It’s been another busy month for the Good Food Lewisham network. We had stalls at Lewisham People’s Day and Food and Fun in the Fields, where we asked people what food justice means to them and what they think we can do together in the borough to create this.
You can also read the newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/b48a4933e946/good-food-lewisham-newsletter-august-2022.
GENERAL UPDATES FROM GFL NETWORK
We had the latest Steering Group meeting for GFL last week. Do get in touch with me helen@lewishamlocal.com if you’d like to get more involved with the project. These meetings are more for strategic input, but we’re also always looking for hands on help too, such as helping to organise the next public network meeting. We plan to hold this in mid October and to continue on the theme of ‘food and the cost-of-living crisis’.
FOOD JUSTICE
Food Justice Action Plan
Two workshops were held for people to feed in to the Food Justice Action Plan being developed by Public Health in the council. The next workshop will be in mid September to review a draft of the plan. We’ll let you know once a date has been decided.
We are keen to include people’s lived experience of food injustice to feed in to the FJAP. If you’d like to contribute something from yourself, someone you know or a project client, please send information to Lakhvinder ideally by this Friday 19th August: Lakhvinder.matharu@lewisham.gov.uk. This can be quotes, photos, drawings, case notes, observations – whatever method is suitable for you. The Leapfrog Project has some interesting methods on how to engage people in conversations around food, but it can just be very simple.
Worrying About Money leaflet
We’re in the process of updating this useful resource that sign posts people to local financial and related advice services as an alternative to emergency food aid. We’ll be contacting the groups that are already in the leaflet to check their details are up to date and seeing if any other services etc. should be included. Do get in touch if you have thoughts on this.
Where to get Free Food Leaflet
This list of food giving projects and community meals is being regularly updated. If you know of changes to provision or additional services that aren’t on the list, particularly community meals or coffee mornings, please email helen@lewishamlocal.com
FOOD GROWING
Join Capital Growth’s Urban Harvest Week 11-18th September! If you’re a member - it’s free and easy for growing spaces to join – then CG will advertise your event. We are keen to feature/help organise some garden events that week and visit each other’s growing spaces. Please get in touch if you would like to be involved.
On Thursday 15th September, GFL will host Lewisham Local’s Monthly Breakfast Meeting to let people know what’s going on with growing projects. Please come along if you’d like to let people know about your growing space, find out about connecting with other spaces or if you’re new to growing – it's open to all. More info to follow.
Head along to Lewisham Local’s community garden Wildcat Wilderness if you have some spare time on a Thursday or Friday to volunteer. There are children’s activities this summer too. Cococollective’s Ital Community garden at 71 Firhill Road SE6 3SE allotment are hosting free workshops on Wednesdays from 4th September. They have 23 raised beds and engage in organic and permaculture style gardening open to all. At the moment they’re the harvesting fruits of their labours in the summer: fresh tomatoes, squash, patty pan, callaloo and cucumbers. Contact them on cococollective.org@gmail.com 07801794884
Healthier Happier Downham festival on Saturday 10th September 11am - 4pm on Durham Hill BR1 5EP. Downham Nutrition Partnership and a range of other organisations. There’ll be a range of health and wellbeing service providers, as well as fruit kebabs and a smoothie bike.
One Tree Hill allotments are having an Open Day on Sunday 11th September 12.30 - 6pm. All welcome. Honor Oak Park SE23 3NP. There will be: tea, cakes, jams, chutneys and other produce, art exhibits, guided walks, kids' activities, demonstrations, BBQ, pizzas, cider and music. The views from the top of the hill are lovely, but getting there is via narrow paths and occasionally a few steps, so bear that in mind. There will be seating and full access at the bottom of the site where the main tea stall and food are. Free workshops, entertainment and tours of the site. Come and see what AFRIL (Action for Refugees in Lewisham) are doing at their allotment of refuge.
St Mary’s Therapeutic Garden (behind St. Mary’s Church, SE13 6LW) have an Open Day on Saturday 17th of September 10.30 - 4pm: fun, food, crafts, music and history. There will be a variety of activities and stalls for all ages, such as building a bug house, plant and seed sales, heritage tours. Money raised will contribute to the ongoing transformation of the wellbeing garden (which supports volunteers from the Ladywell Unit, Mind and referrals from GP surgeries), such as repairing paths and growing more food. Gardening sessions every Tuesday afternoon 1 – 3pm. The garden is open to visitors to enjoy every day. Please contact office@lewishamparish.com if you’d like to help at the event or volunteer on a Tuesday.
