgetting food waste, both much needed financial assistance to a http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ supermarkets and the public throw away transition to less-polluting activities and eussd/food.htm tonnes of produce each year – food waste local initiatives, such as those encouraged

16 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 Raw deal for children in UK restaurants

Out to Lunch league table exposes the n Only 1 offers children’s cutlery as truth about 21 chain restaurants and standard pubs children’s menus n No restaurants have signage welcoming n Post horsegate, only one chain could breastfeeding on their premises reliably tell parents where their meat n Only 2 chains offer a children’s drinks comes from menu free from added sugar and n Almost half of restaurants do not offer sweeteners vegetables or salad with a majority of In line with the research, Out to Lunch has their children’s main meals today issued a league table ranking the 21 n Only 1 restaurant offers children’s restaurants and pubs to show the industry cutlery as standard and consumers what chains are offering n Jamie’s Italian, Wagamama and children. Wetherspoon’s ranked highest Jamie’s Italian, Wagamama and n Burger King, KFC and Prezzo have scored Wetherspoon’s have come out on top Anna Rosier, Managing Director at Organix the least points on a league table of the league table, while Burger King, (partners in the Out to Lunch campaign) KFC and Prezzo scored the least points. says: “Four out of 10 parents (40%) told Britain’s leading restaurants and pubs are Although average meal price varied from us they eat out once a fortnight or more giving children across the UK a raw deal restaurant to restaurant, this did not with their families. If restaurants and pubs with children’s menus dominated by the determine where chains came in the want to ensure business stays strong and usual suspects, like nuggets, burgers and rankings. see customers return, they need to start sausages, few fruit or vegetables, and not improving what they’re serving to children. even the provision of children’s cutlery, Joanna Lewis, Head of Policy at the Soil it has been revealed today following new Association comments: “Our investigation “We want families – parents, grandparents, research from the Out to Lunch campaign reveals that most high street restaurants aunties and uncles – to help get behind from the Soil Association and Organix. are not even meeting the most basic our campaign to see change. Restaurants standards families should expect when will only start improving if we start being Out to Lunch is calling for the restaurant they eat out. Most are still churning out more vocal about what we’re seeing and industry to improve standards and make children’s menus dominated by the usual vote with our feet.” changes to their children’s menus. suspects – burgers, nuggets and pizzas – The investigation shows 66% of parents Out to Lunch is asking families to carry out turning the table into a battlefield for think the food provision for children in four simple steps to back the campaign: any parents wanting their child to eat restaurants is not good enough. 21 popular well. With 1 in 3 children now overweight 1. To tell restaurants what they think. The high street restaurants and pubs were or obese by the time they leave primary Out to Lunch downloadable Campaign surveyed looking at what’s on the menu school, it’s time for these popular chains Pack includes a review slip to make is for children over a three month period, to use their influence in a positive way. easy for families to leave it behind on revealing that: the table. “Restaurants need to raise the bar and n 12 out of the 21 restaurants and pubs listen to parents who are saying they 2. To be vocal and share feedback with have children’s menus dominated by want fresh food not ready meals for their family and friends. nuggets, burgers and sausages children, and the same kind of variety 3. To vote with their feet. If a restaurant is n Eight out of 21 chains don’t include you’d expect as an adult. In the wake of not up to scratch, don’t go back. vegetables or salad in the majority of horsegate, it also rings alarm bells that 4. To support by wearing the ‘I support Out their children’s main meals only one restaurant knows where its meat to Lunch’ badge on their Facebook and n 10 don’t include a portion of fruit in any comes from.” Twitter profiles. of their children’s puddings The Out to Lunch campaign is calling on Restaurants can find out how they size n Only 11 out of 21 chains were willing to all high street restaurants and pubs to: up, and get support and advice on the tell us if their food was freshly cooked 1. Offer all young diners the choice of a small steps, and bigger steps, they need and where it comes from. Of the 11, only children’s portion of adult meals to make by downloading the Out to Lunch 4 were making and cooking the majority toolkit. of their children’s food in the kitchen: 2. Serve freshly prepared food, not ready Jamie’s Italian, Wagamama, Carluccios meals For a more detailed insight into the and Café Rouge 3. Offer free water to families on arrival Out to Lunch league table visit: http://www.soilassociation.org/ n Only one chain (Jamie’s Italian) could 4. Offer children’s cutlery as standard outtolunch reliably tell parents where its meat 5. Make breastfeeding mums feel welcome came from

