FOOD NETWORK Bristol’s local food update courses · skill-sharing · events · news · volunteering may–june 2011

Another issue, another bumper of great ideas and community initiatives, including… plans to make Westbury-on-Trym self- sufficient in tomatoes, an ambitious scheme to develop a community kitchen in Stokes Croft, and an alternative ethical shopping model for BS3. Join us on 11 June as we celebrate these and other great diverse projects, as part of Bristol’s first ever ‘Get Growing Trail’. Please email any suggestions for content of the July–August newsletter to [email protected] by 15 June. Ready. Set. Get Growing Trail! On Saturday 11 June Bristol’s growers are Organic Community , Sims Hill all set to open their garden gates and Shared Harvest, Totterdown Sprouting, community plots for Bristol’s first ever Create Centre, Thornbury Harvest Coop, Get Growing Garden Trail (10am–5pm). GrowGrubby (Talbot Road Allotments), Metford Road Community Orchard, The There will be 24 city-wide food growing Project, Lawrence Weston projects open to the public, ranging from Community Farm, SusWot, Bramble Farm the largest community garden, to the most Community Smallholding, Windmill Hill modest of tree planting scheme. Get City Farm, Patchwork Community on your bike to visit them and find out Group, Upper Horfield top tips for growing your own veg, how to Community Garden Club, Coexist Garden/ get more involved locally, or just to enjoy Bristol Food Hub, GREENS Community the family fun and games. With activities (HHEAG), Redland Green happening at events across the city from Association, The Severn Project chilli tasting, farm tours and grow your and St Paul’s Allotment Project. own workshops, to ‘meet the animals’ and seed-planting for the children, the Please promote the 11 June event, both event promises to be Bristol’s biggest with your networks locally and nationally. celebration yet of urban growing. Nationally, why not suggest a visit to Bristol on that weekend? Locally, do We’re really pleased to report that since all you can to publicise the Trail in your the last Bristol’s Local Food Update, immediate community. It’s a great the Bristol Green Capital and Bristol opportunity to see so many great growing Bristol’s local food update is produced by Association are supporting projects on one day. It’s going to be a volunteers at the Bristol Food Network, the Get Growing Garden Trail. The with support from Bristol City Council. really exciting event so get on your bikes groups that are opening for the day are: The Bristol Food Network is an umbrella and see how many you can visit! Full Clifton Chilli Club (Easter ), group, made up of individuals, details and a downloadable map will be Edible Landscapes Movement (KWMC), community projects, organisations available from mid-May at: and businesses who share a vision to Eastside Roots Community Garden, Trinity transform Bristol into a sustainable Community Garden, GRO-FUN, Horfield www.bristollocalfood.co.uk food city. The Network connects people working on diverse food-related issues – from getting more people growing, to The Get Growing Garden Trail is part of Bristol’s Good Living Week, a series of events developing healthy-eating projects; from from 10–19 June which will raise the profile for Bristol as a European Green Capital. tackling food waste, to making Bristol www.goodlivingweek.com more self-sufficient. Bristol City Council Some Get Growing events Community Investment Strategy consultation events Horfield Organic Community Bristol City Council has begun Orchard consultation on the draft Community Investment Strategy. The strategy sets Horfield Organic Community Orchard out how the council proposes to allocate are delighted to host a Summer Orchard £725,000 to fund outcomes under the Open Day as part of Bristol’s first ever themes: community food trail – Get Growing Garden Trail. n Centres for Community Action n Stronger Communities Members of this pioneering and fruitful n Small Annual Grant community-led project will be on hand to offer: The strategy sets out how the city council will use the Community Investment n Tours of 100 different varieties of fruiting Budget from 2012–2015 to fund local trees, many grown to suit smaller voluntary and community sector (VCS) spaces organisations which promote or improve n Seasonal ‘wild-cooking’ show and taste the economic and social well-being of (early afternoon) deprived communities in Bristol. Live Local Day at Create – n Delicious homemade cakes, help us promote local food! refreshments, produce, and for Consultation events sale (from 11am–4pm) 10am–5pm Saturday 11 June n Answers to your fruit and food growing For disabled people, disabled-led Create Centre, Smeaton Road, questions groups and groups providing services Bristol BS1 6XN n Information on how to join as a Harvest- to disabled people The Create Centre will be a hub of activity share Member or Friend 2–4pm Monday 9 May, Aubrey Room, on Get Growing Garden Trail on Saturday 11 The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue June. The focus will be on ‘living local’ with To find the Orchard (follow the signs on growing workshops, local food tastings, the day): Walk down the lane beside 22 North Bristol Communities Kings Drive (between Bishop Road and children’s activities and more. 2–4pm Tuesday 17 May, The Greenway Kellaway Avenue), turn left and it’s the Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead There are 2 opportunities to get involved: first gate on the right. OR take the lane beside 134 Longmead Avenue until you Front garden veg – we’d love your photos For BME-led VCS groups and groups come to the last gate on the left. Dogs providing services to BME communities Do you grow fruit or veg in your front welcome on leads. garden? We’re putting together an 2–4pm Thursday 19 May, Tubman Room, exhibition to inspire people to grow their For more information contact orchard Malcolm X Centre, 141 City Rd own in small spaces. The focus is on front co-ordinator: South Bristol Communities gardens but we’ll also show windowboxes, Shannon Smith 0117 373 1587 10am–12noon Monday 23 May, containers etc. [email protected] Withywood Centre, Queens Road, Whether you grow carrots or coriander, Withywood green beans or greengages, we’d love to see how you respond to the small space East & Central Bristol Communities challenge. Please email digital photos to: 10am–12noon Tuesday 24 May, Barton [email protected] by Hill Settlement, 43 Ducie Road, Barton 9 May – file size as large as possible. Hill Please include caption details (location, what’s growing, picture credits). Include Tackling Discrimination consultation your top tips if you like! 12noon–2pm Tuesday 3 May, St Werburghs Centre, Horley Road Take part in the day Would you like to promote the work of The council will not be providing your organisation, recruit more volunteers This is just a very, very small sample of refreshments at these events, but will or just get involved in a fun day? Create the activities lined-up for 11 June. seek to ensure water is available. is inviting local organisations to put on For full details, see the ‘Live Local activities at Live Local Day (e.g. food To confirm your attendance or for Weekend’ leaflet, that will be tasting, art/craft, local walk or children’s more information please contact distributed around Bristol, or keep activity) – there’s no charge to take part. the Investment & Grants Team an eye on the Local Food Directory Interested in knowing more? Please (0117) 9036437 / 9036439 website for updates: contact [email protected] or [email protected] [email protected]. www.bristollocalfood.co.uk Draft strategy is available at: www.createbristol.org www.bristol.gov.uk/ investmentandgrants

2 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Who feeds Bristol? Towards a resilient food plan Who Feeds Bristol? Production • Processing • Distribution • Communities • Retail • Catering • Waste Towards a resilient food plan Joy Carey

If you’ve not yet read this report, every Bristol resident. As the film ‘Food Inc’ start with the summary and then read reminds us, we all vote three times a day. chapter 12 ‘Does Bristol have the skills This report sheds a bit more light on the to cook and grow food?’ food supply systems we are all voting for. www.bristol.gov.uk/whofeedsbristol Is there an ‘easy to read’ summary? Research report written by Joy Carey A baseline study of the food system that serves Bristol and the Bristol city region What’s the background & purpose? You can download a brief summary from March 2011 In order to address the actions the website. It’s a good place to start, recommended in the Sustainable Food designed to whet you appetite for more! Allotments and city food growing could Strategy for Bristol and the Bristol Peak Full case studies and explanations of produce several thousand tonnes of Oil report, we need to understand our information sources are in the appendices. produce, with cash value of several million current food system. Back in 2009, the pounds. Case studies highlight some What are the most interesting findings? Bristol ‘Green Capital Momentum Group’ Are any changesof the fantasticneeded? food initiatives already voted as a priority the ‘Who Feeds Bristol?’ There are lots! The summary highlights underway in and around Bristol: growing, The report shows that Bristol has a wealth of local producers, wholesalers, research proposal. NHS Bristol then some of the key facts and figures. Oneprocessors, catererscooking, and shopkeepers, distribution, and there and is retail.a strong networkA US case of community commissioned the work which began in pertinent subject is the tension beinggroups, organisations,study ‘Growing and businesses Power’ interested is an in good, inspirational sustainably produced April 2010. Who Feeds Bristol? looks at caused by the growth of multiple foodfood. example of an urban social how the food we eat makes it onto our retail chains and their impact on the It also shows enterprise;many opportunities and for ‘Growing improvement. Communities’ These relate to inefficiency of plates and at the businesses that are whole food production and supply system.the food systemis ain comparableterms of energy use enterprise and carbon emissions,in Hackney, irreversible depletion of soil, water aquifers, biodiversity, mature rainforests, fossil fuels and involved, most of them behind the scenes, BBC’s Panorama programme found London. Creating a ‘food garden city’ and essential minerals such as phosphates, and adverse impacts for health from poor in feeding the one million of us living in that in 2004 the ‘big four’ (Asda, Tesco,quality food, gettingand for the more health andpeople welfare cooking of workers mealsand animals. from Fisheries are the ‘Bristol city region’ (Bristol, Bath & NE Morrisons, Sainsbury’s) owned 19 storesalso at risk, althoughscratch this using has not fresh been covered ingredients in the report. is part of a , S , N Somerset). in the West of , and by 2010 thisIt advocates anfood approach culture known transformation as ‘Food Systems Planning’ that the in order Bristol to build a The purpose is to understand some of the had risen to 76. There are approximatelyfood culture forFood the cityNetwork that has theis wellhealth placed of people toand lead. planet at its heart. strengths and vulnerabilities of our food 180 independent shops that supply a supply in order to inform the development decent range of staple food items left in Transform Safeguard of a resilient food plan for both Bristol and Bristol, owned by 140 businesses Bristol’s diversity of the Bristol city region, which will be led by (a few are chains). food culture food retail Support the new Bristol Food Policy Council. There is a rich resource of local community Safeguard food land producers and food businesses who enterprise for food What’s in the report & who is it aimed at? models supply a wide range of staple food Food systems The report investigates food production, items in and around the Bristol city planning processing, distribution, retail, catering region, but we may be approaching Increase process Increase and waste; it also looks at local food markets urban food a tipping point on the high street if for local food production supply and community food activities. All attention is not given to maintaining producers & distribution these components have strengths and and in some cases re-establishing a weak-nesses that either contribute to or Protect key Redistribute more diverse mosaic of food businesses. infrastructure recycle & detract from sustainability (capacity to for local food Overall, the report provides an optimistic supply food waste endure) and resilience (capacity to cope picture for Bristol and the city region in and recover from adversity) of the food terms of valuable ‘building blocks’ which system. The report is highly readable are currently (still) in place. The main The knowledgeConclusions in the report, and and what suggestions it tells us about actions for action needed, can now with plenty of visual information. Case be used by everyone who cares about good food. Work has been progressing challenges are to retain them and to: Cities generate potentially valuable studies illustrate different ways of building behind the scenes to establish Bristol’s new Food Policy Council. This will be a resources for food production in resilience. It provides a ‘whole picture’ n Increase the amount of fresh seasonalsmall group of committed individuals with expertise and local experience relating to food production,significant preparation, amounts distribution eg and heat, retail. energyUnder the and chairmanship of and shows how the different components staple food items available through a Professor Kevinorganic Morgan waste. from Cardiff A ‘foodUniversity, systems the Food planning’Policy Council will help interconnect and impact on each other wide range of markets drive change. The aim is to make Bristol a city where eating and celebrating process would enable Bristol to build a – crucial to making good policy, strategy n Ensure that more staple food items aresustainably produced, healthy food becomes something that everyone is proud to green economy with food at its heart in and planning decisions; also relevant to produced closer to urban areas. be part of. To keep informeda way about that the builds huge range a mutually of grassroots supportive projects, policy initiatives, The role of Bristol Food Network – re-events, and businessrelationship development between work going the on city across and Bristol its you can sign up for Bristol’s ‘Local Food Update’ by visiting http://www.bristollocalfood.co.uk/ skilling and creating a ‘food garden city’ hinterland. This approach could provide exciting new economic, environmental The Peak Oil report asks if Bristol could be and social benefits as well as supporting 50% self-sufficient in fruit and vegetables. development of a more resilient food Calculations based on potential land system. It would also enable Bristol to available suggest that Bristol as a city become a truly ‘Green Capital’. could produce perhaps around 16% of its annual fruit and vegetable requirements Joy is keen to hear comments and (between 4% and 5% on allotments alone). feedback [email protected] The South West has the greatest concentration of organic producers of anywhere in the UK, with 38% of England’s organic producers, and 1.9 million hectares of organically farmed land 3 bristol(over 10% of the UK’s total). lo cal food update · may–june 2011 Vegetable production in the South West makes up around 6% of Great Britain’s production. The main are potatoes, cauliflower, swedes, brassicas, carrots, parsnips and celeriac (3). There is some production of cider apples and soft fruit, but less than there was fifty years ago. The topography in much of the region restricts farm scale, and in some areas livestock production is the only feasible land use option. Because of this a network of large and small abattoirs has survived. The vegetable area in the SW has declined as the growth of multiple retail chains has driven need for consolidation. This has favoured the larger scale farm businesses in East Anglia, where packing capability is now concentrated. Estimates for the area of agricultural land needed to feed a city range from 0.2 hectares to 0.5 hectares per person [4]. This means that land area needed for supplying staple foods for the City would extend well across the sub region and into Wales [5]. Allotments and city food growing could produce several thousand tonnes of produce, with cash value of several million pounds, in addition to the recreational and educational benefits. Wholesale and distribution

There are 160 food distribution/wholesale facilities registered in the . Major retail chains have their regional distribution centres close to the M4 and M5 motorways. Within Bristol, the distribution and wholesale facilities are clustered mainly in St Philips, and at Avonmouth/Royal Portbury.

