Spring Conference of SOMERSET COMMUNITY FOOD
held on April 27th at Genesis Centre, Taunton
The aim of the conference was to ‘explore how best to access the land, develop the tools and strengthen the links necessary to enable more people to grow and eat more healthy, sustainable, local food in Somerset.’
The day began with 4 inspiring short presentations of good practise from around the county:
*An overview of ‘Somerset land and Food’ - the new 3 year Somerset Community Food project - with Big Lottery funding. [www.somersetcommunityfood.org.uk]
*Baltonsborough Primary School demonstrated how they are revolutionising school food culture. Each Year Group has a raised bed growing organic vegetables which are used in the kitchen, with surplus supplies being sold to parents. They have a polytunnel and are soon to acquire a shed!
*Tatworth Growing Together. Tatworth Parish Council adopted Transition status in 2008 and made the setting up of a community crop producing project a priority. Land in the village is leased and the project run by volunteers. A brilliant model [ www.tatworthgrowingtogether.org.uk]
*Rodney Stoke Harvest Share. Rodney Stoke [village near Wells] has a producer led community supported agricultural project. More on CSA schemes later.
Round table discussions and workshops followed.
After lunch, individuals were accorded a ’soap box ‘ opportunity to briefly address all present, before the final element - ‘A glimpse of the bigger picture and where next for Somerset?’ , covered by 3 speakers:
*FOOD MAPPER. The MD of Geofutures described how his product could be used to map, store and analyse land use data. This company has clearly been welcomed by Somerset Community Food -but I felt rather uncomfortable. People were asked [with local knowledge] to identify land which might be available for use and, through food mapper, to feed in the data. It was said to facilitate local groups buying land for communities ....
*SOMERSET LAND FOR FOOD INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETY. The CE of Wessex Community Assets outlined the benefits of using a ‘Community Benefit Society’ as a legal structure when seeking to buy land for community ownership. [ www.wessexca.co.uk ]
*MAKING LOCAL FOOD WORK. This is a national scheme designed to support community food enterprises. Well worth a good look-[ www.makinglocalfoodwork.co ] Traci Lewis [Soil Assoc] gave an overview, with a focus on CSA [community supported agriculture], an approach which develops the consumer/producer link. There are many models[ producer-led, consumer-led, labour input] but basically consumers undertake a commitment to secure a ‘share’ of the harvest. At its simplest, I might agree up front to contribute ¼ of the cost/work involved in my neighbour raising 4 pigs – to get one myself. [Similar to some developing world schemes.]
An enjoyable day which left me amazed at the depth of Somerset involvement and expertise in this area. I suppose the county has been a magnet for ‘ self-sufficienters ’ for decades. The next conference is in October – an opportunity for networking for anyone interested in this area.
Moira Wood