17 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 Events Glastonbury events Good Food For Everyone Off your trolley? Stroud Food Festival Forever: An Evening of Saturday 7 September Speakers & A Local Food Feast Stratford Park, Stroud The aim of the Festival is to celebrate the 6.30–9pm Friday 13 September fantastic food and drink on offer from Glastonbury Town Hall, Somerset across the five valleys and surrounding £2–£15 suggested donation areas, as well as to highlight this year’s Residents of Somerset & beyond are festival theme of “from field to fork”. invited to an evening of inspiring One of the main attractions of the speakers talking about the impacts of Stroud Food Festival event will be the the global food system, while eating Food Theatre where local producers and delicious local food. Public meeting: Should the biggest supermarkets pay extra chefs will showcase local food and drink We will be talking about what we can to support the local community? through a combination of informative talks Find out why the largest supermarkets should pay an additional 8.5% on their do locally to ensure that everyone has business rate to help local communities, and how you can help this Local Works campaign. and inspirational cookery demonstrations. access to a nourishing diet, to land Speakers: Steve Shaw of Local Works Joy Carey, author of ‘Who Feeds Bristol’ and to community to learn how to grow Molly Scott-Cato, Green Party candidate for the European election in 2015. http://stroudfoodfestival.co.uk/index.

Date and time: 7pm on 4th September and share produce. Attendees are Venue: Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY html

Meeting organised by Bristol Green Party encouraged to bring food to share for a Local Food feast. Off your trolley? Should the Westbury Village Show Speakers biggest supermarkets pay extra 11am–5pm Saturday 7 September Colin Tudge: Westbury-on-Trym Village Hall to support the local community? Good Food For Everyone Forever 7pm Wednesday 4 September The theme of the 34th Westbury on Trym Hannah Thorogood: Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft BS1 3QY Village Show’s will be Urban Wildlife with Another Agriculture is Possible Free special guest of honour Mike Dilger – The Louise Brookes: One Show’s wildlife expert. But there’s How can we feed Avalon? Find out why the largest supermarkets still a traditional vegetable competition. Incredible Edible Somerset: should pay an additional 8.5% on their Get your entries in for… A Call to Action business rate to help local communities, and how you can help this Local Works Collection of Vegetables · Five Potatoes · More information and tickets at: campaign. Five Runner Beans · Five French Beans · http://incredible-edible-somerset. One Cucumber · Three Onions · ning.com/page/good-food Speakers: Steve Shaw of Local Words One Misshapen Vegetable · Three carrots · Joy Carey, author of Who Feeds Bristol Three Globe Beets · A truss of Cherry Molly Scott-Cato, Green Party candidate Tomatoes · Five Tomatoes · A pair of Incredible Edible Somerset for the European election in 2015 matching Marrows or Squashes · Open Gardens 2013 More information on the campaign at: A Collection of Fresh Herbs Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 September http://localworks.org/pages/ http://wotfs.co.uk/ supermarkets The Incredible Edible Somerset Open Gardens Scheme is designed to show Frome Agricultural & Cheese off Somerset’s edible assets, from Bee and Honey Festival community orchards to home gardens, show with a whole weekend of free workshops 10am–5pm 7 & 8 September 8.30am–6pm Saturday 14 September & plenty of projects open to the public. University of Bristol Botanic Garden, £13 on th e day/£10 advance The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, BS9 1JG The weekend is a chance to learn new The Frome Cheese Show is one of the skills, pick up tips, tickle your tastebuds Admission: £3.50 for adults; free to oldest cheese shows in Great Britain, and be inspired by community food University staff, Friends of the Botanic founded in 1861 and this year showcasing growing in Somerset. With more than 135 Garden, students and children under 16. over 1,200 cheese entries from around participating in workshops in 2012 and This Festival aims to highlight the the globe. Visitors will have the chance many more visiting sites, 2013 looks to maintenance of healthy ecosystems to taste, try and buy the finest cheeses be even better! and the importance of bees and other from the many trade stands inside this http://incredible-edible-somerset. pollinators for food production. There will magnificent popular marquee. ning.com/page/open-gardens be a number of interesting displays and www.fromecheeseshow.co.uk/cheese- demonstrations around the garden as well Plus Glastonbury Harvest Show on pavilion.asp as ten nurseries selling plants that will Saturday 14 September in the Town Hall: attract pollinators in your garden http://glastonburyharvestshow. www.bristol.ac.uk/botanic-garden wordpress.com/

