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.
“As well as helping set up Veg Box People, I’m in the first year of Kindling’s FarmStart programme. To tackle the ageing farming population and the scarcity of organic farms in the North West, The Kindling Trust is supporting a new generation of people like me to transition gradually to a new career in organic farming.
My background is in ecology and horticulture, and it’s my love of nature and the countryside that’s informed my thinking about farming. The UK is in the grip of a biodiversity crisis; once-common species and important habitats are becoming increasingly rare. A major contributing factor is the intensive farming techniques employed by large agribusiness; the indiscriminate application of toxic pesticides and fertilizers are transforming our countryside into a green desert.
We need a paradigm shift when it comes to our approach to farming in this country. Is the trashing of the environment an acceptable outcome of the high yields and cheap food these energy-intensive methods can produce? I don’t think it is, and that’s why I’m passionate about trying to do things in a different way.
Prior to starting the FarmStart programme, I’d considered a career in growing, but had been put off by the costs and risks involved. Access to the right equipment, fertile land, information and route to market can seem like insurmountable barriers, but Farmstart addresses all of these.
FarmStarters that are further along in the programme are already producing high-end restaurant-quality organic veg, and are really looking forward to supplying Veg Box People once it launches in June. Customers will be getting salad, herbs and veg that have travelled just 15 miles from the field to campus – cutting hundreds off their food miles. And in return, by creating a reliable weekly demand for the veg, they'll be playing a crucial role in making FarmStart viable. Simply producing delicious organic veg is pointless unless you have a route to market, so the veg box will prove invaluable for myself and the others. We’ll also be able to plan our crops in advance, and be confident that we have an income to allow our small businesses to grow and flourish.
As a grower, I’m really excited about being part of Veg Box People and having that face to face contact with customers, which I think will be essential to its success. I´ll be able to relay to members how their produce was grown and where it´s come from, and in the opposite direction, deliver feedback to producers about what customers want”.
This is part of what makes Veg Box People more than a box scheme. It’s a brand new piece of a much bigger picture, helping Kindling build an alternative food economy within Greater Manchester. A food economy that connects more people with affordable organic produce, values good fresh food and the farmers (like Chris) who grow it, and shortens the distance between field and fork. To have a look at how the scheme works, or even sign up for a weekly box, visit vegboxpeople.org.uk