Last night's FeedingManchester #8 took inspiration from a spectrum of sustainable food pioneers from local guerilla gardeners to Incredible Edible Todmordon to the campaign to stop global food speculation.
Attendees ranged from the University of Manchester and academics from Lancaster and Sheffield Universities; voluntary groups like Transistion Town Groups, Operation Farm & Abundance Manchester and businesses like Unicorn Grocery, with over forty people attending.
People came from Bolton, Aston Under Lyne, New Mills, Broadbottom and even London!
Because of our over ambitious agenda, we didn't get to talk about the events we had collectively organised for Manchester's Food & Drink Festival, which gave us all more time to introduce ourselves and network.
The highlight of the evening were four passionate speakers, who each had just fifteen minutes to inform and inspire our work in Manchester. We heard from:
- Nigel Rolland from Ashton Allotment Action talking about the 'New Diggers' who are reclaiming land for allotments.
- Mary Clear from Incredible Edible Todmorden talking about Community Food Growing.
- Our Helen Woodcock showcasing inspiring sustainable food systems in Spain.
- Andrew Lockhart on the global campaign against food speculation being spearheaded by the World Development Movement.
The second part of the evening involved us breaking into three groups discussing:
- Campaigning for a sustainable food system – connecting local and global issues.
- Co-operative food businesses to feed our City.
- Increasing access to growing land in our communities.
The notes from these informative disussions will be made available in the coming month on our website.
By seven pm we were all ready to call it a night, with a small group heading to the pub to discuss all the amazing things we had learnt.