BRISTOL FOOD NETWORK Bristol’s local food update2012 community project news · courses · publications · events march–april Spring is nearly springing. The wild garlic is poking through, the Alexanders are growing vigorously, and it’s feeling very tempting to start sowing things in the veg bed. Across the city, new growing projects are sprouting forth, too. In this issue we hear from Avon Wildlife Trust about ‘Feed Bristol’; the Severn Project who have expanded into Whitchurch; and the Horfield accessible allotment and edible forest, who have their grand opening in April. Please email any suggestions for content of the May–June newsletter to [email protected] by 9 April. Events, courses listings and appeals can now be updated at any time on our website www.bristolfoodnetwork.org Bristol food networking The recent Green Capital ‘Future City We will need volunteers to help: Bristol Independents Day Conversations’ have shown how much n publicise the event 4 July 2012 interest there is in Bristol in food issues n photograph open gardens The Bristol Independents campaign – and how much is going on. There are n assist groups hosting openings, etc is gearing-up to celebrate ‘Bristol some great opportunites coming up this Independents Day’ on 4 July. Volunteers Bristol local food networking sessions year to help Bristol’s food projects and are needed to help: businesses flourish: Volunteers are sought to host monthly n Spread the word meet ups for anyone involved in the Bristol n Talk to traders Get Growing Garden Trail food sector who is working towards a n Get community groups involved, etc 9–10 June 2012 better food system for Bristol. Hosts would Contact us via the website: Last year the Bristol Food Network held organise a session, introduce people to Bristol’s first Get Growing Open Gardens the space and integrate any newcomers. http://bristolindependents.co.uk/ Trail. Like a Doors Open Day, it was an opportunity to see behind normally-closed Style of session: Informal with a relaxed garden gates. atmosphere. Maybe a topic each month e.g. Local food, or food debate such as 23 community groups took part in the fairtrade v local. People that are running inaugural trail, including community- food projects on the theme topic may supported agriculture schemes, wish to have a little stall and there might community allotments, community farms, be a speaker on a topic for 20 mins or so. planted-up public spaces and many other Meetings could be based around sharing schemes demonstrating alternatives food together such as a food buffet. Bristol’s local food update is produced to conventional allotment- or garden- by the Bristol Food Network, with support growing. You can see some photos from This will be an opportunity for people to from Bristol City Council. last year’s openings at: meet up with others who are working on The Bristol Food Network is an umbrella www.flickr.com/photos/ similar food aims. In the long term, this group, made up of individuals, forumforthefuture/ will help to build stronger food networks community projects, organisations sets/72157627239365976/ in Bristol and more communication which and businesses who share a vision to will lead to more and better food projects transform Bristol into a sustainable This year, the garden opening will be over food city. The Network connects people in the long term. In the short term the aim the first weekend of BIG green week. If you working on diverse food-related issues is to provide a nice relaxed space that or your group would like to take part, then – from getting more people growing, to gives a sense of learning and support for please get in touch ASAP. All details need developing healthy-eating projects; from anyone working on a food project. tackling food waste, to making Bristol to be finalised by mid-March. more self-sufficient. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Community group news Coexist Community Kitchen More edible than a Facebook Share? 100s of days of work, millions of emails, Sims Hill Shared Harvest has only 15 loads of funding applications, one shares left this year. Sims Hill provides successful grant and one major fundraiser VERY local and fresh organic vegetables, later... The Coexist Community Kitchen has at competitive prices and has the aim to commenced its build! bring great organic food to people on a budget. A full share (enough for a family After all the slogging and mind-numbing of 4) is £42 a month (that’s at least 4 grant applications we have started to boxes) and a half share (for 2 or one very passing of the seasons with song, drink, get some solid work happening in the hungry one!) is £24. food and good company. good old kitchen space. We’ve had the ventilation hood cleaned, walls chipped, Every week they provide a range of If you would like one or a half of the plastered, filled and painted and much, staples and a few special treats – such 15 remaining shares, or just become much more. Expect our phase one kitchen as that lovely dark green Cavalo Nero – a supporter member, have a look at to be up and running by March. also known as Tuscan Kale, and russet their website simshillsharedharvest. apples, corn on the cob or celeriac. You wordpress.com/ or email through the We are on our way to our dream kitchen may have seen their fields, just below site or on simshillsharedharvest@ but for now our phase one kitchen will be the large yellow house you can see from googlemail.com. They will then get ready for you to use within a short amount the M32 – yes, it really is that close. in contact with you to find out which of time. It will be a kitchen up to EHO There are handy pickup points around dropoff point you would prefer and talk standards, with prep space, 6-hob gas the city, currenly in St Werburghs, through any other questions. range, oven and storage spaces; including Easton, Southville and Gloucester Road. fridge/freezer – so let’s get cooking! Please go to our blog for news about the Sims Hill also have regular community project and upcoming events, including Meanwhile, as you use this space we will events where you can find out more our Spring Community Celebration on be plodding along to finally complete the about growing or just celebrate the 24 March. DREAM – A fully fitted, inspiring kitchen with all the features to make it as fun and accessible as possible. Think demos, The fruitfulness project workshops, courses, jam making, baking and all the other cookery imaginings you Windmill Hill City Farm are recruiting around the area which we want to harvest might have... teams of volunteers to create an urban and turn into delicious jams, chutneys and fruit map of fruit trees, bushes and other pickles! Come and get involved! Email: Please contact us at [email protected] foragable delights on public spaces [email protected] if you would like to know more! Friends of Brandon Hill We had a jolly time in February, planting provided cages, stakes, tools, expertise Herb garden planting more than 20 fruit trees in our community and much needed muscle. For some really Morning, Saturday 17 March orchard, with a very enthusiastic good photos of the event, have a look at Finally a reminder that we will be planting contribution from the children of St Sam Twiddy’s Brandon Hill nature blog our herb garden just below the Cabot George’s C of E Primary School and QEH on http://brandonhillnature.wordpress.com/ Tower on the morning of Saturday 17 of Friday afternoon. Volunteers from Friends Anyone interested in becoming involved in March. Please let me know if you are of Brandon Hill and assorted others the aftercare as well as eating the produce interested in helping. completed the job on Saturday morning, in due course, let me know. after some much needed pruning lessons see also: www.thisisbristol.co.uk/ Angela Stansbie, Friends of Brandon Hill from Tim Foster. The planting sessions Partnership-plants-orchards/story- [email protected] were organised for us by Tree Bristol who 15155485-detail/story.html 2 bristol’S locAL FOOD UPDATE · MARCH–APRIL 2012 Introducing Feed Bristol... Steve Micklewright Thanks to funding from the BIG Lottery claim some fresh, healthy food that Fund’s Local Food Scheme, Avon Wildlife has been grown on the site.” Trust (AWT) has just started an exciting The large site in Stapleton also project that will involve a huge range of provides space for medium sized plots people in growing local, healthy nature that schools and community groups to friendly food. The project is based on adopt. Steve added, “Everyone knows Steve said, “The land is already very 7 acres of former market gardens by that getting closer to nature through food good for wildlife with established the M32 in Stapleton which is currently growing makes people healthier and hedgerows and some really beautiful old being transformed in to a place where happier, but schools and groups often find fruit trees. We will make it even better school and community groups, families managing an allotment difficult because for wildlife by introducing pollination and individuals can come to either take they are not able to keep on top of all the corridors of wildflowers between the on their own small plot or help grow work that needs to be done, leading to plots and creating a large pond to vegetables in large communal growing frustration and disappointment. At Feed attract frogs and toads.