As I begin to start noticing the shorter evenings, and realise that August is almost over, I think it is time for another update.
Latest news
After our very successful Feeding Manchester event entitled: Making Food Fair (where we explored the challenges of and solutions to food poverty) we have been carrying out an online survey to find out people’s thought’s on Feeding Manchester’s future.
Over the last few months we have been consulting all those people who have been attending our Feeding Manchester events over the last six years and we are ready to present our findings at Feeding Manchester #18.
FarmStart goes national!
Earlier this summer people from all over the UK came to learn from Kindling how to set up incubator projects for supporting brand new organic growers, at our second ‘How to Set Up a FarmStart’ day. Having brought the idea over from North America, we're really excited to see it being adopted, adapted and set in motion in others parts of the UK.
For me it's all about the soil and the environment. Organic food is so often discussed in the context of health benefits or taste, and these are important, but it's protecting our soils and stewardship of the land – principles which lie at the heart of organic farming – which matter most to me.
The last few months have seen lot of new input into our farm plans, with new faces, new funding and an ever-increasing information base helping move them on at quite a pace.
Twice a year, we run an intensive four day course for people who want to take their allotment or community food growing experience to the next level. Eight people with a wide variety of backgrounds took part in 2015's spring’s course, we’re catching up with two of them to see how it’s has helped them on their growing journey…
Suzanne Davis
It's now been four happy, muddy and very productive years over which our Land Army volunteers have been supporting and learning from Greater Manchester's organic farmers. And this summer is as busy as ever! Just a few weeks ago we ran two Team Challenge Days for University of Manchester employees, which were loved by the participants and hugely appreciated by the farmers. The teams helped to regenerate a pond area, cleared a mass of brambles and, at our new FarmStart site in Stockport, mapped out a herb area and started preparing an area of outdoor growing space.
In collaboration with the Princes Countryside Fundhttp://www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk and Trafford Ramblers group, we’re organising a guided walk through the Cheshire countryside that will take in Abbey Leys organic farm and farm shop, plus our FarmStart site.
To tackle the ageing farming population and the scarcity of organic farms in the North West, Kindling is supporting a new generation to transition gradually to a new career in farming. First year participants (TestCroppers!) undergo an intensive training programme on a shared section of land, before taking on their own ¼ acre strip in the second year. TestCropper Stephanie Robson (pictured with fellow trainee Chris) brings us news from the field...
Chris isn’t only helping set up our brand new organic box scheme, he’s also training as a grower to one day supply the scheme himself. And it’s a background in ecology that’s generated his passion for organic food. Chris explains the connection, and how Veg Box People is helping him and others build an alternative food economy in Greater Manchester.