18 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 …more events Factoberfest South West Fairtrade Day 2013 13–15 September Developments in Fairtrade Love Food Festivals Tobacco Factory Terrace & Yard, corner 10am-4pm Saturday 21 September Village Fete at Dyrham Park of North St & Raleigh Road, Southville Trowbridge County Hall 10am–4pm Sunday 29 September Free entry Join us for an inspiring and stimulating day Dyrham Park, Chippenham, A weekend of celebration of the very for all in the South West region interested Gloucestershire SN14 8ER best in independent beer and cider, in Fairtrade. Bring your own ideas and FREE ENTRY (normal entry fees apply to showcasing 60 craft beers, including experiences and learn from others. the National Trust property) unique brews from the Bristol Beer Factory Join us as we put together a vibrant village (brewed way-over on the other side Stalls, displays, panel discussion, speed fete at the beautiful Dyrham Park. There’ll of North Street). Plus food and music, networking, information about national be some fantastic competitions for you children’s crafts and face-painting, and and South West events, and the National all to take part in that will bring out both the Tobacco Factory Market on Sunday. Campaigners Committee. the foodie and the competitor in you. They www.bristolbeerfactory.co.uk/ Workshops on: will range from bringing something you’ve factoberfest.php n Fairtrade Fortnight and beyond: linking made up to the judging panel, to entering with other groups in the community and the most bizarre looking vegetable you’ve year-round events. grown this year, or even taking part in the classic ‘coconut shy’. Transition Bath Food Group n Renewals of Fairtrade Town status: presents… with examples of Action Plans from other towns. Game Festival Preservation workshop 11am–4pm Sunday 13 October n Engaging with primary schools: talks, 10am–3pm Saturday 14 September Newark Park, Ozleworth, Wotton-under- activities and resources. Methodist Church Hall, Bear Flat · £10 Edge GL12 7PZ n New challenges and opportunities: FREE ENTRY (normal entry fees apply to Come and learn and share a range of with member of the Commercial Team at the National Trust property) different preservation methods – not the the Fairtrade Foundation usual jams and chutneys. To book a place Get ready for an event that both educates phone 07867 532512 We encourage you to use public transport and inspires you to get stuck in with game. email: [email protected] to the venue – it is only a few minutes walk We aim to showcase some of the finest from Trowbridge railway station and has game meat around to show you both how Bottle and store your own apple juice excellent bus links. There is car parking delicious it is, and how good it is for you 10am or 2pm Saturday 14 September at County Hall if you need to come by car, too. There will also be an outdoor cooking Methodist Church Hall, Bear Flat · £6 and the venue is fully accessible. The day competition where you can show off your is open to all Fairtrade supporters with free skills by cooking delicious food over the Come and learn how to use our pressing admission including lunch, but you must fire. and pasteurising equipment, which you book a place so that we can cater for you. can then hire to use at home. To register contact Jim on 01225 481 500 email: [email protected] Great Bath Feast 10.30am–4pm Sunday 20 October email: [email protected] Book online: Green Park Station, Bath BA1 2DR www.transitionbath.org/food http://swftday13.eventbrite.co.uk/ FREE ENTRY The event will celebrate the very best Best of Bedminster show food in the region with some great demonstrations as well as a whole host 12–4pm Saturday 21 September of hands on children’s activities including North Street Green, Bedminster baking, growing and arts & crafts. BOB is back! bringing the village show to a very urban green patch off North Halloween Festival Street. This year‘s show categories are: 10.30am–4pm Sunday 27 October Paintworks, Bath Road, Bristol BS4 3EH Best cake · Best jar of jam · Best jar FREE ENTRY of chutney · Best display of seasonal produce Love Food will be conjuring a terrific event to liven your taste buds. As we stew up And for children: Best Bug · Scariest our ideas in a cauldron of creativity, we Fruit & Veg monster · Best mini garden aim to cast a memorable event filled Entry forms from the Southville Centre, with mouthwatering food, award-winning from some shops on North Street, or at: drinks, fancy dress and games for your children. www.tinyurl.com/BOBshow2013 www.lovefoodfestival.com

