The Post Bag: Letters To Squall

Eating The City

Squall 11, Autumn 1995, pg 86.

Dear Squall,

I am writing to tell you about a project I am starting called Growing Food in Cities.

This has several aims: to research what urban food-growing activities are already going on (in city farms, community gardens, allotments, private gardens, window boxes, derelict and, schools etc) so that people can get in touch with each other, share ideas and so on.

Another aim is to look at the potential of food growing for greening the environment, putting people back in touch with the land, education, improving health, economic sustainability (linking with LETS, food co-ops etc) and community development.

I’m hoping to find out about a wide range of people - pensioners, ethnic groups, school projects, prisons, travellers, employed people, unemployed people and anyone else I come across. I’ll also be dealing with the issue of land rights, planning law and city design.

By the end of the first year, we should have a document which will actually help people who are interested to set up agricultural projects and something which we can wave in the face of policy makers saying “Look, this is what is already happening. These are the benefits which come out of these projects. Support more such activities.”

There will also be a “how to” guide to dealing with matters such as getting funding, finding land, getting equipment and so on.

The project is managed by the SAFE Alliance and the National Food Alliance, both charities working in food, agriculture and health issues.

Yours sincerely

Tara Garnett
SAFE Alliance
National Food Alliance