The
following is an extract of a working document of the group. It
contains an outline of the projects we would like to progress
over the coming years within the East Kilbride community. If you
have additional comments or suggestions we would welcome these as
the trust is a community initiative. If you wish to be involved
with any of the following projects or have skills to offer, then
please contact us using the link above.
Aims
of the Food Initiative
Health: Promote the health
benefits of locally grown/sourced organic and low impact food.
Society: Form robust
networks to allow the exchange of knowledge between its members.
In today's fragmented communities, projects that build community
cohesion empowering people to do for themselves is essential.
Seed to plate food knowledge exchange is essential as part of
this process. This process should engender greater local food
sovereignty and security
Local democracy: Achieving
community ownership of land resources that are democratically
controlled by the community instead of by local or nation
government.
Social inclusion and
poverty: Using local resources to enable everyone who wishes
too, affordable unhindered access to land.
Community education:
Educate people in the growth, preservation and uses of local
foods, both cultivated and wild. Enable a greater degree of self
sufficient food production, knowledge. Advice on producing the
most nutritious produce for optimal health.
Heritage: To educate and
demonstrate tradition non petrochemical dependent methods of
food production. To look at traditional methods for food
sovereignty such as seed saving, breeding, natural fertilisers,
organic methods, animal husbandry etc.
Food
Forum
This
project would entail improved engagement with local food
producers, suppliers, restaurants, schools and hospitals etc.
The
aim would be the use of more sustainable organic or low impact
produce, preferably local food with the aims of developing a more
robust and secure local food system. This would also involve
liaising with local groups looking at health and nutrition.
Schools:
Land use; how to grow; the science of growing; the need to grow
locally (economically, ecologically, ethically, healthily).Using
local produce in school meals.
How
to cook (6th form before Uni). Plant orchard and school garden.
Use recycled timber to create gardens.
Recipe exchange; seasonal
promotions and recipes; celebration of eating; cookery demo's;
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter community 'feasts' for all.
Farmers
Markets. Make information available
Veg
Box Schemes. Make information available
CSA,
could this be set up with a local farmer?
Hospitals:
Get land at local hospital to grow food. This could be tied in
with the clinicians for physiotherapy, rehabilitation and mental
health. Encourage the use of the food in hospital meals (if they
still have kitchens).
Redistribution
of food at its sell by date from supermarkets. Instead of it
going into landfill. Other than arranging this with
supermarkets, this may require contacting local freegans, so we
do not upset existing foraging activity.
Liaise
with EK libraries making sure that they have the appropriate
materials for the courses that we are planning, and on the over
all subject matter covered by the trust in general. Transition
towns handbook, Seed to Seed, Garden Organic books etc.
Food
Project
Land
Edible
Plants and Gardening
Wild food and herbs.
Food gardening group
Seed saving and exchange
and heritage vegetables
Organic growing and
permacultural systems, its importance and expert advice
Composting for real!
School
gardens and orchards
Cooking
and food preservation
Forming food Co-ops
Brewing beer wine and
cider.
Fermentation and pickles.
Real
bread campaign and bread making courses.
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