Sources: 3 Liz Bowles English Food and Farming Partnership, (research for Who Feeds Bristol) 4 Fairlie S. Can Britain Feed Itself? The Land 4 Winter 2007-8 p18-26 http://transitionculture.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/CanBritain.pdf 5 Geofutures GIS tools. Food footprints: re-localising UK food supply July 2009 http://www.geofutures.com/2009/07/food-fooprints-re-localising-uk-food-supply/ Helping people to grow their own Alex Dunn

This year SusWot are hoping to persuade We also want to show people that it is of the potting up, getting our experts to people in Westbury-on-Trym that they possible to grow your own. Many people show newcomers what to do. We will not can grow some of their own food. To do have lost touch with growing things and be giving away the plants to begin with this SusWot aim to raise and distribute the project may be a way to give people but selling them for about 30p to cover about 1,000 tomato plants and help some confidence to try growing more in all our costs. This is so that people will people grow them and get some real the future. We are particularly keen to help value them at least a bit, but it is not a home grown food for themselves. the old and the young. The old so that they prohibitive price. feel involved in the community; the young SusWot (Sustainable Westbury-on-Trym) We have found some people who have so that they can see that it is possible to is group of local people looking at the gardens where there is space to grow ‘grow your own’. issues of climate change and diminishing things but they don’t have the time or fossil fuel reserves. We are trying to adapt The project began by finding people with energy to do so. We hope to grow things in the ways in which we travel, eat, work suitable windowsills or , who some of these places and possibly in parts and consume and in the process create could grow tomatoes from seed and get of the village. We will be attending various a happier, healthier, more sustainable them to grow a few hundred seedlings events in Westbury to distribute the plants and closer-knit community. We are not each. We are now, Easter, at the stage of especially the monthly Produce Market linked to any political party, but aim to potting these seedlings on from their seed that takes place on the fourth Saturday of be inclusive of everyone. You can find our trays to individual pots and the final stage the month at the Doctors’ Surgery in the website at http://suswot.wordpress.com/ will be to find people to grow the plants village. If you live in Westbury and would our strapline is ‘living more using less’. and eat the tomatoes. like a or have neighbours who might, There are many similar groups now in please get in touch. We found enough people by leafleting Bristol. around the village. About a dozen people Success will be people eating tomatoes Alex Dunn had the idea for a project to offered their services. The oldest, Norman they have grown, knowing their grow tomatoes. Originally he wanted Walters, is 92 and has two greenhouses neighbours a bit better and doing a little everyone in Westbury to grow a plant, and a helper who is a very keen . bit for the planet. A big success would but was persuaded to start a bit smaller The seeds were obtained from be seeing people growing more for so rather than 15,000 we are trying to www.nutsncones.co.uk/ which meant we themselves next year. grow 1,000. Growing tomatoes is a very could get about 1,500 seeds for less than If you want to learn more you can contact natural thing for SusWot to do. It scores £50 of various varieties including Sungold, us at [email protected], where we on several points. By growing our own we an F1 hybrid. People had enough compost may have some cheap tomato plants, or are reducing Westbury’s carbon footprint. to start the seeds. Pots for potting on if you have local produce you wish to sell By ‘growing together’ we are trying to draw were not a problem as people seem to you could ask about a stall at the produce the community together and get people have literally hundreds of unused ones market. We are part of the Getting Growing doing things together, perhaps even help in their sheds and were keen to ‘donate’ Bristol Trail where some large tomato in each other’s gardens. Eating fresh home them. And we got about a ton of compost plants are likely to be available at a very grown produce is healthier than eating from the parks department of the council reasonable price. commercially grown food, at the very least for £16. So each plant will work out at it is fresher, and the exercise involved in about 10p each. We are having a potting- Alex Dunn [email protected] growing things is also beneficial. on day on Easter Monday to do the bulk http://suswot.wordpress.com/

4 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Eat well, cook well, shop well On the web… A new project started this year in Bristol The new food movement: politics and pleasure digest: The emergent movements around the politics of food are a vital component of debates on the planet’s future. www.opendemocracy.net/geoff- andrews/new-food-movement-politics- and-pleasure

Subsidies and the ‘True cost of food’ digest: The divide between farmer and consumer is widened when government subsidies favour large corporate farm businesses and mono-cropping. The excess produced is shipped around the world, reducing the ability of small, unsubsidized farmers to survive. http://openideo.com/open/localfood/ inspiration/subsidies-and-the-true- cost-of-food-/

Sustainable farming can feed the world? digest: The oldest and most common dig We really are what we eat – wherever we dishes, ready meals and takeaways, which against organic agriculture is that it cannot are when we eat it. This highly practical many of the prisoners report buying. They feed the world’s citizens; this, however, is course has been running at Horfield are designed for easy replication at home, a supposition, not a fact. increasing the chances that knowledge Prison since January 2011 and aims to http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes. and skills gained are cascaded down to improve food choice both in prison and com/2011/03/08/sustainable-farming/ on release. other family members. The nutritionally analysed and costed recipes are included It has been developed and organised by Perennial crops, : in a resource pack for each participant Nutritionist Sue Baic and Bev Campbell, A 21st century green revolution along with a copy of the Eatwell Plate, tips a Food Technology teacher in a Bristol for healthy eating and shopping, and a digest: A “fifty year farm bill” proposed school. Sue delivers the theory component certificate of attendance. to Congress, aims to perennialize the of the 4 session course and Bev the American farmscape. practical cooking element. The programme Each course consists of two sessions http://planetsave.com/2011/03/09/ runs for 6 months and will accommodate on healthy eating and shopping, based perennial-crops-sustainable-agriculture- 120 participants in total. Mark Haddow, around the Food Standards Agency Eatwell a-21st-century-green-revolution/ catering manager at the prison, provides plate and two practical cooking sessions the ingredients for the course, by using designed to apply the theory learned in Interview with David Waltner-Toews on the prisoners’ lunch allowance for that the previous healthy eating session. At the radiation in Japanese food day. Mark says “It helps the prisoners end of the cooking session participants realise how easy healthy cooking is and share the food they have cooked and digest: High levels of radiation have how to make positive changes to their discuss with the group any points raised been found in some vegetables, milk, and eating habits”. during session. even tap water in Northeast Japan due to radiation leaks from Fukushima. This initiative was inspired by research Empowering and motivating prisoners to http://blogs.worldwatch.org/ showing that diet affects not only physical improve their food choices while inside, nourishingtheplanet/david-waltner- health but also mental health, including and when they leave (many are not serving toews-japan-radition-food-spinach-milk- behaviour, mood and concentration. long sentences), provides the foundation iodine-131-world-health-organization- Research on young adult prisoners has for dietary behaviour change and better food-sex-and-salmonella-fukushima- shown they often choose poor diets which health. power-plant-earthquake-tsunami- could adversely affect behaviour both in So far the course has been very well agriculture/ prison and on the outside. received by the prisoners who report The sessions explore the basic principles enjoying it, gaining new knowledge and The coming global food fight of a healthy diet and how to put that skills and making many beneficial changes digest: Food prices around the world are learning into practice in real life. to their diets in prison which they hope to surging. Between July of last year and Participants – ten per course – learn in continue on the outside. this January alone, the price of wheat has groups how to prepare straightforward, doubled. When prices go up even a bit, FFI [email protected] healthy meals using basic equipment millions more people starve. [email protected] and affordable ingredients. The recipes www.energybulletin.net/ provide alternatives to high fat & high salt stories/2011-03-24/coming-global-food- fight

5 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 05210-tcf-1x3mbanner.pdf 26/8/09 11:23:51 CSA news The Community Farm who might be, all our membership The Community Farm welcomed over 100 information is on our blog and forms can of our investors on Saturday 9 April. In be also be downloaded from it here: the morning 30 volunteers helped with http://simshillsharedharvest.wordpress. weeding, digging and brassica removal com/membership-information/ and then shared a hearty lunch of soup, bread and cheese. In the afternoon we Sims Hill growers update welcomed more investors for tours of the It is all starting to happen, horticulturally farm led by Phil Haughton, Andy Dibben, speaking! We have been sowing more Ben Raskin and John English. Everyone seeds in the polytunnel in town: squash, was interested in seeing what was already cucumbers, lettuce, and runner beans. going on and hearing about plans for the Spring and salad onions, leaf beet and future – there was a lot of sunshine and beetroot are ready to plant out. The even more smiles with everyone feeling great to be a part of this innovative Sims Hill Shared Harvest tomatoes have been potted on. In the field, the broad beans are up as are a project. Spring is here (or is it summer already?) few of the potatoes planted on our last After that we were lucky enough to be and we have been very busy on the community workday (Please visit the blog taken on a short tractor/trailer ride to a smallholding! (see below). to see our pictures of our recent work site overlooking Chew Valley lake where days.) The leeks are just starting to show, Our work days are every 2nd and 4th we sat in an impressive tipi and heard and our 10,000 onions should do too any Saturday of the month, and everyone is from David Hunter (Chair of the Board), day. The first transplants have just gone in welcome. You don’t have to be a member Luke Hasell (farmer) and Angela Raffle too, calabrese (broccoli), spring cabbage to join in, it is a great way to come and (Board member). We had a toast to all and lettuce. find out more about Sims Hill. the investors there and those who were Our new workshares have been a great unable to join us (we have 410 investors) We are looking for more members though help to our growers in getting all this and we also had tea and cakes! Luke’s and have not yet reached our capacity done, including David doing cultivations extended family generously donated of 50 full shares for this growing season. with his tractor and more recently letting our first apple for the orchard and some We are expecting to start harvesting veg us use his watertank trailer. In addition commemorative tools in recognition of shares at end of June/beginning of July, to the potato planting, a large and the generations of their families who have assuming we get some rain... Our strategy enthusiastic group of people helped to lay been involved in farming in the area. for inviting people to join has changed in our hedge, which is a mix of blackthorn, from running our own open meetings to Investors Caroline Shipsey said ‘You hawthorn, crab apple, roses, and elder. looking to join in with existing events and really made me feel as though I am part of It will in time keep the larger wildlife in encouraging people to come and see the the farm’ and Anne and Mike Dixon said the area out of the vegetables, provide site for themselves. Along this line we ‘Thank you to everyone for a lovely day on ingredients for jams and jellies, encourage hosted a stall at the recent Bristol Garden Saturday. It was great to meet everyone, smaller wildlife and make the field scale a Life Show. staff and members. The team work bit more human. We have also done some weeding and planting demonstrated just Watch the blog for more events where willow coppicing and planted comfrey in what can be achieved. We’re so pleased Sims Hill will be showing up this summer, the compost field. that we chose to join’. such as the Get Growing Open Day on 11 And this is just beginning... Keep checking June, where we will open our gates to the I think everyone will agree that we had the blog for updates on our planting and public to come along and check out all the a fantastic day and all felt a part of growing progress. growing progress!. If you are interested something very special. in becoming a member or know someone simshillsharedharvest.wordpress.com www.thecommunityfarm.co.uk

Dry Arch Growers A Community Supported Agriculture scheme in Bathampton. Now is the time to get involved more regularly at the Dry Arch site. The sun is shining and the plants are ready to grow. We are now setting up volunteer days on Thursday afternoons from 3pm til dusk If you would like to discuss any and Sundays from 10.30am. If you are opportunities then you can contact 07909 interested in getting involved in any type 442006 or [email protected] of work on the land then please get in touch or just turn up on the day. www.dryarchgrowers.co.uk

