FoodFutures communications coordinator Nick Lakin reflects on Lancaster’s annual Harvest Feast…
From veggie tacos to seasonal lentil and pumpkin soup, homemade cookies, strudel and salads, to freshly squeezed apple juice, chilli jam, scones and preserves, this year’s Harvest Feast left the taste buds tingling for around100 like-minded guests.
It’s no easy feat catering in a ‘Jacob’s Join’ fashion for this number of people when rows of tables have to be carried out and dressed, chairs and benches dragged, plates and cutlery sourced, ingredients clearly displayed, candles lit, queues formed…and that’s before getting to the washing up!
But there was a palpable feeling of community at the FoodFutures’ annual Harvest Feast at Kanteena last weekend, with lots of people getting involved to help make the day run smoothly.
There was also a collective sense of understanding and purpose for this growing and strengthening local food movement, and a lot of interest in how to eat more local and more sustainable food.
Before the sit down meal, there was apple juicing in the Kanteena yard, with the fresh juice bottled and put on the tables for people to drink while they ate.
FoodFutures stalls focussed on composting, allotments and the wider work of the network.
Claver Hill Community Farm and Morecambe’s The Good Things Collective also attended with food tasters, and there was a seed and surplus veg swap too including some very large marrows and squashes.
Some of the surplus veg went into Kanteena’s delicious BBQ veggie tacos.
There was some great live music during the feast as well, and plenty of opportunity for people at the tables to get to know each other, exchange tips, talk about the year and look forward to the next.
A big thank you goes out to everyone that hosted and supported the Harvest Feast, brought food to share, ran an activity, and helped with set up and clear up.
If you have any feedback about the event please share it with anna@lessuk.org.
What did you enjoy? What could be improved? Any other ideas?!
This will shape how we organise future harvest feasts.
There have been some requests for recipes as the food was so delicious! If you made/brought a dish, please do share the recipe with Anna so she can then collate and share them all.
