Although we listed reasons under separate headings (Grow, Eat, Buy/find) at our first workshop it may be useful also to have a simple numbered list as below. Some adjustments for duplication may still be necessary.
- Excitement of first green shoots
- being outdoors
- graded exercise for health and fitness
- learning about what grows well where, locally
- knowledge of growing techniques
- invoking wonderment, reawakening a sense of wonder in the natural world (quote FWD c77?)
- seeds burst forth
- mental wellbeing
- seed collection
- conservation
- harvest, and abundance
- sense of community
- groupwork
- meeting new people
- productive, unpressurised way of socializing
- generates sense of belonging
- mindfulness via growing local food
- awareness and appreciation of seasonality
- knowing, or getting to know the producers or growers
- being able to trust the provenance of produce
- growing confidence
- building self esteem
- learning and sharing knowledge
- shared kinship with local growers across the country (UK) and worldwide
- enhancing the environment
- enhancing environment quality
- free stuff: foraging, blackberries
- helps biodiversity
- keeps open spaces
- composting is a form of recycling
- reusing old pots and containers
- getting stuff to reuse from the wider community
- promoting localism which also helps road safety
- lower carbon footprint in growing the food
- lower carbon footprint in distributing the food locally
- encouraging cycling, several members cycle to the plot
- encouraging local schools and others in partnership working, which fosters social inclusion eg there is currently a group doing work experience with Communigrow
- local food projects can help build local communities online
- local food projects generate community involvement
- Communigrow's plans include solar water heating
- working with local food projects can combat depression and reduce anxiety, there is a lot of evidence-based research on the impact of the environment on health and mental wellbeing
- contact with nature
- community activity, for example growing food: the whole is greater than the sum of the parts
- the scents of growing crops
- birdsong out in the fields
- seeing more wildlife
- experimenting with different growing methods
- practising ingenuity
- using appropriate technology for growing local food
- learning more about appropriate technology
- devising new appropriate technology
- welcoming rain
- appreciating sunsets when still out in the fields
- learning about the importance of using water wisely
- learning about how to keep soils healthy
- learning about how to do more with less when growing food
- learning about seed saving
- the joy of nurturing living things
- doing stuff for others boosts happiness, doing stuff for others with others, eg whne growing food, boosts happiness even more (ref?)
- sitting in the growing field, just listening to nature
- being up with the lark, literally
- learning the patience to wait for the right or auspicious time for planting
- local food growing can be bee-friendly and so aid resilience of pollinators
- finding new varieties of fruit or vegetables to grow
- finding crops to harvest even in early spring
- returning to an overwintering crop for the first spring crop
- participating in a local food project, for example in growing food, can increase your learning curve, there is always something new to learn, new challenges
- sustainable decentralized farming systems can help regenerate local economies (end grow)
- fresher food
- tastier, more flavoursome food
- healthy eating - you are what you eat
- the challenge of creative cooking
- the fun of devising recipes
- experimenting with different combinations of herbs in cooking
- learning to make use of abundant crops eg "What can I do with 50 globe artichokes!"
- Preserving food to extend the season
- sharing local food
- unpolluted or less polluted food
- food with less packaging
- shared meals, including outdoor meals
- discovering new tastes
- using appropriate technology when preparing food
- appreciating ugly veg
- surprises in vegetable boxes
- getting youngsters to appreciate real food
- teaching cooking skills
- learning about how to do more with less when preparing food
- more vitamins from fresher food
- doing stuff for others boosts happiness, doing stuff for others with others, for example when preparing food, boosts happiness even more (ref?)
- the pleasure of shelling peas in the garden on a warm sunny day
- mindfulness via preparing and enjoying local food
- Seasonal treats and specialities (heading: listings, recipes, etc)
- participating in a local food project, for example in learning about preparing food, can increase your learning curve, there is always something new to learn, new challenges
- community activity, for example preparing for a food event: the whole is greater than the sum of the parts (end eat)
- local food can offer greater variety than can be found in shops
- preserving diversity of crops and varieties
- local food can cost less and be better value
- local food purchasing can also increase awareness of fair trade and ethical consumerism
- seeds can be used in art projects
- crops can provide materials for local crafts
- an involvement with local food projects can lead to learning more about wider food issues such as the value of organic farming, food security and food justice
- participating in a local food project can increase your learning curve, there is always something new to learn, new challenges
- finding new varieties of fruit or vegetables to prepare and cook
- developing relationships with farmers market traders
- conviviality of farmers markets
- getting food without having to get in the car, or travel other than on foot
- enjoying community food events
- local food can provide ingredients for home made wine or locally produced ciders
- participating in a local food project, for example in discovering more about local food and where to find it, can increase your learning curve, there is always something new to learn, new challenges
- when you know where your food comes from it gives you reasons to savour it (end finding)
- learning about history through local food
- learning about sustainability, more generally, when involved with a local food project
- learning about your own local community
- helping set up community food events
- encouraging and discovering the the joy of sharing more generally
- being involved with local food projects helps you learn about and appreciate local distinctiveness
- involvement with local food projects can stimulate awareness of the issue of food waste and ways of tackling it
- involvement with local food projects can stimulate awareness of wider issues such as food security, food sovereignty and food justice
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