6 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 BUSINESS PROFILE Essential Trading & Buying Groups Our Ruby Anniversary! n Single delivery address suitable for a supermarket) and offer an alternative to This year Essential Trading will be large HGV to deliver. rural communities who often don’t have celebrating supplying the best in n Must always be open to new members access to a good local food shop. As a co- vegetarian wholefoods, organic, Fairtrade in your area. operative you can set up a bank account in the name of the co-operative, taking away and ecological health-care & household n £250 minimum order required for the financial burden from the individual. products for forty years. delivery (or cash & carry at our Essential Trading is a Bristol-based Warehouse). To get started, click on ‘create an account’ and then ‘download application form’ it wholesale company. Our principal area We will only supply goods to Buying takes you to the pdf. of business is with retail customers. We Groups if they meet, and adhere to the are very committed with our continued guidelines within Essential Trading’s www.essential-trading.coop/Images/ support for independent local businesses. Terms of Trade. Resource%20-%20TRADE%20 However, as a co-operative we are also AGREEMENT-%20EMAIL%20VERSION.pdf concerned with promoting community Please be aware that Buying Groups will and social enterprise. Our co-operative not be created if located in the vicinity Or call us on 0845 458 0201 for a paper roots and beliefs have forged our identity of any businesses that we supply. It is at copy and an Essential catalogue. within the whole-food industry for (very Essential Trading Co-operative’s discretion Hotline to new business advisor: 0117 nearly) four decades. Within this time our whether any new Buying Group accounts 9430 812, [email protected] will be activated. Every co-operative business has grown in many directions – Please contact us at any time if you have Buying Group application will be dealt one of which is the supply of Food Buying any questions about your account. Groups. with on their individual merits. Because we strive to support independent retailers, We are pleased to offer our customers we may suggest that you contact them an ever-expanding range of over 6000 first. It’s always worth asking your local products from sustainable charcoal to retailer what they can offer you on bulk- dairy-free chocolate, from Fairtrade rice buying. Failing that, we may then put you to sprouting mixes – and the sprouting in touch with any existing Buying Groups trays to boot! Our own brand contains no in your area. Special offer! modifiers, artificial colours or flavours, We have been offering a 15% discount guaranteed free from GMOs – and we Common Questions on the first order, when you set up a minimise (or eliminate) sugar and salt Q What is a Consumer/Food Buying Group? Food Buying Group with us. Initially wherever possible. All of our range is A A group of individuals, pooling time, offered to members of the ‘Local vegetarian and we offer vegan and other money and resources to buy food in Action on Food’ network, we’d like to ‘free from’ alternatives wherever possible. bulk. extend this offer to readers ofBristol’s Our catalogue and on-line pricelist local food update newsletter. To claim clearly flag such products for these more Q Why set up a Food Buying Group? your discount please quote ‘LAF2010 specialised diets. To browse our product A Bearing in mind that we don’t just sell 15%’ to the person taking your initial list or to find out more about us please food, we have over 6000 products order – or if ordering online put visit our website: all at wholesale prices, an order from LAF201015% in the comments box. www.essential-trading.coop us, topped up with a veg box, could eliminate the use of any supermarket. If you would like any further In brief the requirements of a Buying information please call our New Group are: Buying Groups bring together like-minded Business desk on 0117 9430812, or the people, strengthening the community, Sales Team on 0117 9430800. n Four households or more in the group. whether in a rural village or inner city n Payment on delivery by cheque or prior estate. Buying Groups can help to reduce www.essential-trading.co.uk to delivery by credit/debit card. car miles (e.g. fewer car trips to the

Care Farming and CSA Grand get together for CSAs CSA conference 4 May 2011 in the South West Farming Together: Worcestershire 12pm Fri 20 May–5pm Sat 21 May The Future of CSA in the UK This event is for CSAs interested in Embercombe, Higher Aston, 16 September 2011 working with adults or children with Exeter EX6 7QT Bristol support needs including drug and alcohol There will be a range of practical CSA Elizabeth Henderson, American CSA farmer use, school exclusion, disability or mental workshops and social time in this for over 20 years and author of Sharing the health issues. beautiful setting. It includes an overnight Harvest, will be our keynote speaker. www.soilassociation.org/ stay in the fantastic yurts at Embercombe. www.soilassociation.org/Shop/Item/ Events/tabid/940/vw/3/ www.soilassociation.org/ tabid/533/CategoryID/16/List/1/ ItemID/868/d/20110504/Default.aspx Events/tabid/940/vw/3/ Level/a/productid/40/Default.aspx Soil Association CSA events events CSA Association Soil ItemID/805/d/20120520/Default.aspx

7 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 BUSINESS PROFILE Food @ The Space The Space – beyond a shop Food @ The Space – beyond a food group I’m Emma Winfield and I run The Natural My initial motivation was to bring high Building Store in the Old Post Office on quality food at affordable prices to the Chessel Street in Southville. I opened local area and to support local producers my business having discovered, during and businesses to keep more money in eco-building volunteering and training the local economy rather than sending experiences, how difficult it was to access it off to supermarket head offices. My quality DIY products and independent aim was to find a workable model to advice on eco building and retrofitting. coordinate bulk buying for up to 200 Following a year’s involvement in setting households in and around the shop. up Transition Bristol and Transition BS3 Without the money to simply stock the I also wanted to reorient my efforts shelves, I needed a community model. Unpackaged, London towards creating a localised, community- First I looked into the two existing local focused, viable, debt-free business that food groups but soon discovered that and more for bulk items, with any surplus could help people learn about, and neither group felt it feasible or desirable being saved up for new projects – we’re implement, sustainable changes to their to grow beyond their existing size of currently saving for a fridge and freezer to homes and lifestyles. Beyond this, I 10–15 households. Because the usual offer more local fresh produce. wanted to do more in my local community, model (see Essential article) involves each getting to know more people and finding member taking a turn to coordinate the Future plans – beyond packaging ways to meet more of our needs locally. orders, payments, delivery and collection, The long term goal for the project is to once a group gets beyond this size it can move beyond the need to order in advance I started with a stall at the Tobacco Factory become unworkable. When I explained and to offer food for members to buy in- Market then moved into a shared space to Essential and the local groups that I store anytime, at the discount prices. From in the Old Post Office, later taking on the wanted to create a food project that could dried and tinned goods to food oils and whole premises. I had always known that serve up to 200 households they helped fresh food such as Mark’s Bread, and Sims I wanted to find a way to run the main highlight the constraints and crunch Hill Shared Harvest surplus, the aim will business, The Natural Building Store, points of the current set-up so I could be to offer everything without packaging, and continue and expand the not-for- devise a new solution that would avoid to be weighed out and put into members’ profit Bristol Green Store, but now with these – removing the need for members own pots, bottles and bags. Members will the corner store gone and a large shop to do the admin, collect payments, also be able to volunteer in the shop in space I wanted to extend this into a organise deliveries and divide up the exchange for credits towards their own community project offering free space order was going to be vital to making this purchases. The inspiration for this came hire, community discussions, project work, and, working with a member from from the Green Tucker co-op shop I used to support and an alternative ‘corner shop’ an existing food group, we came up with use in Sydney (www.greentucker.org.au) option for people living in The Chessels the online shopping model we now use. and Catherine’s fabulous Unpackaged (the area around the shop) that would fit Food @ The Space is open to all local (www.beunpackaged.com) in London – a with the overall sustainability ethos. I set households in and around The Chessels, place where you can refill everything from up The Space to ‘house’ these projects and membership is £5/year – members olive oil and balsamic vinegar to piccalilli separately from the main business, (which place orders monthly using our online and cider! In order to make this happen we provides resources, the space and my shop and collect their order, (packaged need to build the existing group up to the time free of charge), to provide clarity for them), the following week. Prices are full 200+ and then we can move towards and transparency about the not-for-profit a minimum saving of 10% off retail prices, our unpackaged dream. status and the local focus. Join up – beyond thinking ;) I’ve spent the past week dismantling the old Post Office counter office to make room for the food group shop, so all that’s needed now to bring our own ‘unpackaged’ shop to life are more lovely local members ;) If you’re interested in joining in, call in to the shop to sign up, collect details of the online shop and get going with your first order!

Emma Winfield [email protected] The Space, BS3 is a not-for-profit run within, and fully supported by, The Natural Building Store, The Old Post Office, 109–111 Chessel Street, Bristol BS3 3DQ www.bristolgreenstore.co.uk

8 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 council news A view from Kristin Sponsler As the ‘grassroots representative’ on the Bristol Food Conference new Bristol Food Policy Council, I have Speakers community hubs for food delivery/ been asked to sum up what I got from the collection points. Celebrate food culture Conference, and to introduce myself. The conference was a very lively and as means to educate people to think and inspirational event. Our brilliant speakers I’ve been involved in food work in Bristol act more with their purchasing power. were recorded and will be uploaded for 3 years via Transition Bristol and as Find ways of utilizing existing transport on to YouTube, alongside recordings a member of the Bristol Food Network. networks. Support for small producers from members of the new Bristol Food I’m continually impressed and inspired including joint marketing e.g. single Policy Council. More news from this new by the range of amazing projects going trustworthy generic brand. group, who are meeting in May, in the on in Bristol and will do my best to keep next newsletter. To watch Barbara Janke: Tackling food waste Viable system the opportunities which these present, http://youtu.be/nl9uMzG5eDY needed of capturing food waste from as well as the barriers to their success in around city to recover energy and improve front of the Food Policy Council. At the Joy Carey launched her research report soil condition. Better food surplus re- Bristol Food Conference Wayne Roberts, Who Feeds Bristol? (Aston University want distribution e.g. expand Fareshare. More the recently retired manager of the Toronto to use this report as part of their new initiatives in schools. Tax incentives for Food Policy Council, described its mission course on local food systems ‘Practical commercial catering to prevent waste. as follows: The Toronto Food Policy Council Strategies For Local Food’. For more Publicise food waste data. partners with business and community information: Jayne Bradley, Sense City groups to develop policies and programs 07970 730646 / [email protected] or Improving the regulation of food promoting . Our aim is a food Karen Leach, Localise WM 0121 685 1155 / Bristol City Council to retailing in the city system that fosters equitable food access, [email protected]). carry out Retail Area Character Appraisals, nutrition, community development and similar to Conservation Area appraisals, This year’s food champion was Bridget environmental health. providing more detailed information Carter, school cook at Waycroft School, on the character of our retail areas and I think that this succinctly sums up what Stockwood. She described her work and what makes them special. Potential to I hope the Bristol Food Policy Council can invited some of the school children to the designate areas for local traders. help achieve. It was very inspirational stage to say a few words. to hear both Wayne and Lori Stalhbrand Helping people develop skills for food talk about their work, which included so Speed tables growing and preparation Start young, many innovative ideas and examples for start simple, start where people are The notes from the discussion tables will achieving practical results on the ground. at. Make it attractive and enjoyable. be posted on our new City Council website One example which really spoke to me Create visual reminders that change the later in the summer, but if anyone wants was the Good Food Box, which makes image of what is normal food. Connect to see them now, they can be emailed. top-quality, fresh food available in a way up the existing resources. Web forum Just to give a flavour I’ve picked out a few that does not stigmatize people, fosters where people can ask questions. Protect notes and comments from each topic. community development and promotes land for food growing and create more healthy eating. I was also inspired by all Growing food in the City Lots of rationale edible landscape including on roofs. the passion and energy of the people who for local food growing and a need to Intergenerational skills share. I shared the table discussions with. I have access land even if on a temporary basis. Land use planning for food growing been asked to ensure that all the feedback More connectivity needed whether Innovative local use for temporary and from these discussions gets captured for consumers/producers, landowners/ derelict sites, more city centre use of the first Food Policy Council meeting. foodgrowers or skill-providers/learners. edible green roof tops. Need register of On 12 April the Bristol Food Network Barriers identified and challenged e.g. potential sites available for food growing. (BFN) hosted a very well-attended and need more positive sign-up from Tree Planning policy for green roofs. More focus successful meeting to discuss how BFN Bristol for edible landscape in city. on Section 106 providing food growing can continue to support and encourage Sustainable food in the food & drink space. Protect high grade agricultural community food groups in Bristol, despite sector The issues included awareness land. Local sustainable food a thread not winning Lottery funding. The outcomes raising for consumers, role of city council through all plans, projects, reports and of this meeting will also feed into the first in providing support including funding for monitoring arrangements. Assess the Food Policy Council meeting on 10 May. schools to raise catering standards, tax true value of land to include contribution The words of one of the attendees sums incentives to support local businesses and to health & wellbeing, biodiversity and up my hopes for the Food Policy Council natural ecosystem services. food footprint labelling. well: I suspect that in getting together to talk on a regular basis, we build a network, Making sustainable food accessible share ideas and strengthen the will. What Identify key areas of the city to work in and Food previously seemed impossible becomes devise location appropriate solutions e.g. The food at the conference was local or possible when you’ve seen that other food co-ops, home deliveries, greengrocer organic or Fairtrade and occasionally 2 of people have already done it. van. Launch advertising campaign that these. We hope to put Bridget’s recipes on good food is not only for the rich. Build on our food website but for those who missed Between us all we can hopefully make existing initiatives. Encourage community the scrumptious chocolate cheesecake, the Bristol Food Policy Council a powerful shops. Engage planning system. the recipe is included in the newsletter. tool for positive change in Bristol. If your group has suggestions for the Bristol Helping independent food producers Dorothy Greaves Food Policy Council please email me on find routes to market Network existing [email protected]

