Callout - successful local food projects?

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Callout - successful local food projects?
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cassandra

Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 14 5:33 am Post subject: Callout - successful local food projects?

Hi guys, a friend of mine is visiting the UK soon. She is an advisor to a Greens MP here in Australia (well, Tasmania actually) and is looking to visit some successful local food initiatives while she is there. Locally grown, locally processed, locally marketed foods are her priority. So if you can please suggest some places she can visit that would be great!

Look forward to your ideas and suggestions.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15985

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 14 7:16 am Post subject:
Where in the UK is she visiting Cassandra?

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 14 7:25 am Post subject:

Get her to talk to the guys at https://foodassembly.com - they have 6 live assemblies now in the UK with 5 in London and 1 in Chester. I'm part of it and will be launching on the 5th November in Lancaster. It's very much the type of ideas your friend would be interested in

Also Lancaster has a very very vibrant local food culture. We have probably the most active Transition Cities group as well as LESS and Sustainable Lancashire and we are probably the biggest Green (party) outside Brighton.

There are also initiatives such as Incredible Edible which started just a few miles up the road in Todmorden.

If you want me to introduce her to people in the area or to the Food Assembly lot in London I can do

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15985

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 14 7:29 am Post subject:
We have Hampshire Farmers Markets here in Hampshire, and I could probably arrange for her to meet some of the producers on their farms if she wanted. She would be welcome to see how we do our forestry in our woods too.

cassandra

Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 14 8:04 am Post subject:

MR, I think her travels will be dictated by what is available. These both sound really good initiatives and I will certainly draw her attention to them. Thanks for such prompt responses!

Joanne, I really like the sound of this too! With a small population spread over some 'interesting' terrain, an online network will work well. Particularly for tourists also.

Bring them on still, please, I will ensure she gets them all!

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15985

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 14 6:32 am Post subject:
Thinking about it, there is also the Sustainability Centre, other Hampshire Coppice Craftsmen doing all sorts of things from hedge laying, though hazel and chestnut coppicing to oak timber framing and shingle making. A couple of farm shops where they grow their own to some extent (not organic), a community shop and a pub that the landlord has brought back to the centre of the community.

cassandra

Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 14 8:13 am Post subject:
Cool. All great suggestions. Many thanks I will pass them on to her!! Knew you guys could come up with some great ideas!

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 14 2:05 pm Post subject:

Have a word with Rob R, Cassandra, not sure if he is organic, but is in York area I think, he does meat. And the Centre for Alternative Technology in mid Wales, I go there every 3-4 years, all very 'green' and sustainable.
You could also write to the Green Party in the UK, there will be people there who will know, doubtless google will help!
As a matter of interest does green imply 'organic'? I would also talk to the man in Devon who has the biggest deliver to your door of organic produce-I have forgotten the name-someone will know!
I think I had a lucky escape going to work yeserday at 6am. A cement lorry was behaving badly on the road and nearly caused a fatallity by not allowing a chap who had overtaken him back into the line the result of which was that he managed to get in just intime by overtaking the next lorry along in our 3 artic/1 land rover convoy. I am writing to the company, as the rest of us were travelling legally at the right speed of 40mph on a single carriage road and he obviously wanted to break the speed limit!
I hope your cold is better MR, and your part of the world is warming up Cassandra. See you all tomorrow.

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 14 3:47 pm Post subject:
I can point her in the direction of the Greens up here, I'm friends with the local Green Party promoter up here. Plus I'm in contact with alot of 'green' project organisers - I've a meeting with a couple tonight actually

cassandra

Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 14 6:36 am Post subject:

Wow you guys! Thanks heaps.

Gregotyn, Green implies organic, at least not factory farming. The aim is to have a more sustainable approach to farming like holistic pasture management, or at least cell grazing and mechanical weed control rather than chemical, so yes I guess so.

Here they are the only Party that is willing to address climate change, environmental and social equity issues etc. Our Charter has about 20 odd points, which I refuse to enumerate right now as I am totally knackered, lol.

I will dig them out of my campaigning bag and get back to your on that.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15985

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 14 6:41 am Post subject:

We also have the National Coppice Federation (NCFed). The Gathering will take place in Dorset on the weekend of 18th-19th October, when coppice workers from all over the country will meet up to discuss various issues, visit woods, see demonstrations of skills and do some hands on work themselves. The idea of the NCFed was to give coppice workers a voice and provide support in the same way that county groups do at present, but nationwide.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 14 2:01 pm Post subject:

The organic 'deliver to your door man' was voted farmer of the year last year, he is greener than green-well me anyway! He is in charge of a nationwide organization for organic veg. boxes, and I think his brother is running the farm at home in Devon. Actually the greens are the same in the UK as everywhere else.
I would have gone organic with a pig farm I was planning with a former girlfriend, but realised I was not good enough with things like medicines, to know what to use and what not to use. I read reams and still didn't understand it, but the expense to join in officially was also beyond my pocket for even qualifying for certification.
Anyway there are plenty for you friend to 'go' at in the UK. Get some rest!

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15985

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 14 5:40 am Post subject:
That is one of the problems with certification systems Gregotyn. They are often expensive and really only prove that you can afford it. Others can be as good and organic, but may not be able to afford the paperwork to say so. Applies to all certification schemes I am afraid.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 14 10:49 am Post subject:
My current holding has had no fertiliser spread in my time here 12 years, and is completely non-chemical; grown a good crop of hay for the last 5 years, well the people who have it appreciate it!

cassandra

Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 14 8:44 am Post subject:
Thanks guys. I have passed your recommendations on to her. I will let you know what is happening if I get to find out! lol. She has a 30 day tour of investigation, but already has a few contacts lined up, so it will depend on where she will be and who she needs to talk to (if she is not already in contact with some of your recommendations). Like I said, I will let you know.

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