Join first discussions about Edinburgh’s planned Food Growing Strategy at 6pm for 6.30-8.30pm Thursday 18 April at Paterson’s Land Room G43, Moray House School of Education, Holyrood Rd / St John’s St, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ.
Book at https://food18apr.eventbrite.
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Meet two visiting Australians – Caroline Kemp and Duncan McNaught – sharing exciting stories of an Edible Public Realm experiment 2009-2017; and hear from Community Garden advocates from across Edinburgh.
Caroline and Duncan are on a European tour exploring urban agriculture initiatives and sharing their experience: Urban Food Street: Synergies of community, public realm & fresh food.
The suburban streetscape of Buderim on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has wide verges with grassy swales – part of sustainable urban drainage systems to capture and filter rain water and prevent sediment reaching the rivers.
In 2009 residents planted these verges with limes and created Australia’s first edible public realm. Over time people planted more fruit plus cooking herbs and vegetables. By 2015 900 kg of bananas, 300 cabbages and much more were grown in an area across an 11-street grid rich with seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices.
The community had access to fresh food, reduced car journeys to distant shops and a healthier life style – both walking and engagement with neighbours. It created a sense of cohesion, encouraged new forms of community participation, walking, and healthier eating. Most people were involved in either planting, watering or jam-making.
Sadly and inexplicably the local authority was unable to recognise the benefits to urban habitat, environment and human health. They destroyed it saying that it was a safety risk, despite no recorded injury in 8 years. Only the edible species on the verge was destroyed, ornamental plant species were left. Since then a cost / benefit analysis of the project identified a staggering 70 dollars returned in public benefit for every dollar invested.
Following Caroline and Duncan’s presentation we invite all groups involved in Urban Growing to share their experiences – ideally in the form of maximum 5 slides / 5 minutes per contributor.
Draft Agenda
6.00pm Registration and light refreshments
6.30pm Welcome / Intro to Community Empowerment
6.40pm Urban Street Food: an Australian Case Study
7.20pm Q&A
7.30pm Refreshment break
7.40pm Local contributions
8.00pm Ideas for Edinburgh Food Growing Strategy
8.30pm Close
Background Reading: Food Growing Strategy Template
Book at https://food18apr.eventbrite.
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