Grow Lewisham are arranging workshops at their plot 1 Southview Road, BR1 5RD and with their exciting Grow Mobile. Watch this space for updates. If you’d like to offer a workshop, such as introduction to growing on balconies or making preserves from foraged food, or anything similar, please get in touch on growlewishamnetwork@gmail.com.
Locally grown fruit is plentiful across the borough right now in parks and green spaces. Small pickings perhaps yet still apples, medlars, blackberries, elderberries and mulberries may be found, not far from our homes.
There are loads of recipes using these ingredients, such as natural jam, seed-free syrup, or serve fruits with a frozen banana dessert to use up over-ripe bananas and minimise wastage!
Local food is always grown at the sensory garden in Forster Memorial Park, for the volunteers who meet on site weekly. This month they’re eating their home grown sunflower seeds! They have an active Friends Group.
For more ideas on how to create seasonal recipes and for foraging tips contact Theresa Webb Kitchen Buddy at theresa@littlemisstree.com
GFL are planning some foraging events in September/October - watch this space.
The Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards are taking nominations until this Friday 19th. There are 14 categories, including ‘best green business’, ‘best community contribution’, ‘best independent food retailer’ and ‘best market’. Please nominate Lewisham’s good food businesses.
Sign up to the Lewisham Local card and get a discount at local independent businesses.
Grow Lewisham are looking for a number of volunteer roles, including finance, treasurer, accounts, social media and PR. Email: growlewishamnetwork@gmail.com.
Food Giving projects are especially in need of more volunteers at the moment as the cost of living crisis deepens. Some projects accept volunteers who can only do a few hours here and there and some need a bigger commitment.
DEFRA’s Food Waste Consultation is open until 5th September. Feedback have resources and materials people can use to make feeding in easier.
FareShare Community Portal - This platform helps to connect you with individual volunteers. You can add volunteer roles to get support with any tasks within your organisation. Create an account here, then you will be able to post your volunteer opportunities. Here is a guide: How to add a Volunteering Opportunity
There’s a new guide from the Refill Campaign for making events more sustainable: Solutions on tap – A Guide to reducing waste & introducing reusable cup schemes at events. The guide includes:
Logistics – how to make it happen
Cost – the financial considerations
Marketing & communications – how to make it land with your customers
Health, safety and legislation
Suppliers and other resources
Busting the myths – what you need to know
Cargo bike and bike training – We have a Raleigh bike that’s currently living in our Lewisham Local offices. Here’s a You Tube video of how to ride it. Send me helen@lewishamlocal.com an email if you’re interested in using it. On Wednesday 7th September at 7pm Grow Lewisham are holding a training for their Grow Mobile bespoke bike for anyone interested in learning how to ride it. Please email growlewishamnetwork@gmail.com if you’d like to attend as there are limited spaces.
Well done to the 16 local community growing projects who got small grants through We Are Lewisham. Lewisham Local’s Friday Fundraising Club at 2pm on Fridays is an invaluable source of fundraising advice with our Community Fundraiser Karen (Email: karen@lewishamlocal.com).
Lewisham Local Catalyst Match Fund: Lewisham Local has secured funding to work in partnership with London Catalyst to distribute a total pot of up to £3000 to Lewisham Local funded projects, at a maximum of £500 per project. The aims of this funding are:
● Relief of poverty
● Increased fundraising ability
● Increased sustainability of project focused on relief of poverty
Criteria:
To apply, projects must meet the following criteria:
Registered charity or constituted group.
An organisation that has previously been funded by Lewisham Local
Projects have not previously received match funding from the Lewisham Launchpad Match Fund
Project must address relief of poverty
Complete a short application to Lewisham Local registering your interest
Commitment to fundraising for the match-funding up to £500.
Fundraising campaigns must be launched within 1 month of the application being approved (or have recently started), and match funding will be awarded for funds raised up until 31st of December 2022.
How To Apply: Go to Lewisham Local Catalyst Match Fund - Lewisham Local for more information and to apply. Deadline 5th September. Let Simone know if you have any questions: simone@lewishamlocal.com
The next Mayor’s Grow Back Greener Fund is now open. Deadline 26th September. Guidance can be found here. They offer workshops on how to complete the application.
Lewisham Local want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has supported the Lewisham Cost of Living Crisis appeal so far. Your support has made a huge difference and we've already raised over £2,400 on our Local Giving page. The appeal is helping us not only to raise money but also awareness of the need and support available in Lewisham for people who are struggling financially. To boost our fundraising efforts, we have launched a Crowdfunding page where we hope to reach more potential donors over the next month, and have the chance to receive match funding from Aviva employees! The Crowdfunder features some great rewards for people who pledge to the campaign.
Comentarios