19 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 …more events Eat Wot U Grow Fairtrade 12–3.30pm Sunday 22 September GoinG deeper NorthCote House (Top of Great Brockeridge) £10 Adults, £2 Children under 16 Friday 18 october A Community Lunch organised by Yate Library, BS37 4AX Sustainable Westbury-on-Trym using local 7.30 pm to 9.30pm produce. Free event with We are all familiar with Fairtrade refreshments Let us know any special dietary coffee, sugar and bananas but did you know that there are now over Made in North Somerset requirements in advance. BYO wine. For 3,000 Fairtrade products available? This evening of discovery will use short films, festival discussion and thoughts from Steve Webb MP to find tickets: email [email protected] out more about Fairtrade and how your purchases can make a difference to people’s lives. 14 September–6 October

suswot.wordpress.com The evening will include free Fairtrade wine & nibbles. ‘Made in North Somerset’ – a festival Book your free place online: www.fairtrade-goingdeeper.eventbrite.co.uk or call Lydia Nash on 01454 863119 of local producers, artists and artisans Burnham on Sea will take place at venues across Food & Drink Festival North Somerset from 14 September to Event organised by South Gloucestershire Fairtrade Network 6 October. This event, coordinated by Saturday 28 September North Somerset Council, is designed Once again we will be busy hunting down Fairtrade Going Deeper to raise the profile of the area, support the cream of south west and Somerset’s local businesses and create an exciting 7.30–9.30pm Friday 18 October food and drink producers and will be three week celebration of the wonderful Yate Library, BS37 4AX bringing them into Burnham on Sea with local food, drink, art and craft produced FREE including free Fairtrade wine & stalls offering tastings, direct sales, and created in North Somerset. nibbles information about food provenance and The festival provides a unique local supply options. We are all familiar with Fairtrade coffee, opportunity to showcase the rich variety sugar and bananas but did you know We also have a large outdoor market on of talent across the area and enable that there are now over 3,000 Fairtrade Victoria Street (hosted in association with people to find out more about these products available? This evening of Somerset Farmers Markets). producers and artists. During the three discovery will use short films, discussion weeks there will be ample opportunity http://burnhamonseafoodfestival.org. and thoughts from Steve Webb MP to to see behind the scenes and appreciate uk/index.htm find out more about Fairtrade and how what goes into making, creating, your purchases can make a difference to growing and producing some of these people’s lives. fantastic products. There will be daily Soil Association Call Lydia Nash on 01454 863119 or events across North Somerset for adults Conference and AGM book your free place online: and children including food and craft workshops, demonstrations, markets, 9–10 October fairtrade-goingdeeper.eventbrite.co.uk/ brewery and cider tours, farm open days, Central Hall, Westminster AGM free, Conference day rates £70+£120 wild foraging walks, orchard open days, +VAT, £120–£180+VAT for 2 days Wells Food Festival and tasting evenings. Day one hosted by Monty Don: Good 10.30am–4pm Sunday 20 October The successful annual ‘Made in North Somerset’ Food and Craft Showcase food for all – partnerships for change in Centred on Wells’ historic market square will be repeated at the National Trust schools, cities and communities. the event features an artisan producers’ Tyntesfield Estate in Wraxall and market, a ‘Question Time’ style food Day two issupported by OMSCO, Giving extending it to a whole weekend on debate in the beautiful Bishop’s Barn; it welly: grassroots innovation for 5 and 6 October. The market brings cookbook talks and signings; a foodie sustainable agriculture – including the together 42 North Somerset producers pub quiz; a vintage tea party; cider, beer outstanding innovators award. each day making it a great opportunity and wine bar and a choice of great Sunday to source local products all in one place www.soilassociation.org/ lunches. and get a headstart on your Christmas conferences/2013conference Whether it’s a stunning pop up chef shopping! This year we there will also cooked lunch in the Town Hall, a Somerset be a ‘Bake off’, children’s activities, Sunday special in one of Wells’ pubs and demonstrations and local musicians restaurants, or cider and street food, we’ll performing in the courtyard. have something to suit your taste. For more information please visit http://wellsfoodfestival.co.uk/ www.innorthsomerset.co.uk/madein