9 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 council news Food Interest Group profiles no.6 Steve Marriott, Sustainability manager, Sustainable City Group

Conservation Group. This was a way of managing the large areas of open space in Patchway and Little Stoke. The group still remains active today and I occasionally go out to check on the many trees (including fruit trees) and wild flowers we planted during that time. This group still exists and is now heavily involved in promoted the Taste of agenda. Dorothy Greaves Sustainability advisor, During my time with Woodspring District Council 1991–2004 (later to become North Sustainable City Group Somerset Council) my job titles went My work in the City Council touches on through Recycling Officer, Environment all aspects of sustainable food, often Officer and Local Agenda 21 Officer. Again supporting and building on what’s working with the community we set up the already out there, courtesy of the I am currently the Sustainability Manager Local Agenda 21 Group, extraordinary range of food interests for the City Council and have been with the which helped to give strategic direction in Bristol. My contribution towards this Council since 2004. for district planning whilst encouraging newsletter, including developing the I came to the council with a solid local community projects at the same circulation list and mailing out, means background of environmental and time. This now goes under the title of I often hear brilliant news at a very sustainability experience working with TENONS – The Environmental Network early stage. There’s always so much North Somerset Council, Northavon Of North Somerset. With the farming and of interest ready to surface and the District Council (now part of South community food sector we also set up newsletter is an increasingly important Gloucestershire Council) and before that Taste of North Somerset and way of keeping everyone in the loop. with County Council. Farmers Market. These were direct The annual Bristol Food Conference economic interventions to help develop Some of the key highlights of my career is another great networking the markets for local food. Many of the have been around supporting community opportunity and this year, thanks to producers are still supplying Farmers initiatives. I still have great memories Prof Kevin Morgan we had 2 stunning Market today and it is great they maintain of working with unemployed young international speakers, Wayne Roberts their enthusiasm for local/direct sales. people in Hartcliffe and Withywood on and Lori Stahlbrand from Toronto, Dundry Slopes, improving access to the When I moved to Bristol the Food Links Canada. Notes from the conference, hillside for local people and carrying out network was strong and well supported including discussion groups with their landscape improvements there. We also by Voscur. However when the funding focus on the findings of ‘Who Feeds made forays to places like Eastwood Farm, ceased, support for the network also Bristol?’ will be used to help inform Brislington and the current Riding For the stopped and it has taken time to start to the work of the Food Policy Council. Disabled Site in Henbury to open up these develop some sense of co-ordination in As a member of the City Council’s Food sites ready for new teams of young people the city. The people who have strived to Interest Group, I’m also part of various to start work. This was around 1979 to 1981 hold things together through the Bristol smaller task groups set up to support and was just prior to the development of Food Network must be thanked for this a range of activities from increasing Hartcliffe City Farm. and it is a real shame their efforts for the level of food growing in the city to developing the Dig Bristol Project was Food issues started to come into play raising the health and environmental not rewarded by a successful lottery during my time at Northavon District standards of food purchased by the application. Council. Having been lucky enough to go public purse. The City Council adopted along to a presentation by Bill Morrison I have great respect for the energy, a Food Charter and Food Standards to on permaculture at St Werburghs City Farm creativity, commitment of the people and create the basic framework for all of I started to think about opportunities to organisations involved in sustainable this and details can be found in www. diversify the sterile planning schemes food projects in the city. However to move bristol.gov.uk/food. I usually keep this around and Thornbury and bought forward to achieve a sustainable future food website reasonably up to date in threatened species of traditional apple for the city means a huge shift from where but colleagues are busy upgrading the trees to try to protect the diversity of we are now. With the formation of the entire City Council website so very few traditional English apples. I also worked Food Policy Council I believe have now changes are possible until later in the with community groups to protect and created a mechanism that brings together summer, when work is complete. harvest remaining on public the people and organisations that can I’ve a long list of aspirations around space, particularly in . collectively bring about this change. I will food development in the city so will do my best to help this happen. At that time I also worked with Patchway hopefully be catching up with many of Parish Council to help set up the Patchway Steve Marriott 0117 922 4462 you in the not too distant future.

[email protected]

10 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Interesting projects

Planting justice Planting Justice works to empower youth to resist the corporate- controlled and toxic industrial food system and become young leaders in the burgeoning urban food justice movement. Using a self-developed Food Justice and Culinary Arts curriculum, Planting Justice leads a weekly training programme at Mandela High School giving 25 youth of Latin-American, African-American, and Asian-American descent the opportunity to engage in sustainable practices of that promote community health, re-connect students to nature through food, and expand access to fresh produce in this under-served urban community.

www.energybulletin.net/ Coexist Community Kitchen stories/2011-04-13/local-acts- resistance-counter-global-systems- Coexist, the thriving community hub in community. The aim is to be neither domination Stokes Croft has recently set in motion restaurant nor cookery school but to be a www.plantingjustice.org/ plans for a new community kitchen. unique multifunctional food hub in which Coexist has spent the last two years anything can happen. rejuvenating the unused office building, The kitchen is to be built on the site of Hamilton House into a sustainable centre the old office canteen and already has for the local community. Coexist already some of the services necessary to realise provides a vast range of services and next its potential. Coexist are now in the on the agenda is a multi-use community process of raising funds for the project, kitchen. they have already launched an internet The Coexist Community Kitchen will crowdfunding campaign and plans are in be a professional kitchen to support a the pipeline for a pop up banquet with variety of educational and enterprising fine dining and live entertainment. Watch functions. From classes on how to this space. source and cook good food through to a Cape Town’s food garden If you would like to be involved in this catering standard kitchen where small unique and exciting opportunity, please The Philippi Area in Cape businesses will be able to thrive and get in touch at [email protected] or Town, South Africa is a 1,300 acre grow, all at an affordable price. Coexist for more information on the community section of farmland surrounded by are planning to create a platform so that kitchen check out our IndieGoGo site at concrete. With suburbs and city on the wealth of Bristol food organisations www.indiegogo.com/Coexist- all sides, large-scale farms in the and local charities can interact, network Community-Kitchen area cultivate more than 50% of the and share with each other and the local fresh produce consumed by the Cape Town. But the farmland is also home to hundreds of families living in metal shacks in illegal settlements. And the area is critical habitat for hundreds of species of migrating birds during the winter months. Small-scale farming is being promoted as a solution to many problems: to food security, unemployment, and environmental protection – through developing a ‘culture of agriculture’.

www.energybulletin.net/ stories/2011-04-08/agriculture- concrete-solution-cape- town%E2%80%99s-food-garden

11 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Following the Plot no.6 Keith Cowling

The hot weekend in early April pushed of loo rolls filled with soil are also great planted out at the same time as the bean the growing season forward dramatically for this. Keep the sown seeds in a warm seeds, so germinate them soon after the and got allotmenteers pulling out place and once the root is well developed, corn goes out. watering cans and hoses. Early sowings cover with more compost. As soon as Native American systems of brassicas and beans came bursting green shoots show, move plants into the vary slightly but a common approach is out of the ground, broccoli sprouted and light. Members of the cucurbit family, to plant several corn plants (seeds in the over-winter lettuces began to heart- the squashes, courgettes, pumpkins and North America) on a small mound and sow up. Unless you are running late, all the cucumbers, all benefit from a similar the bean seeds around the edges of the spring veg should now be sown. With treatment. The large flat seeds should be mound about 20cms away. The mounds these early plantings growing away, the soaked or rinsed daily until shoots appear are spaced about a metre apart and the plot holders’ thoughts need to turn to and then moved to pots. squash plants are then planted between summer vegetables. Squashes, maize and a third vegetable mounds. Last time I suggested sowing of squashes – climbing beans – are the basis of the Both corn and squashes are greedy and and sweetcorn in April, but May is not too ‘Three Sisters’ polyculture system used thirsty feeders, so will benefit from the late for these non-native species. You can by many native American farmers from addition of some nutrients to the mound save growing time by pre-germination, as Mexico to Canada. The three species have or sowing site. Home made compost is described in February’s column. Larger a symbiotic relationship and growing them particularly useful for this. Curcubits love seeds can be soaked overnight and then together can produce significant increases compost and the soil fungi that it brings. drained and washed every day, like the in the harvest. The basic idea is that Victorian market knew this small seeds, but good results are also the corn provides a trellis for the beans and liked to grow their marrows right on possible if you leave the seeds soaking to climb, the beans fix nitrogen which compost heaps. For the ‘Three Sisters’ half immersed in water. Old plastic is available to the corn and the squash system however, dig or bury a bucket takeaway cartons are quite good for this provides ground cover, suppressing of good compost or well-rotted manure as they have a channel around the edge of weeds. The system is also used by modern under each mound and cover with soil. the base. permaculturists. Place a similar but smaller amount under While seeds are germinating, prepare If you want to try this, you need to start the each squash plant at planting time. All the or buy a seed compost. The sand, loam, sweetcorn first and aim to get it into the plants will need generous watering in hot leaf mould mixture mentioned in the last ground as soon as possible after the risk dry weather but the polyculture system is column is good for this. Leave sweetcorn of frost has passed (mid May in Bristol, supposed to reduce requirements by keep seeds soaking in a warm place (a simple perhaps). The corn needs to be planted the soil shaded. propagator is great for this) until they out and left to grow on for three more As we don’t get quite the same hot sprout and then put one sprouted weeks before planting bean seeds close to summers as the continental USA, varieties seed flat (with root and shoot pointing its root system. This is because the beans are quite important. The squash needs to sideways) on the surface of a module or will grow faster than the corn once they be a trailing variety. This includes most of root trainer filled with seed soil. Centres get going. The squash plants can also be the so-called winter squashes with hard skins that store well. Courgettes are not suitable however. Grow these elsewhere. Most climbing french and runner beans will fit well in the polyculture, except that sweetcorn varieties for growing in UK gardens are usually smaller than their American counterparts, so many varieties of climbing beans will grow to twice their height. It’s hard to get advice on a short climbing bean but you could look around. Otherwise just leave the beans to flop over and grow up the next stalk. A more interesting option would be to use some of the American corn varieties, available from Jungle Seeds for example, which can grow up to 10 feet and which come in a range of bright colours. These may need some frost protection in a cold September however, to crop fully.

Keith Cowling · [email protected] Ashley Vale Allotments Association www.ashleyvaleallotmentsassociation. org/index.php

12 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Recycled ‘Vegetable Cube’ Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe from the Bristol Food Conference

20 minutes prep, 2 hours to chill and set

rises from the Plot Base Richard Spalding 250g/9oz vegan biscuits (most are, just check labels) I certainly feel more alive at this time decking boards, squeezed some pallets 140g/5oz vegan margarine, melted of year and have just spent a couple of between the steel uprights and generally days beginning to fulfil what is probably made it up as I went along. The structural Filling a male impulse to build a food space of framework of walls and floor is mostly 1 level tsp Agar flakes plus my own. Somewhere to sit surrounded done and the next job is cladding. 225ml/8fl oz water 200g/7oz plain chocolate by a sense of permanence, my own deep The roof apes the 14th Century Barn at 1 tbsp of golden syrup rooted-ness with this wonderful soil Court Farm, Winterbourne less than a 8oz silken tofu beneath. mile from here, although it is doubtful The building has been in my head for that my own little barn will stand such a 1 Mix the crushed biscuits with the a few years now and started to emerge test of time. The Medieval barn has seen margarine. Put into a greased cake tin when I drove some scaffolding poles profound changes in the agricultural (preferably with a removable bottom, into the deep red soil to allow the cube economy which currently stands at a or else line the base with greaseproof to sit lightly on the earth. Some of my crossroads of indecision. Do we continue paper) and pat down firmly. with global agri-business or can we inspiration came from Michael Pollan’s 2 Make the Agar flakes up with the begin to build a new agri-culture based wonderful book, A Place of my Own-the water and heat in a saucepan, on our own food and place solutions architecture of daydreams. The author whisking vigorously to dissolve. Once at local level? Colin Tudge’s new book describes his working with architects, the flakes have completely dissolved, Good Food for Everyone Forever offers planners and carpenters to design and set aside. craft a writing space in his New England yet more thoughts as he calls for a more garden. enlightened agriculture to secure a well 3 Meanwhile blend the silken tofu until fed human population into the future. completely smooth and creamy – to In my ‘old England’ allotment progress on get rid of any grainy consistency. the structure has actually gained pace this I know all of this musing (and philosophising) isn’t getting the veg spring even though my efforts were met 4 Melt the chocolate and blend again growing, but it is so exciting to see what with the tofu and golden syrup and with the usual grumpiness…“what are you can be done with some recycled materials agar mixture. doing, building a dog house?”…“when are and a box of decking screws. The veg can you moving in?” Little did they know what 5 Pour on top of the biscuit base. wait, but not for too much longer as the plans were afoot. If only I could find time nights shorten. I will report back on my 6 Chill for 2 hours. to finish it all off. I bought lots of nails, ‘dog house’ project once the roof is on but scavenged ALL of the other materials and appropriate furnishings are in place! Ingredient sourcing in true recycling spirit. I put a hatch in the floor to keep by tea-making stuff, used old [email protected] Small quantities can be bought from whole food shops, as appropriate. For wholesale quantities, Essential Trading in Bristol has a huge range. www.essential-trading.co.uk Agar agar flakes available from wholefood shops, e.g. Harvest, Scoopaway – or from Essential Trading (wholesale) Chocolate, plain dark (use Fairtrade to better support farmers in developing countries). Not all plain/dark chocolate is vegan. Plamil, Organica, Lidl Fairtrade Dark and Divine are all suitable brands. Silken tofu Silken organic tofu is available (Taifun brand) from wholefood shops. Oriental stores also sell silken tofu. The provenance of its soya may need to be verified to avoid buying GM etc. Organic is the best guarantee. Margarine Biona and Suma are ideal, available in wholefood shops.

