Grow Your Own: small grants for community food projects

Schools, charities and community groups across Scotland are sharing £80,000 of grants to encourage people to grow their own food.

The Community Growing Fund will help 30 projects establish and develop community growing spaces by funding the purchase of equipment, tools and plants. The grants will also help projects provide educational activities to increase awareness of sustainable food growth, as well as cookery skills.

The fund is part of the Scottish Government’s vision for a Good Food Nation which aims to help increase understanding of where our food comes from, and support healthy eating and exercise.

Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment Mairi Gougeon announced the fund’s recipients during a visit to Craigentinny Telferton Allotments.

The allotments will use a £1,600 grant to purchase plants for their community garden as well as running workshops on how to grow food and cook the produce grown in the community garden.

Ms Gougeon said: “The Community Growing Fund is supporting a diverse number of projects, helping them deliver a wide range of social, community, health and environmental benefits.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for these projects to instill the idea of healthy, sustainable eating in their local community, helping local residents – especially the next generation – learn more about the value of fresh, locally-grown food.

“As we face a global climate emergency, it is crucial that people understand the environmental benefits of growing your own produce and reducing food waste. It’s a simple but effective way to help the battle against climate change and I’d urge everyone to seek out a nearby project to find out more.”