20 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 Courses & training Forest School Training at Courses at Ragmans Lane Courses with the Low-impact Lawrence Weston Ragman’s Lane Farm, Lydbrook, living initiative (LILI) Lawrence Weston Community Farm, Gloucestershire GL17 9PA For all course information: Saltmarsh Drive, Bristol BS11 0NJ www.ragmans.co.uk/home/ http://lowimpact.org/venues_south_ http://lwfarm.org.uk/learning.html west.html The People’s Hive: A Masterclass with Smallholder taster day Forest School Taster Day David Heaf 10am–4pm Saturday 14 September · £95 9.30am–4pm Sunday 15 September · £75 10am–4pm Saturday 5 October Mumbleys Farmhouse, Mumbleys, £60 A one-day course on bee friendly Near Thornbury BS35 3JY beekeeping using Warré People’s Hive. A one day course run by the Forest Beekeeping for beginners day The course will be led by David Heaf, the of Avon Trust. The course is ideal for 10am–4pm Saturday 21 September · £120 leading exponent of Warré’s methods in anyone new to Forest School with an Mumbleys Farmhouse, Mumbleys, the UK. interest in developing outdoor activities Near Thornbury BS35 3JY and learning. It’s also useful for people Sustainable beekeeping with Nichola who support an existing Forest School Agroecology – The Future of Farming? Bradbear programme. 21–27 September · £795 21–22 September · £175 With Colin Tudge, John Letts, Tim Crabtree, You will: Experience a Forest School Jane Pickard, and Ed Hamer Meet the bees · The natural lifecycle of session and learn a range of hands-on Schumacher College, The Old Postern, honey bees · Being a beekeeper · activities to use with groups in an outside Dartington, Totnes TQ9 6EA setting. Learn about the woodland The relationship between bees and environment and its wildlife and how to flowers · Honey bees in the landscape · Using horses to manage woodland sites minimise impact on it. Explore the Forest The relationship between bees and (especially where sites are sensitive or School ethos and principles and how people · Keeping bees healthy · Making difficult to access) this can benefit your groups. Develop an and building low-cost hives · Warre’s Tuesday 8 October · £100 understanding of how to work safely in an People’s hive, top-bar hives, frame hives · Bath Beekeeping and sustainability outdoor setting. In addition you will be Gardening: propagation morning class provided with a starter pack of resources www.beesfordevelopment.org/what-we- 9.30am–1pm Tuesday 8 October · £50 from Children’s Scrapstore to support do/training_in_the_uk/weekend-course The Cotswold Gardening School, using the activities you have learnt on the Gossington Hall, Gossington, day. Please email [email protected] for Cider Making in One Day Gloucestershire, GL2 7DN a booking form. 9.30am–4pm Sunday 15 September · £65 Environmental trainers: introduction to OCN Forest School Leaders Award Level 3 A hands-on day of picking, pressing and forest skills Autumn/Winter 2013 Level 3 Course – pasteurising. Course fee includes 15 litres 9.30am–4.40pm Wednesday 9 October · 10, 11, 17, 18 Oct, 14, 15, 21, 22 November of apple juice to turn into cider. £115/£95/£70 (9–5pm Thursdays & Fridays – 8 days total Schumacher College, The Old Postern, of tuition and assessment) Dartington, Totnes TQ9 6EA £850 At the University of Bristol The theory side of setting up a low- This course is for professionals and impact smallholding University of Bristol, Botanic Garden, independent practitioners working with 3 days 17–20 October · £345/£235 Hollybush Lane, Stoke Bishop, BS9 1JB children, young people and adults who Monkton Wyld Court, nr. Charmouth, want to set up and run a Forest School. www.bristol.ac.uk/botanic-garden/ Bridport, Dorset DT6 6DQ Tonics and Elixirs The art & craft of natural beekeeping OCN Introduction to Forest School Level 1 2 days 18–19 October · £75 10am–2pm Saturday 21 September · £25 9.30am–5pm Thursday 28 & Westfield Farm, Limeburn Hill, Friday 29 November The second of our workshops on how Chew Magna BS40 8QW £225 medicinal herbs have been used, concentrating on the plants in season, Restoring & managing old orchards & This accredited course gives opportunities taught by Julia Green FNIMH. There will fruit trees to explore Forest School further and is also be tasting of remedies with practical Thursday 31 October · £100/£75 suitable for parents and professionals. instructions on making them by Anne Devizes You will experience a Forest School Freeman MNIMH. The price includes take session, explore Forest School ethos home samples from the workshop. and principles, learn practical shills and activities and learn about the woodland environment.

