Food Waste
By Cags Diep
Cags Diep (pictured left) reports on the BS3 Jammin’ Community Harvest. Read on about the impact of this event and find out how to stay connected.
As I reflect on the incredible weekend of 7th and 8th September 2024, I can’t help but feel a surge of pride and joy. Our BS3 Jammin’ Community Harvest event wasn’t just a success — it was a testament to the power of community, creativity, and caring for our environment.
Picture this: nearly half a tonne of locally grown food, rescued from potential waste, finding its way into the hands of our amazing volunteers. I was blown away by the sheer variety of food grown right here in Bristol! We had 28 different types of fruits and vegetables donated to the harvest, which included grapes, mooli and cucamelons, as well as A GLUT of apples, runner beans and the biggest cucumbers I have ever seen! It’s hard to describe the feeling of seeing such abundance and knowing it would all be put to good use.
Our volunteer chefs were absolute troopers, showing their creative flair by cooking more than 30 different dishes and preserves. It was like witnessing culinary alchemy and seeing them feel so much pride and joy in making their dishes.
To hear one of our chefs even say, “I can’t remember a time when I so enjoyed the company of people I’d only just met. Sign me up for next year!”, really makes it worth it! Their enthusiasm was infectious and was shared with our amazing hard-working volunteers as well as the public, who all pitched in to help them cook through as much of the food as they could! We also loved seeing the joy on children’s faces when they learnt how to make apple juice by using the apple press and being able to enjoy the fruits of their labour by drinking the freshest juice they’ve ever tasted.
What’s so satisfying is being able to close the food cycle by having 100% of our food scraps (all 220 litres of it) turned into living soil, thanks to Alex Montgomery’s (50 Ways To Cook) composting initiative.
It’s a beautiful cycle—from the earth, back to the earth, nurturing future harvests. Not only that, Alex hosted his own composting workshop and showed off his wormery to teach people the various ways to compost and its benefits in regenerating our soil.
I really wanted to open people’s eyes so they can see what is growing around us, here in the city. So, I decided to create a Pick-Your-Own (PYO) foraging map of BS3 Bristol. Through my daily walks and online research, I managed to find over 70 edible things grown in public spaces around and close to BS3. Find the map here: https://bit.ly/pyobs3
Seeing it gain over 900 views in just five days filled me with joy. I hope people enjoyed discovering the edible treasures hidden in plain sight around our neighbourhood as much as I have. As well as this, we also had the wonderful Helen Gray of Malago Medicinals host a stall to share her foraging knowledge of what is growing around us and its nutritional benefits!
We had various nature-inspired and sustainable arts and crafts stalls, including how to make-your-own-bag out of old t-shirts which required no sewing, paint-your-own plant pots, make-your-own bird feeder, as well as paint nature-inspired bunting. These were hosted by Creative Waves, Sirona Health and Eden Project Communities and it was brilliant seeing so many kids and adults get involved!
It was so exciting to see the different dishes created for the cooking competition, all inspired by the harvest. It was hard for our guest judges from Box E to decide who should win, but in the end, the prize of the Root gift voucher went to Jonathan May, who made a veal and aubergine hot pot which was absolutely mouthwateringly delicious.
The support we received from more than 20 local companies and community initiatives was heartwarming. Their donations of supplies and excess produce showed that when a community comes together, incredible things happen. And I’m thrilled to report that we almost doubled the amount raised for our local food bank compared to last year!
One of the initiatives who donated their produce, Long Ashton Growers, came along to the event and commented, “I loved the event and how it covered everything from growing to picking, processing, cooking, eating and composting, the full circle. We had a great time.” This is exactly what BS3 Jammin’ is about!
As I think about the future, I’m filled with optimism. The success of BS3 Jammin’ Community Harvest 2024 has shown us what’s possible when we work together. We’re not just reducing food waste; we’re building stronger bonds, fostering creativity, and creating a more sustainable community. To everyone who participated — whether you donated produce, volunteered your time, or simply came to enjoy the activities — thank you. You’ve made this event more than just a community gathering; you’ve made it a movement.
I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve next year. Until then, keep growing, keep sharing, and keep jammin’!
For those who want to stay connected or get involved in future events, please visit linktr.ee/bs3jammin or reach out to us at bs3jammin@gmail.com.
So, what change do you want to see happen that will transform food in Bristol by 2030? Do you already have an idea for how Bristol can make this happen? Join the conversation now.
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