We had the pleasure of accompanying fourteen young adults to Glebelands City Growers on Monday (15th August 2011).
As part of a European exchange programme organised by Youth Discovery Ventures, particpants came from London, Sheffield and Holland to be part of a youth volunteering project for a week here in Manchester.
Most had little experience of food growing, in fact a few had never been on a farm before, but all where enthusiastic to learn, asking questions and helping out with the tasks.
Adam and Charlotte from Glebelands gave us a tour of the site and then the group was split up. Each team spent an hour discussing sustainability issues prompted by a quiz about the food we eat and modern day farming, as well as an hour in the poly-tunnels weeding onions and harvesting French beans.
Not only did the group get to experience the reality of running a commercial market garden and discuss the challenges sustainable food enterprises face; Kindling learnt a lot about engaging people new to farming.
The morning was kindly funded by Youth Discovery Ventures and Making Local Food Work as part of their Food Systems programme.