#BristolFoodKind: ‘Grow your own’ highlights

Our #BristolFoodKind campaign offers people staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic practical ideas on how to shop, reduce food waste and grow at home in a way that is good for individuals and the wider community. We’ve had a fantastic response with so many people and organisations sharing their tips and experiences on social media, so we thought we’d share some of the highlights of peoples’ growing adventures!

The most popular area of the #BristolFoodKind campaign (in terms of engagement on social media) has been growing your own. Bristol is full of green fingers, from first-timers to experienced growers. Growing your own fruit and veg, no matter the quantity, is great for wellbeing, unbeatable for freshness, and puts the food you eat in your own hands. Bristol Food Network has put together a list of tips: from where to buy seeds, herbs and veg plants locally, to gardening without much space, to composting tips. From the look of all this sprouting greenery and lovely little plants, citizens across the city have been getting stuck in!

Above:

• Positive news in the form of plants donated by @bristolparks and @Blaise_plants to @Edible Bristol
• @stwerburghscityfarm staff learning new gardening skills
• Tips for growing without much outdoor space from @uob_sus
• Filling polytunnels, brassica houses and bean beds using compost and no-dig methods from @Edible Bristol
• Potting up courgettes @markjleach
• The @YTLArena team growing broad beans, parsnips, rocket, sprouts and tomatoes from home

This Wednesday (27th May) at 8pm we are happy to be hosting the second #BristolFoodKind film night. We are focussing on growing this week and will be showing a series of short films. From Bristol to California, Mexico to Shanghai, we’ll meet an assortment of inspiring growers from around the world and visit community growing projects, urban farmers and a 3D ocean farmer. Finally, we’ll learn about Incredible Edible Todmorden, where the Incredible movement was founded, ahead of our webinar with Sara Venn of Incredible Edible Bristol next Wednesday 3rd June. Sara’s webinar will look at practical ways to grow food using the things you have around you at home.

#BristolFoodKind is a collaboration between Bristol Green Capital Partnership, Bristol Food Network, Bristol City Council and Resource Futures.

Visit Bristol Food Network for more information and resources on Bristol’s Good Food response to the pandemic.