Food Group
Mission statement
The Action 21 Food Group aims to promote the growing, cooking and eating of fresh, locally grown food, organic where possible and GMO-free to all sections of the community.
Who are we and what do we do?
Do you have a passion for growing, cooking and eating food?
Are you interested in promoting fresh, locally grown, organic, and, where possible, GMO-free food to all sections to the community?
Then why not join the Action 21 Food Group!
We are a group of local people who share a love of food. We believe food should be fun as well as good for us, and want to welcome everyone in the Warwick District area who shares our vision: working together so everyone can enjoy the best quality, affordable food, produced locally as much as possible.
The group has recently expanded into a separate project: Canalside Community Food, based at Leasowe Farm on Southam Road, Leamington Spa. It is a Community Supported Agriculture scheme where you can be involved in growing organic produce on the farm, and even then take some home with you! For more information, visit Canalside Community Food.
Currently the Action 21 Food Group is looking for new members with creativity, excitement for food and keenness to get involved! We are a friendly group of people and more than welcome anyone with interest and ideas.
For information on getting involved, please e-mail Michelle or phone on 01926 456076.
Food events
The Food Group takes part in and organises several events each year. Lately there has been a winter food day at Lillington Youth Centre during the February half term, a stall selling vegetable plants at the Peace Festival and two pumpkin days during the autumn half term at Bath Place Community Venture and Lillington.
Allotments Link Project and Warwick District Allotment Federation
How the project began
The Action 21 food group came up with the idea for an Allotments Link Project to promote allotments and support allotment societies. This project ran from 2003 – 2005 and a part time project worker was employed. Food group volunteers have continued to contribute ideas and help out on occasions such as events training days etc. In April 2004 a federation of Warwick District Allotment Societies was set up with a talk by Terry Walton, who broadcast on the Radio 2 Jeremy Vine show.
Several of the local allotment societies joined the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, gaining benefits from the society's seed scheme and its competitive rates of public liability insurance, an essential expense these days.
Black Lane Allotments, Leamington had been through various difficulties. Now with the help of various grants, some of which were raised by Action 21, things have improved significantly. A grant from Barclays Site Savers, enabled a recreation area to be developed, focused around a magnificent Walnut Tree. An Awards for All grant funded the creation of 12 mini-plots for beginner gardeners or for people wanting a smaller plot.
Warwick District Allotments nearly all have waiting lists, but it's worth getting your name on a list. Fuding for the project has come from Leamington Town Council and Leamington Sure Start Children's Centres, and the Heart of England Community Foundation has been particularly supportive.
Read all about it!
Find out how to get your own allotment in Warwick District.
Current Food Group activities
The allotments project has continued to evolve and in 2007 is continuing to concentrate on Community Food in Lillington. Food Group members continue to support this project by helping out as volunteers at events and other project activities. For full details see Community Food Project
More information and Contacts
Information relating to Food can be found at the websites listed below:
- Sustain - http://www.sustainweb.org/
- The Soil Association - http://www.soilassociation.org/
- HDRA – http://www.hdra.org.uk/