Community Food Project
The idea for the Community Food Project was originally conceived by the Action 21 Food Group. The project has now expanded and is run by part time project officer Judy Steele for three days a week.
The project aims to create a good food culture in the deprived community of Lillington, Leamington Spa. We promote healthy eating and show how this can be done on a budget. We encourage consumption of local food by promoting an understanding of the complete cycle of food production from ‘plot to plate’.
Activities and services include:
- Supporting the thriving Lillington Fresh Food Co-op, which was first piloted in June 2005
- The co-op takes Healthy Start vouchers enabling low income families to access fresh fruit and vegetables very cheaply
- Running a school garden at Lillington Primary School, where a Children's University module is being planned. In 2006 the school produced potatoes, sweet corn, carrots, spinach, beetroot, French beans and 40 pumpkins. Everyone got the chance to taste the potatoes and sweet corn
- Growing vegetables in containers at Lillington Nursery. The children enjoyed this in 2006, and ate the potatoes, beetroot and lettuce they grew. The activity is likely to be repeated in future years including 2007
- Holding growing sessions for Sure Start families at Black Lane allotments, set up in February 2005
- Cooking some of the vegetables we produce at the regular Sure Start coffee mornings and sowing seeds with parents and children at the same venue
- Running regular community events like ‘Food is Fun’, ‘Allotments Open Day’ and ‘Pumpkin Day’ to have fun, involve the whole community and spread our message