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=== 365 Reasons ===
=== 365 Reasons ===
#Excitement of first green shoots
''Please see separate article:'' [[365 reasons, the list]]
#being outdoors
#graded exercise for [[Health, sustainable community action|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
#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  [[File:Mm3.JPG|right]]
#enhancing [[environment quality]]
#[[free stuff]]: foraging, blackberries
#helps [[biodiversity]]
#keeps [[open spaces]]
#composting is a form of [[Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle|recycling]]
#[[Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle|reusing]] old pots and containers
#getting stuff to [[Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle|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, sustainable community action|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
#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
#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
#contact with nature
#community activity: the whole is greater than the sum of the parts
#unpolluted or less polluted food
#food with less packaging
#shared meals, including outdoor meals
#discovering new tastes
#the scents of growing crops
#birdsong out in the fields
#seeing more wildlife
#finding new varieties of fruit or vegetables
#experimenting with different growing methods
#learning about history through local food
#practising ingenuity
#using [[appropriate technology]]
#learning more about appropriate technology
#devising new appropriate technology
#appreciating ugly veg
#developing relationships with farmers market traders
#conviviality of farmers markets
#surprises in vegetable boxes
#welcoming rain
#getting youngsters to appreciate real food
#teaching cooking skills
#appreciating sunsets when still out in the fields
#learning about the importance of using water wisely
#learning about sustainability, more generally
#learning about how to keep soils healthy
#learning about how to do more with less
#learning about your own local community
#getting food without having to get in the car, or travel other than on foot
#enjoying community food events
#helping set up community food events
#learning about [[seed saving]]
#the joy of nurturing living things
#encouraging and discovering the the joy of [[sharing]] more generally
#more vitamins from fresher food
#doing stuff for others boosts happiness, doing stuff for others with others boosts happiness even more (ref?)
#the pleasure of shelling peas in the garden on a warm sunny day
#finding crops to harvest even in early spring
#sitting in the growing field, just listening to nature
#being up with the lark, literally
#returning to an overwintering crop for the first spring crop
#learning the patience to wait for the right or auspicious time for planting
#being involved with local food projects helps you learn about and appreciate local distinctiveness
#local food can provide ingredients for home made wine or locally produced ciders
#local food growing can be bee-friendly and so aid resilience of pollinators
#involvement with local food projects can stimulate awareness of the issue of [[food waste]] and ways of tackling it
#...


=== What might the book include? ===
=== What might the book include? ===

Revision as of 15:14, 22 April 2015

Template:365news This project is a collaboration between Communigrow and Sustainable Malling to co-create a book with the same title.

Notes from our first workshop

Our first workshop took place on April 11, 2015. Although we listed reasons under separate headings at the workshop we may just want to have simple numbered list to start with. Adjustments for duplication can be made later.

365 Reasons

Please see separate article: 365 reasons, the list

What might the book include?

sections can include more than one contributor

Copyofpumpkin1.JPG
  • tips on propagating
  • how to start off, setting up a local food growing group
  • cultivating
  • growing-the basics
  • recipes, which ties it all together
  • how to grow and how to use, side by side
  • why it'd be good for you
  • what to do with unusual crops
  • promoting the positive aspects, of growing, finding and eating local food
  • how it'll make you feel better
  • tips to provoke, think for yourself, explore, pose some questions
  • pictures or photos
  • drawings or artwork
  • quotes or soundbites to break up the text
  • a year in the life of Communigrow, highlights of the year
  • stories, anecdotes
  • local food in the context of sustainable communities - Phil
  • whatever might interest, inspire or be useful to other community food groups
  • facts and figures, as long as presented in a fun way, eg Laurence talks about how many miles of potatoes
  • what you can do, information both for other local groups and for individuals
  • overcoming pitfalls
  • historical or heritage context eg what local foods were traditional in Kent?
  • a brief history of Communigrow
  • local food and allergies
  • other food projects in Malling, Kent, South East England, rest of the UK - Phil
  • a flavour of community food groups in other parts of the world (100 mile diet) - Phil
  • local food and local walks - Phil (West Malling area)
  • more reasons, the scarier stuff! (to be right at the end of the book, if we include this) - Phil
  • where to find out more - Phil
  • feedback from readers, leading to a 2nd edition

How could we create content for the book?

  • request ideas and comments from the wider group of Communigrow supporters, eg on a specific topic, every once in a while
  • partner organisations or groups maybe interested in helping with the design of the book
  • write ups of shared meal and other Communigrow events eg the field kitchen last October
  • use of local hall for bring and share food events
  • chat to family and friends about local food
  • review other books about local food or community food projects
  • write up experiences of volunteering with the project
  • taking or finding suitable photos
  • sketches or artwork
  • keeping a small notebook to jot down ideas as they arise
  • practice writing short anecdote or story about local food

Resources and references

other books about local food - local libraries - could we set up a small Communigrow library? - Inspiring quotes - relevant websites concerning local food - any forthcoming video about Communigrow

category:Local food images

More about the project

The book will be drafted on the Sustainable community action wiki (on Appropedia) and will be published under a Creative Commons license.

Editorial group

(as at April 2015)

Helen: Why I enjoy eating fresh food

Richenda: Using local produce and seasonality

Danielle: Wellbeing aspects of local food

Brett: Growing local food, putting up solar tunnels

Phil: Co-ordinating editor

Contributions of suitable material from other members and supporters of Communigrow or Sustainable Malling most welcome!

What we'd like help with

from other members of Communigrow

  • a brief history of Communigrow
  • photos, drawings, artwork which we can reuse under a Creative Commons license
  • stories, anecdotes eg experiences of volunteering with the project

See also

Interwiki links

Wikipedia: Local food, Low Carbon diet, High carbon and low carbon food choices, Community Supported Agriculture, Food miles

External links


FA compass icon.svgAngle down icon.svgCommunity Action for Sustainability
CASwiki
Places
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