21 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 Publications On the web China’s Bad Earth digest: Industrialization has turned much of the Chinese countryside into an environmental disaster zone, threatening not only the food supply but the legitimacy of the regime itself. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000 1424127887323829104578624010648 228142.html

Joanna Blythman on the Power of “lots and lots of little projects” digest: Joanna Blythman on… Jay Rayner, local economies, big supermarkets, GM & much more http://transitionnetwork.org/ blogs/rob-hopkins/2013-07/joanna- blythman-power-lots-and-lots-little- projects Food Poverty: What does the The Resilient Farm and evidence tell us? Homestead: an innovative How Fruit Trees Are Growing permaculture and whole Communities Bristol City Council for Bristol’s Food digest: A global grass roots movement Policy Council systems design approach has identified a very effective ingredient Food poverty is complex and multi- Ben Falk · $40 for building community: Fruit. Even while faceted. It is not simply about immediate the price tag on organic fruit causes A manual for developing durable, hunger and how that might be alleviated. many to go without, it’s much more beautiful, and highly functional human It is not just about the quantity of food abundant than we may think. habitat systems fit to handle an age of that is eaten, but involves the dietary rapid transition. www.shareable.net/blog/How-Fruit- choices, the cultural norms and the Trees-Are-Growing-Communities physical and financial resources that Ben Falk is a land designer and site affectwhich foods are eaten, ultimately developer whose permaculture-research Food Growing Schools farm has drawn national attention in the impacting on health status. digest: Garden Organic has received US. The site is a terraced paradise on a This review investigates what is meant £804,994 from the Big Lottery Fund hillside in Vermont that would otherwise by food poverty, what causes it, what towards an ambitious project that will be overlooked by conventional farmers its scale is likely to be in Bristol and seek to help every school in London to as unworthy farmland. Falk’s wide array what its impact might be on the people become a food growing school. of fruit trees, rice paddies, ducks, nuts, in this city. This work will help inform and earth-inspired buildings is a hopeful www.gardenorganic.org.uk/news/ recommendations for addressing the image for the future of regenerative news_topic.php?id=934&dm_ problem in the city. agriculture and modern homesteading. i=4UO,1S30A,JCI86,6CNVC,1 http://bristolfoodpolicycouncil.org/wp- www.resilience.org/stories/2013-07-08/ content/uploads/2013/08/Food-Poverty- Global Garden, Global Kitchen building-a-resilient-homestead-of-your- Report-July-2013-for-publication.pdf digest: The transformation of former own school grounds in Tottenham into a community food hub where produce will The practical guide to be grown, prepared and distributed to WWOOFing locals by bicycle. A. Greenman · £7 www.urbangardensweb. com/2013/08/05/global-garden- Filled with inspirational anecdotes from global-kitchen-crowdfunding-to-grow- an author who WWOOFed through food-and-community-pride/ England, Wales, Scotland, France, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, and worked Six Garden-Themed Greeting Cards on other projects in Italy, Greece, Latvia, That Grow Vegetables When Planted New Zealand and Brazil, as his ‘gap year’ digest: Celebrate a birthday with a card turned into a ‘gap life’. that keeps growing. www.lowimpact.org/practical_guide_to_ www.urbangardensweb. wwoofing.htm com/2013/07/30/six-garden-themed- greeting-cards-that-grow-vegetables- when-planted/

