In this week’s column, FoodFutures’s communications coordinator Nick Lakin reflects on an ancient English tradition that’s making a comeback in Lancaster…
I don’t think I’ve heard the words “harvest feast” in the same sentence since primary school.
I have vague recollections of scrabbling around in the back of the cupboard for a couple of tins of Scotch Broth.
The term in itself feels old fashioned, or at least traditional, and perhaps now maybe just the preserve of rural England’s church communities.
A quick online search reveals precious little activity in the way of harvest events in the UK, and I was surprised to see that FoodFutures’ Harvest Feast at Kanteena in Lancaster on Sunday September 7 was the top result.
Harvest feasts, or harvest festivals, traditionally celebrate the time of year when crops have been gathered from the fields and communities come together to celebrate the bounty and show gratitude for the food.
This proud modern take on an ancient English tradition welcomed people from as far away as Zimbabwe and as near as Lancaster Canal, and I didn’t spot one flag.
Originally cooked up by Transition City Lancaster in 2018, Lancaster’s Harvest Feast has been hosted by FoodFutures for the last two years, and this year moved its operations to Kanteena for a beefed up event, albeit without the meat.
The Harvest Feast was part of the wider Share The Harvest series of events that are running throughout September across the Lancaster district.
Around 80 people from all walks of life sat down to eat together at three long tables inside the former soft drinks warehouse.
They had all brought a dish to share, and what followed was a really lovely coming together of the community in the name of food and camaraderie, with live music and plenty of discussion.
A lot of the food had been grown locally, from juicy courgettes via brazier BBQ’d veggie kebabs, to fluffy potatoes and freshly baked bread, and from rhubarb crumble and ginger shots to chunky apple muffins.
Yes, apples. Loads of them. 2025 has been a huge year for the mighty apple.
The apple press kindly lent by Ben Ruth was in constant use throughout the day, and attendees left with bags full of freshly bottled and quite delicious juice.
There were lots of ways to find out more about the work of FoodFutures and its partners at the event, and massive thanks go out to Pablo at Kanteena for being such a great facilitator, as well as everyone else that got stuck in on the day.
