Please send us your news for future editions via bridportfoodmatters@gmail.com or post to the BFM Facebook Group. Do pass this newsletter on to others, and encourage people to subscribe via this link so we can keep on growing our community. Let’s ‘join up the dots’ in Bridport, so we can become more than the sum of our parts.
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Give your feedback on Bridport’s draft Food Security Plan
- Frome Food Network comes to Bridport – 14th November, 6pm
- Bridport Local Food Group AGM – 22nd November
- Food Security for All – It Matters!
- Tamarisk Farm featured on Countryfile!
- Modbury Farm Shop has new owners
- Hazelmead Bridport Cohousing starts growing food
- Capturing water at the Edible Gardens
- MMMM remaining movie and meal schedule for 2023
- Links to some things we found interesting
Bridport Food Security Plan – give your feedback on the draft, by end October!
Bridport Town Council has been working with the Landworkers Alliance and Bridport Food Matters to gather data and define actions that would ensure our community has access to healthy, nutritious and high welfare food. A draft Food Security Plan, authored by Ele Saltmarsh, is available for comment until end October, ahead of the plan being considered by Bridport Town Council in January 2024.
The link to the online questionnaire is: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CO2ADJ/.
Make sure to have your say…
Frome Food Network comes to Bridport – 14th November 2023
Hugh Thomas, coordinator of Frome Food Network, and Becky Lovegrove of Frome’s Future Shed, are hitting the road to tell us about what’s happening in Frome to build a sustainable food town, the challenges and the successes in how they’re bringing the community together. Come and join us to be inspired by their massive achievements and learning along the way
Hugh Thomas, usually a food journalist by trade, founded the Frome Food Network in 2021 after the need became apparent for a more cohesive movement towards a more vibrant, dynamic, and sustainable Food Town. Though simply a group of collaborative food people at its core, Edventure’s Future Shed has helped the network grow into a role that actively informs and engages a local audience around principles of localism, community, the circular economy, sustainable and regenerative farming, good health and nutrition, and traceability.
The Frome Food Network is building awareness of food sustainability and the local food economy – and is one of the country’s most inspiring examples of how bring the community together to increase food security and our resilience.
There will be opportunity for questions and discussion, followed by some yummy fresh squash soup.
FREE but book your place via Eventbrite here. Donations invited for the food.
Tuesday 14th November, 2023 at 6pm in the Royal British Legion Hall, Victoria Grove, DT6 3AD
Bridport Local Food Group AGM – 22nd November
Wednesday 22nd November at 6.30pm
in Bridport Town Hall.
As well as the usual agenda including deciding on a committee/working group, this will be an opportunity to discuss the future of the Local Food Group.
2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the Group and let’s help make sure the annual Food Festival (in June) can be a huge celebration of this milestone!
Food Security for All – It Matters!
A partnership project between HOME in Bridport, Sustainable Bridport, Opera Circus and BFM.
HOME has supported a small community allotment off Princess Road, Skilling for many years. During Covid it became a bit unloved and has been brought back to life by Jonathan Scott with support from HOME. HOME and BFM were successful in their bid to Dorset Council to create several community food events to exchange and learn, to find out need, bring people and organisations together looking at issues of food security and climate awareness. This is one step of many in this conversation in which so many people are involved. About 30 people including children gathered for the first allotment event in September, with the second taking place on 26th October. Hoping for reasonable weather, there will be food including delicious seasonal soup, fresh coleslaw, and cake with hot drinks. Also, for those interested – some winter planting, harvesting of what’s left in the allotment and activities for children.
There are plans to develop more activities on the allotment and we hope there will interest from people to volunteer to sustain and develop the allotment for the Skilling community. HOME in Bridport, its partners and volunteers will continue to fund raise and support the allotment in the long term if there is interest in sustaining it.
There will be a third event on January 16th 2024 for anyone, including organisations, interested in participating in the conversation on Food Security and Climate, led by Bridport Food Matters. More information on this soon. This is all part of the joint work helping to establish BFM as the Food Security umbrella community organisation for Bridport and surrounding area. With thanks to Dorset Council for making these events possible.
Tamarisk Farm featured on countryfile!
Watch the wonderful piece on last week’s Countryfile about Tamarisk farm, organic mixed farm in West Bexington. It shows beautifully their longstanding agro-ecological farming methods and moving the cattle along Cogden beach, on horseback.
Watch here
You can find them at the market of a Saturday or collect fresh produce from their farm on Tuesday mornings. More about Tamarisk here.
Modbury Farm Shop has new owners
Modbury farm shop has been part of a working farm since 2007 and run by owners Tim and Julie Garry. On May 29th neighbours Lucinda and Tim Ackland took ownership of the shop.
Unfortunately, the jersey cows that provided the much-loved raw milk have been moved to pastures new. We do have however local organic unhomogenised milk straight from the churn served in reusable glass milk bottles.
The energy of Modbury hasn’t changed but has gained further focus on local independent suppliers and growers. A new website will be launched on the 3rd November which you can subscribe to from today. Much appreciate all your support and looking forward to meeting everyone reading these words.
Capturing water at Primary schools Edible Gardens
Water themed fete style events were held at both primary schools during Bridport’s Water Week. Over 100 people attended the St Mary’s event and over 80 at Bridport Primary. A scavenger hunt for children was run at both events giving pupils and parents a reason to explore the garden and see the water butts and watering cans. Sustainable Bridport organised the events and arranged for other local groups to participate with a range of activities, including Wessex Water, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Community Connectors, Bridport Town Council and the Askers Meadows group.
Hazelmead – Bridport Co-housing starts growing food
It’s just over a year since the first residents moved into Hazelmead, home of Bridport Cohousing www.bridportcohousing.org.uk
Although we have a huge challenge on our hands to grow some of our own food here, as the soil is full of grass, docks and nettle seeds, we have managed to grow a mountain of courgettes, salads, beetroots, sweetcorn, squash and kale this season in the communal beds behind all the houses. Produce is shared between members, so everyone can get a taste of what a really fresh vegetable tastes like.
We may have to wait for a few years before our newly planted orchard starts to yield a harvest but we have around 40 varieties of apple, pear, plum and cherry to look forward to as well as quince, walnut, mulberry and medlar. Our vintage cider press is standing at the ready!
MMMM remaining movie and meal schedule for 2023
Monday 30 October –
Dorset Premiere!
Everything Must Change
Monday 13 November
Breaking Boundaries:
The Science of Our Planet
Monday 27 November –
UK Premiere!
ALTER NATIVES: Building Possible Futures
Monday 11 December –
The Best Film Ever Made?! Network
See here for all the details.
We’ll also have delicious organic vegetarian curries from Fergus Bradbeer aka Vegie Vortex plus hot and cold drinks. Please pre-order your food if at all possible.
Links to some things we found interesting…
Hull set to become the first city in Britain to give people a “right to grow” on unused council land. Community groups, charities and even small groups of neighbours would be able to cultivate fruit and vegetables on suitable council land in what campaigners say will provide healthy local food, boost mental health and revive neglected spaces. Read about it here.
Landworkers Alliance publishes new manifesto on food, farming and forestry. In the face of multiple but intersecting crises – from global warming and biodiversity loss, to public health and inequality – the urgency to build a more equitable and resilient food, farming and land-use system that works for both people and planet has never been greater. Read more here.
National Conversation about Food: new report shows citizens want government to act on food. Read about it here.
Local Futures – a pioneer of the worldwide localization movement. Website.
We raise awareness about the power of ‘going local’ as a key strategy for restoring ecological, social and spiritual wellbeing.