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How to... A Guide to Community Food Activities If you would like this pamphlet in a different format or in Welsh, please contact Swansea Public Health Team on 01792 784858. Contents 1. Introduction - Healthy Eating and Menu Planning - Food Miles - Feedback Sheet 2. Growing: - Growing Your Own Food - Allotments - Plant a Fruit Tree Scheme 3. Buying: - Food Co-operative - Local Produce Market - Pick Your Own - Food For Free 4. Cooking: - Healthy Cooking Activities 5. Eating: - Community Café - Eating Together - Food of the World Event
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How to... A Guide to Community Food Activities
Growing Your Own Food What is a food growing activity? Growing your own food can be as small as growing herbs on your windowsill or as large as a community farm, allotment or smallholding. What are the benefits? ● can offer the chance to grow and eat organic fruit and vegetables; ● can help to bring together people of different abilities, ages and cultures; ● can create a sense of achievement; ● can increase confidence and skills within the community, as well as in individuals; ● can help to improve people’s mental and physical health and well being; ● can give access to green spaces and exercise; ● develops awareness of gardening and farming. What are city farms and community gardens? City farms and community gardens are community-managed projects working with people, animals and plants. They range from tiny wildlife gardens to fruit and vegetable plots on housing estates, to community poly-tunnels and large city farms. They help people have access to green space. City farms and community gardens are often developed by local volunteers, and aim to involve the local community. Some larger community farms and gardens employ many workers whilst others are run solely by small groups of dedicated volunteers. Most projects provide food-growing activities, training courses, school visits, community allotments and sometimes community businesses. There is no typical city farm or community garden as each develops according to the local area and in response to the needs of the local community. They are places where people of all ages and from all sections of the community are welcome.
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How to start The sheets at the end of this section will help you to decide what kind of growing activity you or your group might like to start. It is worth spending time over these to make sure that you know what suits you best. Once you have looked at this, make contact with your local development workers, or others listed at the side of the page, to discuss your ideas further. ● www.btcv.org.uk - useful fact sheets. Local contact Tel: 01792 456224/818550; ● www.environmentcentre.org.uk - Tel: 01792 480200; ● Swansea and District Organic Gardening Group, Tel: 01792 234705. Can also be found under Local Groups on www.gardenorganic.org.uk. Funding If you need money to run your activity you may want to look for grant aid. To do this you will need to be a constituted group with a bank account. Contact Swansea Council for Voluntary Services (SCVS) or your local Development Worker who will be able to help you with the constitution. SCVS runs a Fundfinder computer programme. ● www.scvs.org.uk or Tel: 01792 544000; ● Also check out the £ind £unding for Initiatives on Nutrition and Diet booklet, available from Food Standards Agency Wales, Tel: 02920 678999 - www.food.gov.uk. Useful Links ● www.foodvision.gov.uk; ● www.soilassociation.org/localfood - UK's leading campaigning and Certification organisation for organic food and farming; ● www.farmgarden.org.uk; ● www.bbc.co.uk/gardening - for useful fact sheets and advice; ● www.thrive.org.uk - aims to enable positive change in the lives of people with disabilities and those who are disadvantaged through gardening and horticulture; ● www.swanseacommunityfarm.org.uk - Tel: 01792 578384; ● Swansea College Community Operations Tel: 01792 284101 for training in the community.
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Examples of growing activities ● BTCV. Tel: 01792 818550/456224; ● Swansea Community Farm. Tel: 01792 578384; ● Connect Project, Swansea Tel: 01792 465383 (growing on allotment and in patio pots); ● Grow It, Cook It, Eat It (formerly Spade to Fork), Pembrokeshire. Tel: 01437 776168 (aimed at primary school children); ● 104 Community House, Blaenymaes. Tel: 01792 578741; ● Drop In Centre, Blaenymaes. Tel: 01792 580905.
(Thanks to Lea Halborg, Redhead Consultancy Ltd., for much of the information used in this section)
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My Growing Scheme Plan (1) Write a list of what you would like to grow: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Important Considerations to think about for your growing project:
Is your proposed growing space in a sunny location or shaded area?
What area gets the most sun & for how long?
Where is the nearest source of water?
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Think about where you live & where you could grow things: (Tick the areas that apply to you)
❑ Window Box or Patio Containers
❑ Front or Back garden
❑ Raised Planting Area
❑ Local Allotment
❑ Green Gym Allotment
❑ Local Community Garden Scheme
❑ An unused piece of land
What is the soil like? Clay/Acidic/Alkaline?
Have you tested your soil?
What direction is the prevailing wind coming from?
What is the drainage like?
Do you have any Sheltered Areas?
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My Growing Scheme Plan (2) How much time in the week do you have to spend on this project? (Tick what suits you)
❑ Under 30 Minutes
❑ 30 mins - 1 Hour
❑ 1-2 Hours
❑ Over 2 Hours
What preparation work do you need to do: Turn over the Soil, if so how big an area is it?
Do you need to prepare the soil with lime/manure/organic matter?
Do you need to prepare compost & drainage for containers/pots/raised planting areas?
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What tools do you already have? (Tick)
❑ Garden Fork
❑ Garden Spade
❑ Hoe
❑ Small Hand Tools
❑ Rake
❑ Gloves
❑ Wheel Barrow
What other preparation work do you need to do? (Write in the space provided)
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My Plan (3) To get my project started I need to: 1. by: 2. by: 3. by: 4. by:
What do I need to do after & how often?
(Lea Halborg, Redhead Consultancy Ltd. - www.redheadwales.co.uk)
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Things to plant Things to plant When to plant in straight into in trays Trays/Ground the ground
Where can I get help from?
