Vaso Makri, the Plot’s volunteer and community engagement coordinator, invites you to join the array of Growing Food, Growing Community events this year.
2025 is going to be a very exciting year for community food production and consumption! FoodFutures is organising the “Growing Food, Growing Community” series of sessions over the course of the year, focused on everything you need to know if you are considering starting your own community growing project.
Based on the success and insights of the previous year, we are collaborating with a variety of local experts to deliver practical and theoretical sessions and workshops. The sessions will cover every aspect of growing and consuming food in a community setting. From practical horticulture skills, to food preservation and the technicalities of governance, it is certain that the sessions will leave you inform you about the possibilities and realities of organising community for actions aimed at local food production and sustainability.
The sessions will cover:
Fruit tree grafting
Plant propagation
Project design, governance and organisational models
Pollination
Introduction to facilitation and sociocracy
Working with community groups
Plants for natural dyes
Pest and weed management
Harvesting and packaging produce
Introduction to preserving produce
Community composting
Crop planning for a northern climate
Designing an orchard
Coppicing
All the sessions are delivered by local experts in their fields that have years of experience and are happy to share their knowledge and insights. Some of the trainers will be Dennis from The Plot, Anna from FoodFutures, Diana form Closing Loops, Moyna from Claver Hill and Fred from LuneValley Beekeepers. The hands-on practical sessions will be delivered at Claver Hill Community farm and at The Plot sites in Old Holly Farm and the White Lund industrial estate. The theoretical sessions will be delivered in Lancaster-based indoors venues.
The sessions are free of charge, with a small donation accepted. Every session will have time for Q&A to ensure your questions are answered, and they will also be a great opportunity for you to network with others interested in the same activities and build projects together. You will also get to meet the faces behind organisations like The Plot, FoodFutures, LuneValley Beekeepers, Claver Hill Community Farm, Sewing Cafe and more.
Take a look at the programme of activities and click on the links for each session for more details and to book a spot. Please contact engagement_theplot@lessuk.org with any questions.
We hope to see you there!
