For World Localization Day, Sam Leach from Wilding Orchard in Chew Magna, just outside Bristol, writes our latest blog post. Sam and Beccy Leach aim to farm in a way that is kind to the climate and to nature. One way of re-building a more resilient food system in a post-covid world is to switch to regional-supply networks that allow us to be less reliant on global supply chains.
This weekend would have kicked off the ninth Get Growing Trail, when Bristol’s fruit and veg gardens and community growing projects throw open their gates to inspire more people to get growing. In our latest blog post, Alex Dunn from Sustainable Westbury-on-Trym reflects on the Trail and writes about how the organisation has had to adapt their work this year.
Founder of Incredible Edible Bristol, Sara Venn, looks at how the city can keep the momentum going to upscale and increase urban food production, buoyed by how the good food movement in Bristol has turned itself into a response movement to support citizens during the pandemic.
Our #BristolFoodKind campaign offers people staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic practical ideas on how to shop, reduce food waste and grow at home in a way that is good for individuals and the wider community. We’ve had a fantastic response with so many people and organisations sharing their tips and experiences on social media, so we thought we’d share some of the highlights of peoples’ growing adventures!
In response to the desperate need for accessible fresh produce, a Bristol-based market garden, Edible Futures, have teamed up with local organic producers Lilliput Farm to scale up their veg production. The growers from Edible Futures have sown thousands of plants, bought a tractor and – since a little over a month after the crisis struck – have been on the ground getting crops in the soil.
#BristolFoodKind is a campaign to create a community of acts of kindness through food during the lockdown. This community is sharing practical ideas for how you can buy food, reduce waste and grow from home, in a way that is considerate to yourself and your community at a time of crisis. Our latest blog post shows some of the best of #BristolFoodKind that has emerged so far in each of our three themes, plus acts of kindness from some of the city’s wonderful community food responders.
Going for Gold Public Engagement Coordinator Florence Pardoe reports on how the team at St Werburghs City are continuing to connect with their volunteers. Read on to find out about their “Windowsill Warrior” kits and “Home Baking Hero” kits intended to bring a little flavour of the farm to home.
Operations Director at Grow Bristol, Oscar Davidson, writes our latest blog post. With most of their restaurant customers being forced to close, they have had to temporarily shut down their production facility. The team are gutted not to be growing, but it does give an opportunity to try something they’ve been wanting to do for a while – grow your own microgreen kits.
Joy Carey, coordinator of Bristol Going for Gold, addresses what a resilient food system could look like for Bristol once we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis. It is ten years since her report ‘Who Feeds Bristol: Towards a resilient food plan’ and this blog post identifies five core principles to start building a better and more resilient food system as soon as we can.
Avon Wildlife Trust’s Matt Cracknell shares his vision for food growing in Bristol with the launch of Grow Wilder, formally Feed Bristol. Their new grow-at-home scheme is bringing a connection with the natural world and helping people support wildlife on our doorsteps during the lockdown.