22 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 Odds & ends Sheepdrove offer! Bristol Green Capital’s Organic September Sheepdrove Organic Farm Family Butcher’s IDEA a day This September sees the launch of the Shop is an independent trader at 3 Lower Bristol Green Capital are really keen to Soil Association’s Organic September Redland Road (just off Whiteladies Road) hear your ideas and those of your group, Small Changes, Big Difference campaign, Bristol BS6 6TB, a few doors down from business or community. The theme for the UK’s biggest celebration of all things Wild Oats. Tel 0117 973 4643 2015 is of Bristol as a ‘laboratory for organic. Email [email protected] change’ – a place to experiment with new We know that farming and growing Nick Rapps the head butcher is offering ways of doing things, to challenge the organically and in tune with natural eco- 10% DISCOUNT on Sheepdrove produce status quo, and most importantly have fun systems makes a huge difference to our for subscribers to Bristol’s local food doing so. So if you have an idea or plan planetary health – organic production is update. Mention that you saw this offer in for anything from an event, a policy, or a better for wildlife, better for animal welfare Bristol’s local food update newsletter and project, to an art installation, a campaign better for the environment, and better say the magic words ‘local food’ when you or a sponsorship opportunity – if you think for the health and well-being of farm shop in Sheepdrove – offer valid up to and it will make a difference we want to hear workers. And because organic products including 30 September 2013 to celebrate from you – submit your IDEA a day at: are certified and inspected, as a shopper Organic September. http://bristolgreencapital.org/back-the- buying organic means you can be sure of bid.php what you’re getting (and not getting) in your food. EVENTS STOP PRESS!!! But organic producers need support. We believe everybody can make a small Avon Organic Group looking at the people, politics and and achievable change in September – Harvest Supper practicalities of creating a sustainable whether that be switching your milk to food future for Bristol. organic or choosing organic moisturiser – 7.30pm Monday 23 September There will be regular tours of Feed Bristol and make a big difference to our planet. YHA Narrow Quay and Sims Hill Shared Harvest – exploring From encouraging more bees and £3 Visitors, £1 AOG members how nature helps us grow and the hedgerows to ensuring shorter and Please bring organic food or drink to living landscape, there will be Pumpkin traceable food chains, by choosing organic share. Tim Foster will be there to sign carving, story telling and crafts for kids. we can all support a kinder, greener and copies of his new book Good Earth better climate. Refreshments will be provided by Feed Gardening. Bristol’s own ‘Herbal and Delicious Cafe’ We want everyone to get involved – we’re and the wonderful ‘Market Kitchen’ will asking people to tell us what small change Local Land for Local Food provide hot seasonal food. you’ll be making on our website at www.soilassociation.org/smallchanges 11am–4pm Saturday 5 October Later that evening there will be a and there will also be offers, competitions, Feed Bristol, Frenchay Park Road, fundraising gig for the land workers and farm visits to get involved with. Many Stapleton, Bristol alliance (place and time tbc). People local independent, online and national FREE who come along to Feed Bristol in the retailers will be holding events and day can receive a free ticket to the gig offering discounts, and there will also Join us for ‘Local Land for Local Food’: a (full details tbc). be our Organic Beauty Weekend and the free fun day of discovery and exploration Organic Food Award winners announced. for families and those interested in For more details, contact Matt Cracknell: So join us in making a small change this shaping the ways we can feed ourselves [email protected] September and make a big difference to in Bristol with our local land and local Directions at: our planet. food. Key movers and shakers will lead www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/ group workshops and discussions feedbristol

Some content for this newsletter is taken Urban Agriculture newsletter Food Climate Research network from the following e-newsletters: www.sustainweb.org/cityharvest/ www.fcrn.org.uk (go to email sign-up) newsletter/ Soil Association e-news Voscur www.soilassociation.org/ Forest of Avon www.voscur.org/news TodaysNewsLogin/tabid/639/Default.aspx http://forestofavontrust.org/ Defra’s SD scene newsletter Garden Organic e-news Growing Schools newsletter http://sd.defra.gov.uk/subscribe/ www.gardenorganic.org.uk/e-news/ www.growingschools.org.uk sign_up.php Bristol Green Capital http://bristolgreencapital.org/