http://vegetarianrecipeclub.org.uk/

13 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Grow your own casserole I first suspected that I might have trek from their homelands, when they developed a bit of a reputation, when were displaced by incoming settlers. The a woman I’d never seen before, came Bridgwater bean may not be quite so up to me at an event that wasn’t about exotic, but it’s an heirloom none-the-less. growing, and said: “I hear you’re the woman I need to talk to about beans”. How to grow climbing beans May and June are the months to get And I do grow around 30–40 varieties each your beans in the ground. For climbing year. Not your common-or-garden Runners, beans, I make a tent or wigwam of 8-foot but exotics such as Black Valentine, Mrs bamboo canes, and around each pole Fortune, Vermont Cranberry, Selma Zebra I sow 4 seeds, planting around 5cm and Ernie’s Big Eye – beans that you can’t deep. Climbing beans do not mind being buy over-the-counter. crowded, whereas dwarf beans do. You You cook home-dried beans in the same My fascination with beans started soon need at least 24 plants to get a reasonable way as commercial beans – just more after we got our allotment in 1996. In harvest for shelling. Protect your plants quickly, as the beans are fresher. Soak the Chase Organic catalogue I spotted a from slugs and snails till they are around in cold water for a minimum of 5 hours, small section of ‘beans for drying’. I knew 10cm tall. Unless it’s a very wet year, they rinse, fast boil for 10 minutes and then that my mother had always saved her should be safe from there upwards. I use simmer till done. So long as the beans own seed for re-sowing, but it had never Growing Success waterproof slug killer. It’s have dried properly, you can keep them occurred to me that in the UK climate, you harmless to birds, hedgehogs, cats, kids for years (I ate some 2005 vintage beans could grow your own casserole. So, from etc, and breaks down into the soil. But if over Christmas) – just remember to keep that season onwards, I have been trying you don’t like using slug killer, you can some back for sowing next year, with a few out as many different drying beans as I make individual cloches for your beans by spares for swapping. can, hoping possibly to find the ultimate cutting off the bottom of a plastic bottle bean, but also trying to find the varieties (take the top off so the plant doesn’t Some varieties and suppliers to try that will provide the closest thing to the expire in the heat) and placing this over Borlotti bean Available from many seed dried beans you can buy in the shops. the newly-sown seed. Remove the cloche suppliers in dwarf or climbing variants when the plant looks like it’s trying to Good varieties from Franchi, but also You won’t find many of these bean escape. from most garden centres varieties in garden centres or mainstream Haricot bean (like a Baked Bean) gardening catalogues, but I have If the weather is kind to you, then that may Brown Dutch (dwarf) accumulated many gems via Garden be all you need to do. If it’s wet, then keep Organic Gardening Catalogue Organic’s Heritage Seed Library, and an eye on snail damage. If it’s dry, then White haricot (finer than Brown Dutch) through local seed swaps. keep an eye on the watering. Blue Lake (climbing) · This is actually a What are heritage or heirloom seeds? When your beans get to the top of their great dual-purpose bean that you can poles, pinch out the growing tips, so that eat as a French bean, or wait to shell In order to sell a particular variety of seed, the plants put their energy into making Franchi, King’s seeds a seed supplier has to register that variety beans, rather than leaves. Then wait for Flagelot bean (flat, green) each year on the EU register. This costs the pods to swell. Some beans – like Soissons (climbing) money, so every year, the seed supplier Borlotti – you may like to use fresh rather Organic Gardening Catalogue will look at what is and isn’t selling, and than dried. It’s a bit of trial and error to Butter bean some varieties are dropped. If we’re know when the beans are ready – just pick Fagiolo di Spagna (climbing) · Franchi lucky, then the supplier might hand some a pod and see if the beans are turning Czar (climbing runner bean, with a seed of the seeds over to a Seed Library, so colour. If you’re more patient, leave the a bit smaller than Fagiolo di Spagna) the genetic make-up of the variety is not pods on the plants till they dry naturally Organic Gardening Catalogue lost – who knows, it might offer particular in late September/October, and pick the Kidney bean genetic quirks that we may value in dry brown pods on a dry day. I shell the Veitch’s Purple Climbing (climbing) the future – disease, pest or climate- beans, and leave them on top of a layer Heritage Seed Library resilience. Once the variety drops off the of kitchen paper in plastic trays, under a Canadian Wonder (dwarf) · King’s seeds, EU register, it’s no longer possible to buy – radiator till they dry out thoroughly. Organic Gardening Catalogue or sell – it. However, by joining a Heritage Seed Library, you may still obtain it – by How to grow dwarf beans Franchi (Seeds of Italy) paying a subscription to the Library, and www.seedsofitaly.com/ The principle is exactly the same as for receiving your seeds for free. Or at a seed climbing, but much simpler – just try to Organic Gardening catalogue swap event, you might exchange some of resist the temptation to over-crowd them, www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/ your seeds for some new beans. and keep 15–20cm between plants and King’s seeds Heirloom seeds have been saved, and between rows. There is no need to pinch- www.kingsseeds.com/ passed-on from generation to generation. out for dwarf beans. If you have to grow Heritage seed library Their original name or provenance in pots, then dwarf beans may be better www.gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl/index.php may have been lost. The best-known is option, but bear in mind that the yield will probably Cherokee Trail of Tears, which be lower and snails may remain a problem Jane Stevenson the tribe carried with them on their long throughout the season. [email protected]

14 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Community round-up Campaigns Sustain’s Children’s Food Gardenshare Bristol Campaign Gardenshare Bristol are looking for The Children’s Food Campaign wants new volunteers to help run this exciting to improve young people’s health community group. Established in 2009 to and well-being through: bring together underused gardens with local growers, the group is now looking n Good food and real food education at how to develop in the future and make in every school the best use of limited resources. We are n Protecting children from junk food particularly interested in volunteers with marketing financial, marketing or design experience. n Clear food labelling that If you are interested please send CV Brandon Hill Community everyone, including children, can and cover note to gardensharebristol@ understand gmail.com. More info on the gardenshare Orchard and Herb Garden scheme can be found on our website: Would you like to be part of a city centre For more information, and to sign up for the monthly email update, visit: www.grofun.org.uk/gardenshare.htm orchard? Help with the planting and maintenance of the trees and benefit www.childrensfood.org.uk from the fruit of your labours? Friends of Brandon Hill are currently planning a Community Orchard and Herb Garden for Bake Your Lawn Brandon Hill and are looking for people Throughout 2011, the Real Bread interested in getting the orchard up and Campaign is showing children running. We have now secured some around Britain how to Bake Your initial funding for the project, however Lawn and follow the Real Bread trail have missed the planting season until from seed to sandwich on your own the Autumn. We intend to purchase trees doorstep. over the next couple of months so they can mature over the summer. We are Their free grassroots guide includes looking for help in determining species tips and pointers to further and varieties of fruit trees that will do well information for allotmenteers, in the park and whose fruit can be used would-be good-lifers and everyone by all. The planting is now planned for else who wants to make getting a November. More funds are being sought to sandwich a bit more inspiring than a create the herb garden. trip to the chiller cabinet at a petrol station. The next meeting for those interested in helping with the project is: Starting with just one square metre 6.30pm Tuesday 10 May of ground and a handful of earth, Grow Grubby Meet at the depot on Brandon Hill grow it, mill it, bake it, eat it. Grow Grubby are running courses and If you have an interest in orchards or their It’s too late to Spring-sow, but how workshops tailor-made to specific produce and would like to be part of this about trying some Winter wheat? exciting city centre project then please learners, any age, in the Bristol area. www.sustainweb.org/realbread/ contact the Friends on Material is designed to help people link bake_your_lawn/ gardening with food. [email protected] or Fraser on 0791 901 5774. In Brislington we are busily building strength into our community with fun Living below the line public events (we have just had a brilliant Tynings Field Community Join thousands of people across Easter Egg Hunt see ), Arnospark.org.uk Group the UK living off just £1 a day for a food co-op (based with Essential), and food and drink from 2–6 May to public planting of food species with plans Tynings field are growing in Shirehampton: get a better understanding of the to plant on our high street (although word We are a new community group looking challenges faced by people living in is Tesco is coming…). for active members interested in joining Extreme Poverty, and to raise funds For more information, contact Becky: a community horticultural chicken for crucial anti-poverty initiatives. 07552 667 144 · [email protected] keeping project starting in the Summer and Individual allotments also available http://my.artezglobal. www.growgrubby.yolasite.com tel 0117 909 0440 and leave message or com/personalPage. email: [email protected] aspx?registrationID=348660

15 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Protein Rich and Planet Friendly Top Local Chefs in ‘Protein Rich and Planet Friendly’ contest for VegFestUK

Greg McHugh Oliver Pratt Oliver White Jo Ingleby Rhys Williams The Rummer Hotel The Watershed The Folk House Café Demuths No1 Harbourside Greg loves all His job has been to Proprietor, Liz Haughton An artist and chef, Jo Helped establish The vegetables and says make the Watershed & her brothers Phil & chose art as her degree Canteen in Stokes Croft, that fats and dairy can menu as organic, Barny have long been as there was no formal providing vegan menu inhibit flavour. local and seasonal as at the heart of Bristol’s cookery course that items there every day. possible. food scene. didn’t involve meat.

7–11pm Tuesday 24 May and dairy act as flavour inhibitors on the Talking about nutrition and health, The Polish Club, St Paul’s Road, Clifton palate and when used can often dull the Helen Rossiter and Jane Easton from VVF Bristol BS8 1LP taste we experience. These products also complete the line-up and demonstrate £6 have a high calorie count and can leave simple and delicious high-protein meals. us feeling sluggish. Vegetables and Based in their office near Stokes Croft Top chefs from Bristol & Bath have been are a wealth of flavours and textures which they have long provided practical food challenged to a Ready Steady Cook style and nutrition advice and run a recipe Cook Off to produce the most appetizing will inspire chefs forever. Their versatility club full of irresistible recipes, and nutritious meals inside 30 minutes and excellent taste should be the palate http://vegetarianrecipeclub.org.uk from a selection of plant-based ingredients. on which every dish is based regardless of .” meat This topical competition will highlight the Similar in format to the popular BBC TV variety and quality of alternatives to ‘meat programme, two chefs at a time will get Jo Ingleby, previously head chef at and 2 veg’ that must lie at the heart of 30 minutes to prepare the most appetizing Demuth’s in Bath and now running the Bristol’s revival of a healthy and resilient and healthy meal from ingredients cookery school, says “To make a great local food culture. Today much of our meat presented by someone with local food meal without meat definitely requires is factory-farmed and fed on spoils from interest – key players including members a subtle shift of attitude. I’ve studied tropical rainforest destruction, which is of Bristol’s new Food Policy Council are cultures around the world where plant- becoming increasingly unsustainable as being invited. They will all chat to the host based diets are the norm, and I adapt well as more expensive; while in the before tasting the food then the audience their cooking to be local and seasonal in oceans over fishing is already driving many will have a friendly vote for the winner. the UK.” Regarding protein rich foods, she says: “I love beans in all their forms, and fish species towards terminal decline. Chefs from The Rummer Hotel, The lentils and chickpeas. Knowing how to The fun starts at 7pm with the cooking Watershed, No 1 Harbourside and The use dried pulses is so valuable.” She has competition till 9 and cabaret through Folk House Café will go head-to-head with written three cookery books, which she until 11pm, and is hosted by Bristol Friends cookery experts from Demuth’s Cookery will be signing at the event. of the Earth and Wild Oats Health Store. School and The Vegetarian and Vegan Food tasters are included, and tickets are Foundation to produce the best meal at a Oliver Pratt has been head chef at The priced £6 and are available in advance special evening event at The Polish Club Watershed for two years now, and his job from www.bristol.vegfest.co.uk and on in Clifton on Tuesday 24 May. has been to make the menu as much as possible organic, local and seasonal. the door until they sell out. The evening The headline ‘protein rich and planet is part of VegFestUK Bristol Fringe week “Our plot-to-plate menu has made us busier friendly (without meat and dairy)’ is to which runs from 21 May through to the – there has been amazing appreciation dispel the myth that protein means meat big VegFestUK weekend event outdoors from the public”, he said. “Manufactured or cheese – rather these are normally at The Harbourside 27–29 May, and food containing salt and sugar is not really high-fat options and pulses, grains, features a number of free talks, demos good for you. We are becoming a nation of mushrooms and seeds can provide just and films about the benefits of the veggie/ foodies, the public is educated and driving as much quality protein with less calories vegan lifestyle, as well as a series of standards up. Great chefs 10–20 years ago and other nutritional advantages. events in the evenings. were always working seasonally – that Greg McHugh, fine-dining head chef at The way you get the best flavour, the cheapest For information on this event call Rummer Hotel, does not see the event as ingredients and the biggest nutritional 07809 122474 or email [email protected] a challenge, he loves all vegetables: “Fats value: it’s a win-win-win situation.” www.bristol.vegfest.co.uk

