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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! |
A couple of connections have happened this week - a WhatsApp waste avoidance group and our first venture into Social Media...
We created a Whatsapp group to better distribute surplus food between community food projects. At our last steering group meeting this came up - very large quantities of food near their end of their life, with the issue being transport / communication to get round to people.
Do you have land that you would like to ensure stays in ecological agriculture in the future? Would you like your land to support the next generation of agroecological farmers?
"The Ecological Land Cooperative is a not-for-profit community benefit cooperative, creating access to land for new entrants to ecological farming.
We have huge ambitions, but we need your help. We are inviting landowners to consider gifting land to the ELC, to help support a new generation of agroecological farmers- now and into the future.
Assistant Flower & Veg Grower Sought at Wye Organic
"Wye Organic was established in early 2021, and following a successful first two seasons we are looking to expand the team. We currently grow ½ acre of vegetables and flowers in an historic Walled Garden along with ¼ acre of polytunnel space; and this year we will start growing in an additional ¾ acre walled garden, all entirely no-dig.
Set in the stunning landscape of the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean, the garden is part of a traditional estate producing organic beef, lamb and more, all to principles of Regenerative Agriculture.
The application deadline is Sunday 26th February 2023."
The government has announced new funding for small abattoirs - and campaigners say it will be 'integral' to the future of local and sustainable farming.
"The availability of funding will help abattoirs to invest in new technology and improve productivity and animal health and welfare, allowing our agriculture sector to get its high-quality produce to market.”
Sustainable Food Trust who have been campaigning for this for years say "funding will be vital to help the small abattoirs modernise and thrive. Their services are the cornerstone of sustainable, local meat supply chains.
The Holiday Activity Programme is looking for food donations and food education with the activity providers. Get in touch if this is your area...
‘Herefordshire's holiday activities and food programme (HAF) is running throughout the Easter holidays and is free for all school aged children age 4 to 16 (reception to year 11) who are eligible for benefit related free school meals.
We have a variety of providers across Herefordshire delivering the Easter Programme, with a fantastic range of exciting indoor and outdoor activities such as, circus skills, dance, forest school, football and crafts, all with a healthy meal during each session. Alongside this we will also be kicking off the Easter activities with a family activity Taster day on Saturday 1st April.
We are seeking to engage with local organisations who would like to get involved with HAF either through food donations for our taster day and/or programme or even getting involved in food education alongside our many providers.
This deadline is short! but if you're part of a group already looking to set up a community allotment, growing space or improve the space you have, this is worth a look! Eligible area is pictured.
Greening the City - Community grant scheme
"We are offering funding to support community groups to apply to enhance and increase green spaces and support the biodiversity of areas within the boundary of the Stronger Towns Fund within Hereford City. The project is part of the #StrongerHereford vision that has attracted up to £22.4m in government funding to regenerate the city.
The deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday 22 February 2023.
Tim Shelley is an active member of our Food Alliance and also runs the Community Garden in Ross - not only a community garden with many volunteers, but ALSO a place to go for a good meal and to learn a little more about cooking good meals easily, PLUS a zero waste stall... AND they are a Talk Community Hub open Weds to Fri too :)
Are you part of something similar? Sign the Food Charter, tell us what you're part of and we'll put it on our food map...
"We had a fabulous year in 2022. Here are some numbers:
Farm for the Future
Explaining Sustainable Farming Initiative & Country Stewardship with Kate Speke-Adams
Wednesday 15th February 2023 Bunch Of Carrots, from 12 noon.
To book please email
#SaveTheWye is an umbrella campaign to support and build the network of organisations and individuals working to protect and restore the health of the River Wye and its tributaries, for the benefit of both wildlife and people.
When: Saturday 11th February
Where: Tesco Bewell St, Hereford and Tesco Station Rd, Chepstow, 11am - 1pm
Saturday 25 February 2023 at Lansdown Hall, Stroud.
Marina O’Connell is a Director of the Apricot Centre CIC, a carbon negative regenerative farm and wellbeing service in Devon. She is an experienced permaculture designer, trainer and author of Designing Regenerative Food Systems and Why We Need Them Now. Her approach weaves together permaculture design, agroforestry, biodynamic farming and other regenerative techniques.
