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Keep in touch with the Food Alliance Blog - sign up here Follow on Instagram here, Facebook here Here's where you can see what's happening for good local food in Herefordshire. From local food events, through farming to food waste - we use the Sustainable Food Places topics so you can see the things you're interested in at a glance. Click on each one for more information or scroll down the most recent. Contact us to tell us what's going on in your part of the County and sign the food charter to add your voice! |
Food highlights of the four day Caplor event include some local sustainable food providers on Tuesday 6th June, and agricultural talks on 7th June.
More details of each event here
"Caplor Energy, is excited to announce a four-day public event celebrating “100 years @ Caplor”.
The event will take place from the 5 to the 8 of June 2023
Tuesday 6 June – Caplor Energy and Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire present a “Herefordshire Showcase” with a local artisan market, crafts, activities and competitions.
Wednesday 7th June – Agricultural Event
A opportunity for the rural community in Herefordshire to come together, hear from industry experts and find out about renewable energy solutions designed by farmers for farmers.
SUNDAY 28TH MAY - 10am to 4pm
BELMONT WANDERERS AWARDS & FUN DAY @ The Belmont Wanderers Football Pitches
"Growing Local attended this event last year and are back again this year, it’s a really special day celebrating all the amazing players, teams and work Belmont Wanderers do - we are proud to be their project partners! Lots of stalls, food, drinks and football mayhem. Look out for our green information gazebo and come and talk to us about the Southside project and Growing Local Gardens plans. Regular Walks & Talks of the new site, seed kit giveaways and more.
More info about the Southside and Growing Local Gardens project can be read here.
Today Pat and Lou from Growing Local signed the Southside Funding Agreement to release the Stronger Hereford Towns Fund, towards their part in this project - including a market garden and a cook school. "A monumental move forward for ourselves and our project partners Belmont Wanderers and NMITE. Two and a half years of work and we are finally at this very significant day! I think it’s fair to say we’ll be out celebrating tonight!"
A Market Garden and Cook School for Hereford is on the way!
https://growinglocal.org.uk/the-growing-local-summer-newsletter/
Here's Martin Lines, chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network's thoughts on the Food Summit hosted by the Prime Minister and DEFRA this week:
"The last 18 months have highlighted the fragility of our food system, which has lurched from one crisis to another. With extortionate input costs, weather extremes and soaring food prices, it’s been a challenging period, to say the very least. What can’t be ignored in conversations about food security is how these circumstances lock heads at the same intersection: climate change, nature loss and dietary ill-health.
If you're not already, get informed about the farming methods that provide solutions to rivers, support biodiversity and build better communities - get stuck into Nature Friendly Farming Week's webinars!
"Join us in celebrating our annual Nature Friendly Farming Week 15th - 19th May. Join our webinars and follow along on social media as we shine a spotlight on #WhoFarmedYourFood"
Daily themes:
- Monday – What is nature-friendly farming?
- Tuesday – Species-rich Grasslands
- Wednesday – Soil
- Thursday – The Farm Ecosystem
- Friday – Slow the Flow
book webinars here
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/nature-friendly-farming-week-2023-2150039
Two practical hands-on events for farmers in the next month focusing on building soil, reducing pesticides and maitaining yield. Farmers will need an SBI number - and you get lunch :)
Holistic approach to reducing pesticide use and improving returns -
Boycefield Farm Dilwyn
Tuesday 16th May 10am – 1pm Farm walk with Billy Lewis (farmer) and Ben Nott (WUF Catchment Adviser), followed by lunch.
Food, farming and nature are featuring in this month's County Council election demands - and promises.
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, Herefordshire CPRE, Friends of the Upper Wye and Friends of the Lower Wye are calling for new allotment sites to be established - at least 50 plots, plus rewards for farmers shifting to 'sustainable and regenerative methods of production'. More about the Hustings that was convened, and the pledges of the panel that attended, here.
Another chance to find out about the Southside Project and Growing Local's new market garden on Saturday. "Fitness Football and Food"
More info at Growing Local's website. 
https://growinglocal.org.uk/growing-local-gardens-open-days-events-april-may-2023/
"We are planning on holding three open events in April and May to talk to people about how they can get involved in our project by:
– volunteering to help develop the site into our market gardens, educational garden and orchard areas – we are looking for help in everything from gardening to hedge laying, carpentry to bee keeping!
– taking on a future vegetable crop share
– coming along to our workshops, events and training opportunities (for schools, families, children, young people and adults)
Foraging Taster and Well Dressing this weekend:
"Enjoy wandering the nature trails and views of the Teme while you learn some of the wild edible plants sat in the hedgerows , how to harvest them safely and sustainably, how they can enhance dishes and learn how to re-awaken your senses to the natural world.
Recharging your wild spirit restores the balance many of us lose in the hectic pace we call life in the modern world.
An interest in nature led Chef Alex into wild cuisine while working for an ancestral skills school, teaching game prep, wild cooking, foraging and fermentation amongst other things.
Join us on an outdoor experience that will awaken your senses, learn new skills and have a greater understanding of nature. Followed by a light forage inspired picnic.