16 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Real Food Festival Reconciling Faith, Events 5–8 May 2011 Food and Planet Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Warwick 6pm Thursday 12 May The Orchard Pig Road, London SW5 9TA Saint Stephen’s Church Apple blossom day £13.50 advance/£20 on the door Suggested donation: £5.00 The Real Food Festival is a melting pot of Sunday 1 May 2011 Food is essential. But instead of meeting over 400 carefully selected food and drink West Bradley Orchard, West Bradley, the human need for nourishment, producers showcasing the very best the Nr Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8LT consumerism encourages excess. British Isles has to offer. Including artisan Come & visit the Orchards for a day full of breads and cheeses, slow reared meat One half of the world is obese, the family fun. Meet The Orchard Pigs, wander direct from the farm, a mountain of fresh other malnourished. Food has become around the Orchards whilst the trees are seasonal fruit and veg, sustainably caught a commodity with the price paid by our in full bloom. Take the kiddies on a Tractor fish and a host of other stalls selling planet. Intensive agriculture abuses Ride and have Hog Roast washed down cakes, charcuterie, preserves and fine animals, destroys biodiversity and with some of our Award Winning Apple wines, spirits and beers to drink. accelerates climate change. Juice or Cider! Plus celebrated chefs, street food, Faith communities place food at the heart www.orchardpig.co.uk/index.cfm workshops, debates, livestock, gardening of their practice. What role do they have tips, the ultra glamorous Mrs Paisley’s in reconciling feeding people without Lashings pop up restaurant, etc, etc. exploiting the Earth? How can we restore the spiritual concept of ‘enough’? www.realfoodfestival.co.uk/festivals/ real-food-festival-2011/ Speakers: City Canon Tim Higgins, priest-in-charge of Saint Stephen’s, Making Local Food Work Introducing the theme of reconciliation Good Food, Good Governance Martin Palmer, Alliance of Religions and training courses: Simply Legal Love Food Festival Conservation (www.arcworld.org/) Faith 10am–4pm Wednesday 11 May 2011 in Food: the international movement to 10.30am–4pm Sunday 1 May The Coach House, CDA (BRAVE Ltd), grow, buy and celebrate food that does Paintworks, Bristol BS4 3EH Bristol not cost the Earth Free Free to development workers or those Philip Conford, organic historian, author n Indoor market selling a wide range involved with a community food enterprise of just-published The Development of of delicious, handmade, fresh local The training workshop is suitable for those the Organic Network: Linking People and produce advising, working with or participating in Themes, 1945–95 – with signed copies n Free wild food walk around Arnos Vale any community enterprise or co-operative (www.florisbooks.co.uk/book/Philip- nature reserve, with Andy Hamilton organisation. It particularly focuses on Conford/Development-of-the-Organic- n Guerilla gardening with Grow Grubby the choice of legal and organisational Network/9780863158032) The Christian n Cider bar run by Bristol Cider Shop structure. contribution to the organic movement www.lovefoodfestival.com www.mlfw.co.uk/training Joy Carey, author of NHS Bristol-funded report released March 2011, Who Feeds Bristol? Towards a resilient food plan. Avon Organic Group events (www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/ Environment-Planning/sustainability/who- Bring & buy plant and Avon Organic Group market feeds-bristol-towards-a-resilient-food- seedling sale, also book sale stall at Bristol Farmers’ plan.en%3Bjsessionid=F53359D1F4ED81F Market 626FFCA9105B61920.tcwwwaplaws1) 7.30 Tuesday 3 May Strength in unity – Bringing Bristol’s Horfield Quaker Meeting 300 Wednesdays: 25 May, 27 July, food groups together. Gloucester Road, Bristol BS7 8PD 17 August, 7 September, 28 September 6pm: Homemade soup in St Stephen’s café All welcome. Donation on door £1/£3 Corn Street 6–8.30pm: Speakers and debate Fundraiser for Soil Association, Tree Aid, Group members are welcome to sell 8.30–9.30pm: Food and networking and Avon Organic Group surplus produce. Contact: Anne Withers, www.saint-stephens.com/2011/04/12- Contributions of plants and seedlings [email protected] may-2011-reconciling-faith-food-and- welcome. 0117 952 2758 planet/ Ben Raskin – Learning Manager and For information on membership: Horticultural Advisor for the Soil June McDermont, 0117 942 4046 Association will speak about their work [email protected] in nurturing a new generation of organic www.avonorganicgroup.org.uk growers.

17 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Windmill Hill City Farm Events Annual City Farm Fayre 1–8pm Sunday 22 May How we can feed Bristol in Adults £5/under 16’s free Federation the future Plenty of free fun activities to keep the kids happy – including Bushcraft of City Farms Helen Browning, workshops, Hoola hooping, Silly Science, & Community Director of the Soil Association Storytelling and animal mask making – all Gardens events 6–7pm Friday 20 May ending in a grand procession! We have 2 events coming soon, Arnolfini, Bristol n Plus two large bouncy castles and a join us and mingle with others form Part of the Festival of Ideas team of face-painters! Free, but booking required community gardens, learn and share n Delicious Mediterranean and free-range together: How will cities feed themselves in the food provided by Bocabar and our very future without endangering the future own Farm Café. Spring Gathering of the planet? Is there a role for greater n Wonderful local ales & fine wines production locally? Helen Browning looks served at the on- site Windmill Pub 10am–5pm Saturday 14 May at where our food comes from, and how OrganicArts, West Town Farm, a n Great live music courtesy of The cities can become more self-sufficient and working organic farm a couple of miles Thunderbolt pub make food production more sustainable outside of Exeter and welfare-friendly. n Art, crafts, toy and food stalls (www.organicarts.org.uk) n Piglets and newborn chicks £5 no-members/members free www.ideasfestival.co.uk/?p=1052 n New skate ramp Workshops: n Beautiful community gardens opening n “Making an income from your site” Sustainable Thornbury n Engaging the community We will be launching our new Farm Friends Skill-up Day n Volunteer management Scheme at the Fayre, which will enable Saturday 21 May people to be more connected to and Tour of OrganicARTS permaculture The Chantry, High St, Thornbury involved with the Farm. garden/West Town Farm. Lunch prepared on site with veg from the Four workshops will be on offer – how to www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk/ community garden included. compost and to make your own wormery, basic bike maintenance, how to make your own toiletries or to learn about healing Jewish Food Day Summer Gathering with herbs. You will be able to sign up for 1.30–7pm Sunday 22 May 10am–5pm Saturday 18 June more than one workshop. Red Maids’ School, Westbury Road, Growing for Life, Paignton, Torbay www.sustainablethornbury.org/ Bristol BS9 3AW (www.growing-for-life.co.uk) £15/£10 concessions Entry by ticket only £5 no-members/members free Hartcliffe Health and Tasters, talks, cookery demonstrations, This is an Eden Project initiative books, live music and a Middle Eastern managed by Shekinah Mission Charity. Environment Action Group Vegetarian supper by Falafel King. They run a veggie box scheme and (HHEAG) Plant sale & BBQ host various courses on site. Buy tickets online by 13 May at: 11am–3pm Saturday 21 May www.davarbristol.com Day will cover: Molesworth Allotments, Molesworth n Legal Structures or Governance Drive, Withywood Issues or both (tbc) BBC Good Food Show & n Workshop on willow use to make Get affordable veg seedlings, herbs and useful garden equipment (compost other plants and visit the Community Gardeners World Live heap, carrying basket) (tbc) Market Garden and Orchard. Donations of 15–17 June n Walking tour of the site plants for sale are also very welcome. NEC Birmingham n Local lunch included FFI: Contact Sue Walker on 0117 9465 285 Tickets from £19 [email protected] These events are for you to network n Top chef cookery demonstrations with other people from community www.hheag.org.uk/?HHEAG n MasterChef Experience gardens and farms and to discuss n The Producers’ Village: including Slow issues of common concern, interest, Bee Day Food UK, FoodLoversBritain.com Fair etc as well as to learn something and Ludlow Producers Market new and visit a fantastic project in a 2–5pm Saturday 21 May beautiful setting. n Grow your own St Matthew’s Church, Kingsdown n Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time and For bookings, topic suggestions or any n Bee talks Gardeners’ World team Q&A other questions, contact Sara: n Birds & bats [email protected] n 100+ specialist growers and nurseries n Wildlife-friendly flowers 01752 267293 www.bbcgoodfoodshowsummer.com/ www.farmgarden.org.uk www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/

18 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Conferences Somerset Community Food Making Local Food Work Summer Colloquium Growing Connections in South Conference 2011 Food and Public Space in a Somerset Rooting community food in an Global City 9.30am–4.30pm Tuesday 10 May 2011, enterprising future 10am–5pm Saturday 21 May 2011 Magdalen Community Farm, Winsham, 10am–4pm Thursday 12 May 2011 Room 101 Clore Management Centre, Chard TA20 4PA Sheffield, United Kingdom Birkbeck College £15 for individuals or £40 if attending in £50 £25 waged/£10 unwaged & students paid time (includes a totally local organic This colloquium will be focused on one lunch) Expand your thinking around the essential skills required to develop community particular city – London – and will bring The Conference will offer the chance for food enterprises. We look closely at together the themes of food growing, anyone involved in food growing locally to how you can enhance your skills within ‘public’ space and the city to explore gain contacts, share knowledge and learn a community food enterprise context. thought-provoking questions around food skills to enable them to start and keep Explore the key challenges and solutions equity, access to public and semi-private growing. community food enterprises can offer. space, and the ability of different socio- economic groups to establish their own Attendees will have the choice of several Speakers include Dr Charlie Clutterbuck interests in city planning and construction workshops and talks on issues such from the Centre of Food Policy at City processes that have consequences for as the social, community and financial University in London, and Julie Brown of private and community-based food benefits to landowners of sharing land, Growing Communities, an inspirational production and distribution (e.g. the where to start in looking for land as well social enterprise based in Hackney, provision and retention of community as exploring what it’s possible to grow London. Over the past 10 years, Growing food growing spaces, the creation of in small spaces (from a small plot to a Communities have created two main productive and educative school grounds, smallholding). Participants can also hear community-led trading outlets – an the provision of housing with growing and from inspiring case studies from across organic fruit and veg box scheme and the food preparation spaces). South Somerset. Stoke Newington’s Farmers’ Market. This The issue of food, food production For more information: 01749 678770 enterprise has harnessed the collective and public spaces in cities is currently hannah.may@somersetcommunityfood. buying power of a community, helping high on the political agenda. While org.uk small-scale producers to thrive. urban agriculture has a long history, www.somersetcommunityfood.org.uk www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/news/ contemporary concerns over the news.cfm/newsid/178 environmental impacts of ‘food miles’ and our industrialised countryside, food security issues, together with growing Garden Organic Gardening Conference 2011 recognition of the health, social and community benefits of gardening, are Maximising garden retail Making organic gardening driving the issue of local urban food potential in a sustainable everyday gardening production up the political agenda. With waiting lists for allotments in Camden, world 12noon–4.40pm Saturday 14 May for example, currently stretching to an Members £12.50, non-members £25 10am–4pm Friday 13 May estimated 40 years, and with the nation’s (inc lunch and VAT) Ryton Gardens, nr Coventry front gardens disappearing under tarmac £90 +VAT A growing appetite for green gardening car parking, attention is turning to the The context of the ‘greenest Government presents opportunities for building a food growing potential of a multitude of ever’, alongside increased consumer nation of sustainable gardeners. Join overlooked and undervalued city sites. Garden Organic as it debates how to best awareness and a movement towards The colloquium will include a walk and turn the UK’s gardeners organic with sustainable living, presents a talk tour of new growing plots around lively discussion sessions, engaging commercial opportunity for the garden Birkbeck College being established over debates and your chance to question the retail industry; the focus of the day’s the last year by the ‘Grow Birkbeck’ experts. debate. gardening group, following seed funding Policy makers, retailers, producers, Call 024 76308210 to book from the Capital Growth project. gardening organisations and the media www.gardenorganic.org.uk/about_us/ www.bbk.ac.uk/bisr/news/food all have a part to play in marrying conference/conference.php sustainable living with sustainable retail, This conference will invite delegates to debate the challenges facing the sector, whilst exploring the wealth of opportunities for it along the way. Call 024 76308210 to book