Event through the Rural Hub:
Thursday 9th February 2023
10.00am – 12.30pm
At Leadon Vale Farm, Crowfield Lane, Dymock, Glos, GL18 2AE
(courtesy of Mark and Fiona Woodall)
"This workshop with Lucinda Lewis (Wye & Usk Foundation) will give an introduction to carrying out some basic soil assessment tests, with the aid of the Soilmentor App.
"The Big Italian Eat – Saturday 4th February 2023
Please join us at the Kindle Centre for our next ‘Big Eat’ community lunch. At each Big Eat we cook up a feast from across the globe. This time we’ll be cooking together a delicious Italian pasta feast, using local Herefordshire produce as far as possible."
From 10am - cooks, helpers and washeruppers all welcome! Email
Do you farm in a way that restores your soil, increases biodiversity, minimises carbon emissions and also feeds people?
Or do you want to support farmers that do in what and where you buy your food?
A new website has launched, by a group of farmers in Somerset to make it easier for both these things to happen.
It has a map - which is currently very sparsely populated but we can change that :)
Farming in the Wye Catchment area - Regenerative Methods
Catchment Sensitive Farming invite you to an evening of discussions with Ed Horton and Billy Lewis. Both farmers will share their experiences using
different ‘re-gen’ and mixed farming practices and how these benefit not only the environment, but the productivity of their
businesses.
Wednesday 25th January – 7pm start (prompt) at Luctonians Rugby Club, HR6 9SB
Evening food will be provided, and a pay bar will be open. Text or call Alice to book 07557 315 435.
The Ledbury Big Breakfast - 27th -29th January
A great opportunity to support local businesses who are sourcing their food locally.
Also to have conversations about what local, sustainable produce means - where has the produce come from, and how has it been grown or raised?
"16 local venues in and around Ledbury are taking part on one or more days in this event organised by Ledbury Food Group to celebrate our local food and drink producers and retailers and a healthy breakfast. The event takes place at cafes, pubs, hotels, butchers and delis in and around Ledbury."
Herefordshire is a Sustainable Food Place - as a county- wide alliance we are a member of the network driving innovation and best practice on all aspects of healthy and sustainable food. It's a programme led by the Soil Association, Food Matters and Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.
The Sustainable Food Places Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the success of those places taking a joined up, holistic approach to food and that are achieving significant positive change on a range of key food issues.
We are eligible to apply for a Bronze award this year - and we're gathering all the evidence we can to show what Herefordshire has already done, and what it can do more of!
There are still spaces on the Family Recipe Box Scheme for February - contact Lou,
"Take part in our fund, tasty and free recipe box xheme and receive Family Recipe Kit Boxes once a week for four weeks throughout February. Collect your boxes each Wednesday from the Kindle Centre (next to Asda) between 3 and 5pm"
Growing Local also run a lunch club and are part of the Southside project building a market garden, education opportunities and much more in Hereford.
Herefordshire Council have a document out for consultation on agricultural planning.
It's aiming to do two things - "outline the issues that may arise in relation to agricultural development" and also provide a tool for working out the amount of phosphates a development may produce.
If you have the brain for it, please take a look from a food perspective - does this guidance on agricultural planning support the production of local sustainable food here in Herefordshire? Does it support the people that are producing our local sustainable food?
Let the food alliance know what you think - and contribute to the consultation.
You can see contributions so far here
Wicton Farm have an opportuity!
"We are a regenerative dairy farm in Herefordshire and we are reaching out to connect with people who have passion to join us. We are searching for a young dairy farmer / new entrant and also for a person who desires to make cheese or process high quality milk. Ideally you will already be skilled in the job role, but for the right worth while person we will happily train you or allow you to learn.
Looking for a new challenge for 2023? Here's a message from Tudge Farm who sell at Leominster (tomorrow) and Hereford Farmer's (19th Jan) markets.
"We are on the hunt for someone to help us out on a part time basis with our meat packing and processing. Approximately 15-20 hours a week, mornings with some full days.
Work includes packing and labelling our meat ready for our farmers' markets, cooking hams and sausages rolls, curing bacon, slicing and dicing. Based on the farm in Richards Castle.
Love of sausages essential!
For more information and a chat about what's involved please call Guy on 07977 592028 or Chris on 07789 274775 or email
Please share with anyone you feel may be interested."