23 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013 Regular volunteering sessions Blaise Walled Kitchen Garden workshops and events. All welcome. Compost toilet. Everybody welcome, Phone to see if we’re here on Fridays: regardless of experience. 2nd Saturday & 4th Sunday of the month 0117 917 270 1–4pm www.kebelecoop.org/?page_id=28 Facing the front door of Blaise House, go www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/people/ left, through the rose garden until you feedbristol/feedbristol.html Southmead Fruit Garden come to the entrance doors to the walled 1st Saturday of the month 10am–3pm garden OR, go behind the house and Golden Hill Community Garden You can find us behind the Whitehall on take the door next to the orangery and go 10am–4pm Wednesdays Glencoyne Square, BS10 6DE. We’re a left through a little door into the garden. We always have a range of jobs to suit friendly bunch! Contact us at: Please wear sturdy footwear, and make ability and preferences. Free feel to come [email protected] the volunteer leader aware of your arrival. down for a chat and a look around with no www.facebook.com/Southmeadfruitgarden Contact: Christine Carroll · 0792 870 1369 commitment to stay. You can drop in for [email protected] an hour or stay all day whatever fits round Trinity Community Gardens your life or energy levels. https://sites.google.com/site/ Gardening drop-in sessions blaisesecretgarden/ www.thegoldenhillcommunitygarden.com Wednesdays 11am–5pm Last Saturday of the month 11am–5pm Easton Community Allotment Metford Rd Community Orchard Volunteer drop-in sessions. Learn to grow Thursdays 12–4pm (5pm summer) Usually 3rd Sunday of the month fruit, veg & herbs at the Trinity Gardens. A beautiful, green enclave nestled on the Meet at Metford Road Gates (green metal Get fit, work outside, meet people, and edge of Easton. A social space for people gate in between numbers 37 and 39) at gain knowledge and practical experience. who want to grow vegetables, drink tea about 11.30am, bring gardening gloves. Drinks provided, but please bring lunch! and share the harvest. No experience There should be a notice on the gate www.3ca.org.uk/activities/garden necessary – just drop in. Email for map: telling you a mobile number to ring if we’re [email protected] already there, and we’ll come and let you Woodcroft Community Orchard eastoncommallot.wordpress.com in. If there’s no notice, and nobody there – Workdays 1st Saturday of the month you’re the first, be patient! If you’ve never On the edge of Nightingale Valley on Eastside Roots been before then you can ring Joe former allotment ground at Woodcroft Stapleton Road Train Station on 07840 059079 to tell us you’re coming. Road. Now planted with over 50 trees and Regular workday: Fridays 10am–4pm www.sustainableredland.org.uk/what- numerous soft fruits. Contact Frank White: Forest school for pre-school children & can-i-do/metford-road-community-orchard [email protected] parents: Thursday afternoons from 1.15pm Improve your local community, meet new Royate Hill Community Orchard http://woodcroftcommunityorchard. friends, learn new skills and keep fit. wordpress.com/ Main orchard day is the Email: [email protected] 3rd Sunday of every month. Additional/alternative day Find a growing group near to you at: www.eastsideroots.org.uk is 1st Sunday from March to October. www.bristolfoodnetwork.org/local-food- Email Sue ([email protected]) map/ Feed Bristol if you’d like to join or visit us. Mons, Tues, Weds & Sats As well as the fruit, we also plant veg, Bristol’s local food update Communal growing days: Volunteers are and whoever shows up for workdays when If you didn’t receive this PDF by email, you welcome on Mondays, Tuesdays and there is a harvest, gets to take food home. can send a subscription request for future Wednesdays 9.30am–4pm. Drinks available, bring snacks to share. issues to be sent direct to you, to: Saturdays 11am–4pm – drop in with Tools and gardening gloves provided. [email protected] Subscribers will be e-mailed a maximum of three times between issues of the Regular markets newsletter with an e-update of any event Ashton Court Producers Market Tobacco Factory Market information that missed the deadline. Stables Courtyard, 3rd Sunday of the Corner of Raleigh Road/North Street, This issue of Bristol’s local food update was month 10.30am–3.30pm Southville, Sundays 10am–2.30pm compiled by Jane Stevenson and Kristin Sponsler. Design by Jane Stevenson: Additional market for Halloween on Westbury-on-Trym Market www.janestevensondesign.co.uk Sunday 27 October Primary Care Centre Car Park, Westbury The views expressed in this newsletter are Bristol Farmers’ Market Hill, 4th Saturday of the month, not necessarily endorsed by the City Council. Corn Street and Wine Street, 9am–1pm(except December) Wednesdays 9.30am–2.30pm Whiteladies Road Market Bristol Food Network Friday Food Market, Wine Street Corner of Whiteladies Road and Apsley Get involved with the Bristol Food Network – 10am–4pm Road, 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month, online, via Facebook or Twitter: Harbourside Market 8.30am–2pm www.bristolfoodnetwork.org Every weekend outside the Watershed Zion Food Market 11am–4pm. Zion, Bishopsworth Rd, Bedminster Down www.facebook.com/ bristolfoodnetwork?fref=ts Long Ashton Village Market, Village Hall, Every 4th Saturday, 10am–1pm 1st Saturday of the month 9.30am–1pm @Bristolfoodnet

24 bristol’s local food update · september–october 2013