19 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 …with Bristol Adult Learning …at the University of Bristol Courses Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, Botanic Gardens Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 1BN Hollybush Lane, Stoke Bishop, Bristol www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/ For all course information: Education-Learning/Adult-Community- www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/ education/citywide-adult-learning- BotanicGardens/about/education.htm courses-sept-2009-to-june-2010.en Summer Champagne and cordials Introductory workshops for home, 7–9.30pm Thursday 26 May allotment and community gardens. Wear Tutor: Ann Freeman · £20 clothes for outdoor and practical sessions and bring vegetarian food to share. This evening workshop will take you through the practical steps of producing It’s easy growing greens elderflower champagne and summer 10am–4pm Saturday 14 May cordials from flowers and fruits in the Tutor: Ruth O’Brien · £30/£15 countryside and your own garden. …with Shift Bristol Practical techniques for becoming more self-sufficient in low-cost, fresh greens – Royal Horticultural Society Practical Sustainability Course from salads, cooking greens and herbs to (Level 2) Certificate in wild harvest and sprouting. Will also look The Shift Bristol Practical Sustainability at saving seed and pest control. Horticulture (new syllabus) Course is now open for bookings. 9.30am–2.45pm Wednesdays or Small is beautiful This pioneering one year course brings 7–9.30pm, Wednesdays over three terms together some of the most experienced 10am–4pm Saturday 11 June starting September and knowledgeable practitioners and Tutor: Ruth O’Brien · £30/£15 This popular theory based course tutors in the SW and beyond. Practical techniques for producing covers all aspects of horticulture edible gardens in small spaces. Growing In two and a half days a week for 40 including propagation, pest and disease plants together, going upwards, stacking weeks the course covers modules on recognition, plant biology, garden layout functions and growing in containers. Permaculture Design, , and design, ornamental horticulture, fruit Green Building, Woodland Management, …with Ragmans Lane Farm and vegetable growing, soil science and Soil and Ecology, Energy, Group Dynamics, general horticultural practice. Plants from Creating Change and Community Ragman’s Lane Farm, Lydbrook, the new Botanic Garden will be used in the Engagement. Gloucestershire GL17 9PA weekly plant identification exercise. The A far reaching and holistic exploration of www.ragmans.co.uk/courses/courselist. course requires no prior knowledge and is the practicalities of creating a resilient, html suitable for amateur gardeners as well as productive, community-led future. The those beginning a career in horticulture. Examinations in February and June. curriculum is taught with a dynamic mix Sustainable Bee Keeping of practical hands on sessions, classroom Contact the Course Administrator: 7–8 May · £170 workshops, lectures and discussions, field [email protected] trips with each term culminating in a group This introduction to bees will cover their design project. role, value and products, and focus on Tutors include Patrick Whitefield, Ben Law, how we can manage our relationship Royal Horticultural Society Tim Foster, Mike Feingold, Tony Wrench, to ensure their survival. No previous (Level 3) Advanced Certificate Sarah Pugh, Matt Dunwell, Glennie knowledge is assumed. This course is run in Horticulture Kindred, Dr Chris Johnstone, Justin Smith, by Bees for Development and includes 7–9.30pm Thursdays – a 2-year evening Jeannie Thompson, Mike Gardener, practical and classroom sessions. course with occasional Saturdays Trevor Haughton, Nick Osborne, Alice starting September Cutler, Jackson Moulding, Max Drake, Jay Abrahams and many others. Permaculture Design Course This course is a natural progression for 12–25 June · £750 including full board those students who have studied the Visit the website to find out what this RHS (Level 2) Certificate in Horticulture years students have to say about the The Design Course gives you what you (formerly the RHS General Certificate in course. can’t get from books: the experience of Horticulture) at the Botanic Garden or permaculture design. It centres on a series Places are limited so if you’d like to spend elsewhere. of practical exercises in which you develop a year exploring and expanding into a design for an actual piece of land, either Register your interest for commencing sustainability book early to confirm your a domestic garden or a smallholding study in September 2011, by contacting place. according to your choice. There’s no better the Course Administrator: www.shiftbristol.org.uk way of learning than by doing, and by the [email protected] end of the course you will be ready to go home and design your own place for real.

20 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Beekeeping for beginners More courses… 10am–4pm Saturday 11 June, Saturday 18 June or Friday 1 July · £120 …with the Low-impact living Smallholder taster day Nr Thornbury, South Gloucestershire initiative (LILI) 10am–4pm Fri 20 May or Sat 4 June · £120 This one-day course will give you the knowledge you need to understand all For all course information: or weekend course 25–26 June · £195 about beekeeping and what it entails, http://lowimpact.org/venues_south_ Nr Thornbury, South Gloucestershire including a hands-on session in our west.html Not sure where to start? Come and look apiary. We will cover the fundamental round a smallholding and discuss land aspects of recognising and handling bees Wild food walk: Bristol or Bath requirements, time commitment, skills & safely, how to look after them to maximise knowledge needed. The tutor, Jules Moore, 10am–2pm Saturday 7 May or 25 June health and honey production and a full has done it herself from scratch, and can Tutors: Andy & Dave Hamilton · £35 discussion of the beekeeping calendar. talk with experience of what you need to Meeting point: St Werburghs City Farm, know. There will be practical sessions on putting Bristol a hive together & making frames and We will look at all the livestock in turn – 10am–2pm Sunday 8 May or 26 June guidance on equipment & where to buy it. hens, ducks, sheep, cattle, pigs and bees Meeting point: Sunderland St · £35 – with a look at what keeping each type (off Great Pulteney St), Bath entails. Then we will guide you through Keeping chickens By the end of the day you will have been the process of deciding where to start and 10am–5pm Saturday 11 June · £60 taught about somewhere between 50 what you need to do next. Windmill Hill City Farm, Bristol and 100 plants, and not only their edible and medicinal uses but their history Chickens can play an invaluable role on and folklore too. The foraging walks are Introduction to herbal a smallholding, or can be kept just as ideal for everyone – first-time foragers medicine happily in a . This course will looking for that extra bit of confidence or cover the basics of keeping chickens and 9am–5pm weekend course 4–5 June · £95 experienced foragers looking to increase help you to plan your brood. There will Radford Mill Farm, Nr Bath their repertoire of plant knowledge. also be hands-on experience of handling The aim of this weekend is to offer an and inspecting chickens. This course is Please bring a packed lunch. Sensible intensive introduction to the healing suitable for vegetarians wishing to keep walking shoes/boots are strongly power of plants. Course tutor, Max Drake, chickens for eggs, but there will be a advisable. Many people also benefit is a practising medical herbalist and discussion on the use of chickens for from bringing waterproof clothing or an teacher with a busy practice in Central meat, and the ethical issues involved. umbrella, notepad and camera. Bristol. The course will involve practical work with Herbal medicine Breadmaking herbs, tasting and getting fully immersed 10am–5pm Saturday 25 June · £70 10am–5pm Sunday 8 May · £60 in the subtle depths and nuances of Windmill Hill City Farm, Bristol Windmill Hill City Farm, Bristol several of our most useful indigenous plants, with the main emphasis being on This is a one-day introduction to the This course will take you through the showing you how to use herbs as part of a topic of herbal medicine providing the basic breadmaking processes. During holistic approach to healthcare. opportunity to meet like-minded people this practical course you will make and have your questions about herbal pizza dough, focaccia, sourdough and a medicine answered. Tutor Samantha wholemeal loaf. You will even be making a Hens for the garden will teach participants how to treat calzone pizza for your lunch. 10am–1pm Wednesday 8 June · £45 everyday ailments with a variety of herbal Please bring an apron and a container or Nr Thornbury, South Gloucestershire preparations. There will also be the bag to take your baking home in. opportunity to make some medicines to This half-day course is designed to give take home with you. you a complete introduction to keeping Compost toilets hens in your garden. We keep a wide variety of birds in small and large systems Building an earth oven 10am–4pm Saturday 14 May · £60 for you to meet and consider. Windmill Hill City Farm, Bristol 10am–5pm 2 July · £60 This is a combination of theory, practice Windmill Hill City Farm, Bristol The course will look in depth at compost and demonstration with plenty of toilets and how they work, the wide variety opportunities to meet and handle hens. This course is run by Ken Neal, who has of systems which can be built or bought been building earth ovens and running and build details of treebogs, wheeliebin courses for LILI for several years. This and twin-vault toilets. Students should course will teach you how to build a small leave with a thorough grounding in the cob oven suitable for cooking pizzas and principles of composting human waste, dishes requiring a cooking time of up to and a practical understanding of how to one hour. achieve this.

21 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Publications Looking back, looking forward The water and carbon footprint From field to fork Sustainability and UK food of household food and drink Six local food web case studies policy 2000–2011 waste in the UK from CPRE Tim Lang, Sue Dibb and Shivani Reddy The water and carbon footprint of wasted These reports are the first part of extensive Sustainable Development Commission household food and drink in the UK research into how local food benefits has been identified for the first time, local communities, economies and the This report charts the development of highlighting the major environmental countryside – benefits that are threatened UK food/sustainability policy between consequences of food and drink waste in by continued supermarket expansion. The 2000–2011 (the lifetime of the SDC). It the UK and globally. research shows that local food webs can identifies six major themes that shaped deliver a wide range of important social, food policy during the 2000s: It shows that water used to produce economic and environmental benefits to food and drink that the UK then wastes n Governance people and places. n Climate change represents 6% of the UK’s water n Nutrition and health requirements, a quarter of which Graeme Willis, Senior Local Food n Children originates in the UK. This joint report Campaigner at CPRE, says: “Before now n Food security between WRAP and the WWF contains these intricate networks have been below n Fairness and social justice quantification and analysis of the water the radar of most decision makers. As and carbon footprint of different types of a result there has been very little policy It argues that a consensual strategy came household food and drink waste in the UK. locally or nationally that supports local together towards the end of the decade food. The research shows that food webs In addition to raising awareness, the (culminating in Defra’s Food 2030 vision). can deliver a wide range of benefits information can be used in developing But just when this consensual perspective for communities and their livelihoods, national and regional policies targeting a had finally taken root, it seemed to be put the places where they live and nearby reduction in the impacts of our carbon and on hold after the 2010 election. The report countryside. These include better access water footprint related to our food system. argues that the present Government’s to fresh food, supporting local businesses, It can also be used by the food industry to approach to food policy is characterised by: and adding diversity and character to understand and minimise water-related n budget cuts towns and rural areas. Local food webs business risk associated with food play a valuable role by connecting people, n greater involvement by business in supplies to the UK. delivering on the obesity agenda through shops and markets, to their www.wrap.org.uk/retail_supply_chain/ wider community and to the surrounding n approaches to public health that research_tools/research/report_water_ countryside.” emphasise personal responsibility and.html (nudging) rather than the need to alter www.cpre.org.uk/resources/farming- the social and economic context of and-food consumption Biofuels: ethical issues n weakening of the Food Standards Agency Public and industrial investment in Human Rights Council n Lack of real momentum in delivering on biofuels began to accelerate in the 1990s Report submitted by the Food 2030. both in the US and Europe, stimulated Special Rapporteur on the www.sd-commission.org.uk/ by challenges raised by climate change publications/downloads/FoodPolicy10_ and the need to reduce our dependence right to food, Olivier De Report_final_w.pdf on fossil fuels. But this is also part of Schutter a broader biotechnology-based vision The reinvestment in agriculture, triggered for the 21st century of a new global by the 2008 food price crisis, is essential ‘green economy‘ that, to quote the The Urban Homestead: Your to the concrete realization of the right to Organisation for Economic Co-operation Guide to Self-sufficient Living food. However, in a context of ecological, and Development, is –‘stronger, cleaner food and energy crises, the most pressing in the Heart of the City and fairer’. issue regarding reinvestment is not how The essential handbook for a fast-growing However, as the Nuffield Council on much, but how. This report explores new movement: urbanites are becoming Bioethics appreciated, this positive vision how States can and must achieve a gardeners and farmers. Rejecting both has a downside and early attempts to reorientation of their agricultural systems end-times hand wringing and dewy-eyed increase global production of biofuels towards modes of production that are faith that technology will save us from have had serious negative impacts on highly productive, highly sustainable ourselves, urban homesteaders choose the livelihoods of some of those who and that contribute to the progressive instead to act. By growing their own food cultivate the land, on the sustainability of realization of the human right to adequate and harnessing natural energy, they are cultivation systems and on biodiversity. food. planting seeds for the future of our cities. www.nuffieldbioethics.org/sites/ http://civileats.com/wp-content/ www.energybulletin.net/ default/files/Biofuels_ethical_issues_ uploads/2011/03/20110308_UN_ stories/2011-03-22/urban- FULL%20REPORT_0.pdf agroecology_report.pdf homesteading-way-life-not-copyright- petition-and-ebook-preview

22 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Odds & ends Triodos launches sustainable Are you a talented home cook Training with Voscur catering initiative with an amazing historic Caterers and restaurants across the UK family recipe? Recruitment of Volunteers which have gained the Soil Association’s If so, ITV’s favourite Celebrity Chef Gino 9.30am–3.30pm Wednesday 4 May Food for Life Catering Mark will benefit D’Acampo wants to hear from YOU! Windmill Hill City Farm, Phillip from a special lending rate thanks to Street, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4EA ethical specialist Triodos Bank. Gino D’Acampo is on a mission to prove £15 for organisations from Voluntary, that “There’s No Taste Like Home”. He’s Community and Social Enterprise Triodos Bank has ring-fenced £5 million on the hunt for home cooks with fantastic Sector organisations which it will lend at a 1% discounted rate family recipes, undiscovered gems, good, to restaurants and caterers who have honest family food… This course will be run by Voscur and been awarded the Soil Association’s Volunteering Bristol as part of the gold or silver Food for Life Catering Mark. Forget the frills and ditch the fiddly Volunteer Management project. This If successful, the new initiative could garnishes. If you’ve got a fantastic recipe course is for anyone who manages support around 70 businesses and help to that’s been passed down through your volunteers and would like to know increase the number of caterers meeting family for generations, family favourites more about recruiting them effectively. the highest sustainable food standards. that have been enjoyed for decades, then This session will cover: If caterers take advantage of the full £5 Gino wants to hear from you … n Volunteer motivation million offered at the discounted rate, There’s No Taste Like Home, ITV’s brand n Barriers to volunteering they could save a total of £50,000 each new cookery show gives talented home n Recruitment techniques and year, and potentially £900,000 over 25 cooks the chance to showcase their very processes years. Triodos Bank has pledged to give own family recipes in a local restaurant. n Developing adverts for volunteer a 1% discount on new loans to catering The winning dish will have the honour of roles businesses that have been awarded the staying on the restaurant’s menu for an n Action planning Soil Association’s gold standard Food entire month. for Life Catering Mark, and also to silver www.voscur.org/civicrm/event/ award-holders who are actively working Filming will take place in the Bristol area info?reset=1&id=342& to attain gold. The awards encourage on 6 May, but a second series is also in caterers to use more fresh, seasonal, local the pipeline. and organic ingredients, high welfare If you think your dish has what it takes Retention and support of meat and fish from sustainable sources. please email us now at notastelikehome@ Volunteers itv.com or call 090 11 11 33 77 9.30am–3.30pm Wednesday 26 May Suppliers/producers needed The Greenway Centre, Doncaster for local food fayre New food events venue Road, Bristol, BS10 5PY £15 for organisations from Voluntary, Bristol City Council and ‘Yes Dining’ No.1 Harbourside on Canon’s Road next Community and Social Enterprise are working on a yearly programme of to the Watershed would like to start Sector organisations events to promote the Council House. At using the venue for food interest talks, This course will be run by Voscur and Christmas they are thinking of holding presentations, tastings. Anyone who’s Volunteering Bristol as part of the a craft/local food fayre. If you are a interested in hosting such events please Volunteer Management project and supplier/small businesses and you are get in contact with Lizzie Keates: is suitable for anyone who manages interested in showcasing your produce [email protected] volunteers as part of their role. This please contact: joanne.mcmahon@bristol. session will cover: gov.uk Free support for your business n The importance of induction We’re in the very early planning stages n Other ways of supporting volunteers and we haven’t even agreed on a date as Check out www.investwest.org for n Supervision yet, Jo McMahon, Meetings & Conference business support including an on-line n Why people stop volunteering Co-ordinator 0117 922 2674 search for premises in Bristol, Bath or anywhere else in the West of England n Recognition n Action planning

www.voscur.org/civicrm/event/ info?reset=1&id=351&

23 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011 Regular things Eastside Roots volunteer days Metford Road Community Royate Hill Community Orchard Stapleton Road Train Station Orchard Day Regular monthly workdays 10.30am–4.30pm Wednesdays & Fridays Usually third Sunday of the month 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month Trinity Community Arts Centre garden 11am–4pm (drop by anytime, but cleaning 12 noon–5pm every Thursday If you are not a member but just fancy up starts around 3pm) volunteering as a one-off then do please Improve your local community, meet new get in touch – or come along to see what’s As well as the fruit trees, we also plant friends, learn new skills and keep fit. involved. Meet at Metford Road Gates vegetables, and whoever shows up for Email: [email protected] (green metal gate in between numbers 37 workdays when there is a harvest, gets to take food home. Drinks available, bring www.eastsideroots.org.uk and 39) at about 11.30am, bring gardening gloves. There should be a notice on the snacks to share. Tools and gardening gate telling you a mobile number to ring gloves provided. There is also a compost GROFUN Action Weekends if we’re already there, and we’ll come toilet at the orchard. Everybody welcome, Ashley Vale Allotments, St Werburghs and let you in. If there’s no notice, and regardless of experience. Every week, from noon Saturdays & nobody there – you’re the first, be patient! For more information: Sundays If you’ve never been before then you can www.kebelecoop.org/?page_id=28 ring Joe on 07840 059079 to tell us you’re Ashley Vale Allotments are just behind The coming. Map at: www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/ Farm pub, Hopetoun Road, St Werburghs. content/Environment-Planning/Parks- Drag on your wellies and come and give an www.sustainableredland.org.uk/what- and-open-spaces/allotments/allotment- hour or two. Refreshments provided. can-i-do/metford-road-community- viewer.en?XSL=search&MapId=24&Sear Phone Nadia 0797 3847894 for more info. orchard chText=Royate%20Hill&SearchId=3

Regular markets Tobacco Factory Market Now on Facebook! Corner of Raleigh Road/North Street, Bristol’s local food update is now on Bristol Farmers’ Market Southville, Sundays 10am–2.30pm Corn Street, Wednesdays 9.30am–2.30pm Facebook. Westbury-on-Trym Market www.facebook.com/ Long Ashton Village Market Medical Centre Car Park, Westbury Hill, Long Ashton Village Hall, 1st Saturday of pages/Bristols-local-food- 4th Saturday of the month, 9am–1pm the month 9.30am–1pm. update/117246931647992?created#!/ (except December) pages/Bristols-local-food- Slow Food Market Whiteladies Road Market update/117246931647992?v=info Corn Street, 1st Sunday of the month Corner of Whiteladies Road and Apsley 10am–3pm Road, 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month,

8.30am–2pm Bristol’s local food update sAVe THe GReen BelT sPeciAl may–june 2009

HEN hundreds of us last year took the Eat the Change challenge and tried to spend a Save our soils – use our soils weekW eating only local, organic food free Richard Spalding from plastic packaging, we discovered just how limited local sustainable food It is great to hear that in the near future is. There are myriad reasons for this, but we might see beef cattle grazing historic the reality remains that with fossil fuels Stoke park as Bristol city council begin likely to become extremely scarce within to think through reconnections between our lifetimes and food miles contributing town and countryside. I would want to so intensely to climate change, we will

soon have little choice but to produce the camera lens up and over this idyllic most of our food locally. In light of this, scene to settle on “the Blue Finger”. it is essential that we start preparing Smallholdings in Frenchay now by ring fencing land for sustainable I have coined this phrase to get us all food production now. thinking about high quality agricultural the M32 becoming an edible landscape land on the north Bristol fringe which for the city. It would be a beacon for a Transition Network is beginning to used to be at the heart of what was called new AGRI-CULTURE which would help to explore how Britain can best feed itself, the Bristol Dairying and Market Garden nourish our bellies and our communities. analysing Britain’s land potential for Sub-Region. We can follow a blue [colour- It would mark the beginning of a truly food production in light of nutritional coded] fi nger of high quality soils on the sustainable agriculture which reconnects needs, climate change, fl ood predictions, 1953 Agricultural Land Classifi cation map people and the land. It would celebrate Some of the content for this soil quality, population densities etc. But Making local food work newsletter of England and Wales which shows a strip the importance of city and countryside what is already overwhelmingly obvious of fertile land stretching from Frenchay, working together to deliver food security. is that we will need every inch of land through Hambrook and Winterbourne and Impossible you say? suitable for food production, in both the out into open country. The post Second countryside and cities, if we are going to One thing is certain in my mind; the idea War assessment of land and soil quality be able to feed ourselves in the future. of covering up the best farm land in the shows just how such land was valued as a country with city extensions, park and This edition of Bristol’s Local Food strategically important resource under the rides and notions of green infrastructure Update shines the spotlight on how banner of “Best and Most Versatile” soils need to be challenged, in order that food newsletter is taken from the following www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk Bristol’s Green Belt and agricultural for local food production. produced from these soils takes its right - hinterlands are increasingly being given The soils are deep, red, largely stone- ful place at the discussion table. There are over to development in the pursuit of free and close to the city. They have the some signs that we are beginning to think further economic growth (largely in capacity to help feed us, especially in the again about the importance of the soil and response to central government targets), context of climate change, peak oil and the land to ALL our futures and I would like despite the increasing imperative to food insecurity. The soils themselves now to see Bristol and South Gloucestershire save our soils for food production. lie largely derelict, the market gardens Councils working together to enable the The Avon Green Belt, an area fi ve times having fallen prey to the global food re-creation of the food economies on and e-newsletters: the size of Bristol and predominantly economy and the land now de-valued for around the “Blue Finger”. classifi ed as farmland (but much of food production. We need to audit this I am very keen to establish a wide-ranging which currently lies fallow) is being private and public land to establish just set of debates about this topic and am increasingly earmarked by Local how possible it might be to re-create a convinced that it might be possible to Authorities for developments such local foodscape for our region. Food Climate Research network begin looking forward to another, and as 117,000 new houses in the South There is much to gain from doing this arguably more important, “dig for victory” West. We all need to act now to ensure and my campaign seeks to mobilise campaign. I sense that the cattle of Stoke that Bristol City Council ring fences all another “dig for victory” campaign Park might just be the idea that sparks suitable land for food production: read to allow food communities, new food a new and regionally important symbol on and stay in touch to fi nd out how to businesses and all of us eaters to begin around which to secure and re-invent our make your voice heard. the process of re-shaping our local food local foodscapes. If you want to contribute claire milne culture. I have a vision for this foodscape to this debate, then please contact me at: Soil Association e-news www.fcrn.org.uk Transition Bristol and Bristol Food Hub which sees the northern gateway along [email protected] www.soilassociation.org/ Contact Tara Garnett TodaysNewsLogin/tabid/639/Default. [email protected] Bristol’s local food update aspx LACORS Food Vision newsletter If you didn’t receive this PDF by email, you can send a subscription request for future Garden Organic e-news www.foodvision.gov.uk/pages/ issues to be sent direct to you, to: www.gardenorganic.org.uk/e-news/ publications [email protected] sign_up.php F3 Local food news Subscribers will be e-mailed a maximum Urban Agriculture newsletter www.localfood.org.uk/index.html of three times between issues of the www.sustainweb.org/cityharvest/ newsletter, with any event information Voscur that missed the deadline. newsletter/ www.voscur.org/news This issue of Bristol’s local food update Growing Schools newsletter was compiled by Jane Stevenson, Food Lovers Britain www.growingschools.org.uk Dorothy Greaves and Kristin Sponsler. www.foodloversbritain.com/register/ Design by Jane Stevenson: Community supported agriculture register.php www.janestevensondesign.co.uk & organic buying groups project Defra’s SD scene newsletter The views expressed in this newsletter newsletter http://sd.defra.gov.uk/subscribe/ are not necessarily endorsed by the City Email: [email protected] Council.

24 bristol’s local food update · may–june 2011