Please message to arrange any dietary requirements and further details"
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/foraging-the-fold-tickets-594540585897
Event - 25th April 7pm with Herefordshire Meadows and Buglife:
"Join Buglife and Herefordshire Meadows to learn about the Get the Marches Buzzing project and how it is connecting up wildflower-rich habitats across Shropshire and North Herefordshire, working to restore habitats for rare and declining pollinator species like the Dingy Skipper butterfly (Erynnis tages) and the Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola). Most importantly, find out how you can help on your own patch."
The Fold are launching a CSA - community supported agriculture where you can be part of a thriving farm, and get vegetables, without living on a farm!
"As a Member of the Fold Community Farm, you purchase a “veg share” which gives you a weekly veg box of freshly-picked, organic, seasonal produce, delivered to your chosen collection point.
As a bonus, you will enjoy free community events, such as guided farm tours, communal meals and volunteer days on the farm! You’ll also get to vote on how the scheme is run."
Our friends across the border have an interesting event if you're thinking of looking that way for food growing land...
"Are you trying to secure land for an agroecological farm in Wales? Have you been considering whether, crowdfunding, grants, community shares or loans from ethical investors, but you aren’t sure what is right for you?
Come along to this event on 24th April, run with the Landworkers’ Alliance as part of the Resilient Green Spaces project, to hear from and ask questions to organisations with experience in the field, and those who have supported them to do so.
Our Shropshire neighbours have an opportunity for farmers and those connected to agriculture under 30 - deadline 30th April.
Share your vision for the future of our food and farming in Shropshire & the Marches
What do you think are the most promising approaches to a regenerative and resilient local food future? Share your thoughts using real examples of what is happening across the county - any format welcome.
What you get:
- Your writing/podcast will be showcased by SGFP in our comms and at MRFFC
- Free 2 day ticket to MRFFC
- £250 to cover time and expenses
- Best entrant will have opportunity to work with SGFP in production of a series of case studies and/or podcasts (subject to acceptable standard being met)
A free workshop run by We Are Farming Minds - details below.
We Are Farming Minds also have many resources on their website https://www.wearefarmingminds.co.uk/
"Our next FREE Mental Health Awareness workshop will be on Wednesday April 19th at the HFYFC Offices, Beech Business Park, Tillington Road, Hereford HR4 9QJ. You can choose either a morning or afternoon session:
Opportunity for a HEAD GROWER to set up a CSA Market Garden in Hereford
From Growing Local:
"We are offering a fantastic opportunity for an experienced agroecological/organic grower to enable Growing Local to establish a new 16 acre CSA market garden within walking distance of Hereford City.
The market garden forms part of the development of The Southside Project transforming 35 acres of green space on the edge of the city into a vibrant community destination with sports pitches, gardens, a community hub learning space, affordable cafe, farm shop and field to fork cook school. The project is funded by Hereford’s Stronger Towns Fund.
An update from Growing Local:
"Our project is rapidly taking shape and we now due to take over our 3-field 16-acre site immediately after Easter!
We are planning on holding three open events in April and May to talk to people about how they can get involved in our project by:
– volunteering to help develop the site into our market gardens, educational garden and orchard areas – we are looking for help in everything from gardening to hedge laying, carpentry to bee keeping!
– taking on a future vegetable crop share
– coming along to our workshops, events and training opportunities (for schools, families, children, young people and adults)
And so, so much more!
"Drought is not a lack of rain. It's a lack of infiltration."
Great to hear lots of talk of food at the water catchment event in Ross this week, organised by the Wye Valley AONB Partnership.
The way that we produce our food needs to be in harmony with our rivers, and the event detailed methods to do just that - agroforestry with Stephen Briggs, building soil health with Niels Corfield and plenty of thoughts relevant to farming systems and Natural Flood Management with Chris Uttley.
Here's the second recording from the vending sheds and infrastructure event this week.
Glenkens Food Hub shared their experience of setting up a joint hub online that a big variety of producers use, and local producers and consumers shared and got questions answered.
A Farming Perspective - Where do we Go from Here?
Monday 20th March
7 p.m. at the Burgage Hall, Church Lane, Ledbury
"Patrick Wrixon has farmed in Herefordshire for over 40 years. He has been involved with agricultural organisations Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF), and the NFU.
Patrick will give a presentation followed by discussion and questions. Come and join in the debate.
No tickets required but donations welcome to cover the cost of hiring the hall."
CALL FOR PROPOSALS (Speakers & Panel Sessions) From the Shropshire Good Food Partnership -
Marches Real Food & Farming Conference
We're pleased to announce the first ever
MARCHES REAL FOOD AND FARMING CONFERENCE.
SAVE THE DATE:
September 15-16, 2023, at Linley Farm, Shropshire.
The aim of this conference is to bring people together around agro-ecological farming and food systems, to inspire each other, share good practice, build networks and create the community that can bring about the transition we need. As a bio-region, 'The Marches' (both sides of the
England/Wales border) offers us a huge opportunity to focus our efforts.
Food needs land... Sustainable food means great land management - here's an interesting event coming up...
"The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership Seminar: Enhancing water catchment through innovative land management.
Influencing policies and practices to conserve and enhance water resources in our outstanding landscape. This is a free event.
Join us for an inspirational day of talks from leading experts in soil and land management, agroforestry and Natural Flood Management, including:
Niels Corfield - Regenerative Agriculture Consultant
Stephen Briggs - Abacus Agriculture, Nuffield Scholar
Chris Uttley - Stroud Valleys Natural Flood Management Officer
Followed by a Q&A panel discussion.