Did you know that this month is ‘Goatober’? The campaign started in the US and came to the UK in 2016 as a way to prolong the lives of billy goats and encourage chefs to put goat meat on restaurant menus. We hear from Carol Laslett of Street Goat about how the Bristol-based project is helping people feel closer to where their food comes from and more connected to the land.
We hear from Alive’s Community Gardens Manager Abi Sweet about how Alive’s dementia-friendly allotments will feature on Gardeners’ World this week. Don’t miss the episode on Friday 7 October at 8pm on BBC Two. The screening comes in the same month as Bristol Age UK’s celebrating age festival.
Our latest blog post is from Katie Major-Smith, a PhD Candidate at Plymouth Marjon University. Katie is requesting that Bristolians take part in a short survey on their food choices, particularly in relation to meat, dairy and palm oil. This research will improve our understanding of what influences peoples’ food choices in Bristol, and aims to help make our food systems more sustainable.
Our latest story is from Pasquale Cinotti about his vision for a new “farm-to-table” culinary academy. Pasquale is looking for a venue for the school and social enterprise and is seeking help identifying a suitable location. Please get in touch with him if you can help. Gemelli’s Social Enterprise will run cookery classes, provide apprenticeships, and includes a unique element of helping older people (especially men) to learn how to cook.
Bristol and Bath’s Festival of Nature is back 10-18 June 2022 with a packed programme full of in-person, digital, and hybrid events, all aimed at helping people connect with and take action for nature. Hear from The Natural History Consortium team about the festival and other exciting events coming up in the region.
Groups growing fruit and vegetables for food banks are to benefit from crop plant donations for the third year running. Blaise Plant Nursery in Lawrence Weston is donating crop plants to over 45 community groups across the city who are supporting those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, by growing food for food banks and schools.
Today’s story is from Emma Geen from Power of Doing (POD), part of the national Climate Emergency Centre Network. We hear from Emma about work to create a new community and climate centre in Bristol. The centre will look at many areas in which people can take action as communities, groups, and in their personal lives. Get involved by sharing what you would like in the space and how you would like to use it.
We hear from Kate Ploughman of Kate’s Kitchen Catering about the positive changes the company is making this year to mark 15 years in business, starting with going electric on all their delivery vans. Read about some of the simple and effective steps taken already by Kate’s Kitchen to reduce their environmental footprint. If you run a food business and are working to reduce your environmental footprint, please get in touch so that we can share your story through Bristol Bites Back Better too.
This week Better Food published its first ever impact report, taking a look at social, economic and environmental impact. Danni Rochman is both Ethical Sourcing Coordinator at Better Food Company and Communications Coordinator here at Bristol Bites Back Better. In our latest blog, Danni looks at the report’s highs and lows, and Better Food’s plans for the future. If you are working for a food business and have studied your impact in this way, please get in touch so that we can share your story too.
New research suggests that Bristolians are missing out on flavour when it comes to the vegetables they buy. The research commissioned by Riverford shows that only 53% of Bristol residents prioritise quality of flavour, while only 41% think that supermarket vegetables have great taste. Riverford will be conducting more blind taste tests in Cabot Circus this weekend. You can put organic veg to the test at home by buying from the wealth of organic veg box providers available in Bristol.