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Allotments What is an allotment? An allotment is a plot of land, usually about 28 yards x 15 yards or approximately 250 square metres in size (half plots are also available), which can be rented for growing fruit and vegetables for you and your family. The land is generally owned by the local council. What are the benefits? ● Cultivating an allotment provides an affordable way of getting fruit and vegetables; ● Fresh fruit and vegetables are an essential part of a healthy diet; ● It’s a very rewarding pastime/hobby; ● Enjoying an open space within your community; ● Allotments are important recreational assets for people without gardens; ● Able to grow organically without the use of herbicides and fungicides; ● Working an allotment gives you plenty of fresh air and healthy exercise, and it can be suitable for the elderly and disabled people; ● Gardening has been shown to benefit mental and physical health and well being; ● Having an allotment can be a social activity and brings people together from all age groups and backgrounds; ● Environmental benefits - less food miles, composting, attracting wildlife, bird/bat boxes; ● Garden design – develop your own ideas e.g. willow sculptures, scarecrows, topiary, relaxation areas; ● You know where your food comes from; you control what you put into it.
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How do I get an allotment? 1. Contact the Local Authority - Parks Department, They will give you good advice. ● City & County of Swansea - 01792 635407 2. Ask to be put on the waiting list if you can’t get one straight away. 3. Contact the Allotments Regeneration Initiative at and the National Association of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners Ltd. (NSALG) at: ● www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari ● www.nsalg.org.uk 4. Check on any sites that are privately run. 5. Ask a friend who has an allotment if you can help or share. How much will an allotment cost per year? All sites within the City & County of Swansea cost £25.00 per full plot (2006). Less 50% discount for people on benefits and older people. How to start your allotment ● Don’t over do the digging - take care of your back; ● Compost all annual weeds; ● Dig out perennial weeds and dispose of them; ● Ask advice from other plot holders; ● Share surplus plants and produce; ● Raised beds can be a good idea. Things to bear in mind 1. You cannot sell the produce you grow - it’s meant for you and your family & friends. 2. You cannot sub-let your plot. 3. You must not leave the water taps running over night. 4. You cannot keep live stock. 5. You cannot light bonfires.
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Where to find allotments in Swansea Managed by City & County of Swansea: ● Acre Field Allotments, Norton, Mumbles Entrance on Castle Road, just after Grenville Road; ● Norton Field Allotments, Norton, Mumbles Entrance off Mumbles Road; ● Frederick Place Allotments, Llansamlet Near Lôn Las School; ● Heol Y Gors Allotments, Cockett, off Cockett Road; ● Townhill Allotments, Townhill Off Townhill Road, behind Fairfield Social Club; ● Gendros Allotments Entrance off Gendros Avenue East; ● Gorseinon Allotments Einon St Gorseinon; ● St Thomas Allotments; ● Treboeth Allotments.
Managed by a management committee: ● Cwmgelli Allotment Society; ● Singleton Allotments Association (off King George V Road); ● Plunch Lane Allotments (off Plunch Lane, Mumbles); ● Castle Acre Allotments Society (off Castle Road, Mumbles); ● Tycoch/Lon Mafod Allotments (off Lon Mafon Road). Other Useful Information If you are interested in managing an allotment site, you can buy a guide “Growing in the Community: A Good Practice Guide for the Management of Allotments”. This guide was jointly published in June 2001 by the DTLR, the Greater London Authority, the Local Government Association and the Shell Better Britain Campaign. It is available from: IDeA Publication Sales Layden House,76 - 86 Turnmill Street, London, EC1M 5LG. Tel: 020 7296 6600 (quote EN012)
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Useful Websites ● British Trust for Conservation ● Federation of City Farms Volunteers (BTCV) and Community Gardens 36 St. Mary’s Street The Greenhouse Wallingford Hereford Street Oxfordshire, OX10 0EU Bristol, BS3 4NA Phone: 01491 839 766 Phone: 0117 923 0483 Local contact details: 01792 818550 Fax: 0117 923 1900 (For good advice and guidance) Web site: www.farmgarden.org.uk Web site: www.btcv.org E-mail: [email protected] ● Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) ● Henry Doubleday Machynlleth Research Association (HDRA) Powys, SY20 9AZ Ryton Organic Gardens Phone: 01654 705 950 Coventry, CV8 3LG Web site: www.cat.org.uk Phone: 024 7630 3517 Web site: www.hdra.org.uk ● Community Composting Network E-mail: [email protected] 67 Alexandra Road Sheffield, S2 3EE ● Soil Association Phone: 0114 258 0483 Bristol House Web site: www.othas.org.uk/ccn 40 - 56 Victoria Street E-mail: [email protected] Bristol, BS1 6BY Phone: 0117 929 0661 ● Environment Centre Web site: www.soilassociation.org Pier Street E-mail: [email protected] Swansea, SA1 1RY Phone: 01792 480200 Thanks to the City & County of Swansea for Library available much of the information in this section
Plant a Fruit Tree Scheme This can be a very simple scheme to set up where people are invited to request a fruit tree or bush to be planted in their garden. The scheme should be open to all community members. You will need to apply for funding to purchase the trees and bushes, and have some knowledge of how to plant. BTCV would be able to advise you on this. ● British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), Tel: 01792 818550/456224. This will help people to grow their own fruit and so encourage people to eat more fruit. Be aware, however, that some fruit trees take some time to fruit for the first time. Guidance on how to look after the tree/bush once planted should be given to the new owner. ● The Swansea Environment Centre: www.environmentcentre.org.uk - Tel: 01792 480200
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If you are interested in other food activities, why not check out the other booklets: