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Hello One and All!
Welcome to our monthly update packed full of events, training opportunities, jobs, news and funding relevant to our city's wonderful food producers.
This month is packed full of wonderful training courses, from the last of our own Masterclasses, to field ecology, butchery and mushroom growing courses.
Steph Wetherell
Coordinator for Bristol Food Producers
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Meet the Member: Source Food Hall
We're going to be publishing a series of blogs over the coming months to help you get to know our different members.
This month we're meeting one of our retail members, Source Food Hall, who pride themselves on sourcing good, local food. Our retail partners provide a vital link in creating routes to market for local producers and helping consumers access local food and so we want to share their contribution and work too.
Read the full feature here. |
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Seed Saving Masterclass
After a successful run, we have spaces left for our final masterclass of the program. Run by Humphrey Lloyd from Edible Futures. You'll cover the theory of plant genetics, open pollination and hybridisation, practical seed saving techniques (such as isolation, seed collection, drying, storage) and touch on the importance and politics of seed saving.
The class takes place on SUNDAY 2ND APRIL from 9.30AM - 1PM. Book your place now!
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Field Ecology Courses
Feed Bristol is proud to be hosting Avon Wildlife Trust's Field Ecology Courses programme. A series of 16 individual courses offering an introduction to a range of species group’s biology, ecology and diversity within the Bristol area. Delivered by professionals and leading tutors from across the South West.
The first in the series is now live for bookings, with more to come by the end of March: http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/courses
The first course on the 22 - 23 April will be on: Introduction to Amphibians and Reptiles.
These courses are being delivered as part of Avon Wildlife Trust’s Field Ecology Programme for 2017, and are aimed at students, practising ecologists, conservation volunteers and anyone who wishes to further their knowledge in natural history and biological recording. Each course will provide hands on experience which will aid in developing identification skills that are essential to field studies. Our tutors have all worked professionally in their subjects, and have a great range of knowledge and experience to share.
The courses will provide a thorough introduction to each group’s biology, ecology and diversity within the Bristol area. References and help with understanding relevant literature, and practical activities teaching basic field survey techniques will also be covered. Some of our courses will include field trips to local sites of interest. These courses will aid participants in forming a strong foundation, to take on to further study, or for professional development.
The courses will be delivered at our Feed Bristol project, which is a 6 acre community food growing hub and native wildflower nursery in Stapleton. This is an education and community enterprise centre which champions conservation and ecology in a food growing setting.
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Daddy Daughter Farm Crowdfunder
There's an exciting new farm on the horizon looking to grow good food to help tackle loneliness and foster intergenerational relationships - read all about their plans below and support them on their exciting journey!
We are looking to bring together parents, their toddlers and elders on to a farm to garden, cook food, share lunches and build community. At the end of all that our members will take home a small veg box of our organic produce every week.
For us it is important that children engage with elders as there is wealth of wisdom waiting to be passed down to them. Bringing together elders and children not only addresses that issue but starts to tackle loneliness, as we know that there is a high percentage of both older people and stay at home parents who are socially isolated.
We are crowdfunding to turn an overgrown plot of Bristol City Council land into a productive market garden. The council have already granted us a long lease and are preparing the contract for us to sign as we crowdfund! The money we are raising will go towards.
- A polytunnel - a large brand new polytunnel that not only allows us to grow plants under cover but doubles as shelter for changing a toddler, eating together on rainy days and sheltering from typical British weather.
- Compost for our no dig beds - we are aiming to spread a lot of compost, partly to use no dig principles, partly as we want some of the space to be made up of raised beds to be wheelchair friendly.
- A composting toilet - need we say more!
- A wide range of tools - enough so that if everyone wants to work cooperatively on the task they can!
- The infrastructure for small backyard animals - free range doesn't mean they get to come home and sleep in my bed!
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Designing Edible Spaces - Evening Class
Gain skills and knowledge to transform your garden or green space into an edible paradise! Extended to 10 weeks. More time for learning & student design work.
Wednesday Evenings 6.30–9pm
Starts: 26th April for 10 weeks
Tutor: Niels Corfield of ‘Edible Cities’
Booking is essential (deposit or full payment)
Book Now – info@ediblecities.co.uk
Skills and knowledge to transform your garden or green space into an edible paradise;
- Would you like to be eating more organic- and superfoods but find them too pricey?
- Want your garden to be productive and low maintenance?
- Have a yard or small area of space outside your door where you would like to grow food and make it look nice?
- Are you a teacher or a parent at a local school? Want to grow food there but think it will be too much work?
- Want to see your park better used and promote healthy eating in your community?
- Love making jams and chutneys with berries and fruit, but don’t have the space?
This course will give you the design skills and knowledge to transform your garden or green space into an abundant, edible landscape, that’s full of food, friendly to wildlife, looks good and needs little maintenance.
Edible gardens and landscapes are productive and fruitful, low maintenance, beautiful, functional and ecological green spaces that can be created in almost any urban or peri urban setting.
Find out more: http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/DesigningEdibleSpaces?instance=0
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Mushroom Cultivation Course
If you missed out on our mushroom growing masterclass, don't worry - Patrick and Rich are running a two day course up at Feed Bristol on 8-9th April.
This course, over the two days, will cover a wide variety of cultivation techniques and detailed methods in the production of a variety of fungi. We will cover everything you will need to know about growing your own fungi, from obtaining and storing fungi strains, right the way through to the development of grain spawn and fruiting substrates.
We will then show you how to use these substrates to create outdoor fungi beds and fungi log cultures which can be integrated into your garden or allotment.
The course introduces fungal biology and ecology to help with understanding the life cycles of these fascinating organsisms.
Costs:
The course operates on a tariff based system to allow access to all incomes
£120 full waged / £80 low waged
For bookings and more information please email fungicourses@gmail.com
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2017 Commercial Aquaponics Course : 22nd - 28th May 2017
Just to let everyone know that we will run our 2017 Commercial Aquaponics Course May 22nd - 28th.
Unlike previous years, this year we plan on squeezing our aquaponics course into one week of teaching, hands on and site visits towards the end of May / early June! We plan on working with the same instructors (plus a few new faces) and hope to arrange visits to GrowBristol and BioAqua Farm as well as Hans Hoff’s Arctic Char farm in Dorset.
We are working with as many industry professionals as we can muster up – the course is of the highest quality and provides a good framework for someone wanting to set up a system of their own or train in the basics to run a commercial aquaponic system. We plan to charge around £400 per person – but we are doing our very best to make sure it’s not exclusive – so if you are interested, please get in touch in anycase to discuss options (email info@bristolfish.org).
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Grow Wild training day for community groups
Grow Wild is hosting a free network training day on Saturday 1 April at Bristol Zoo for community groups interested in learning more about UK native wild flowers, plants and fungi. Grow Wild is a UK-wide wild flower campaign run by Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Please register to attend here: Bristol: Saturday 1 April
Each day will be packed full of inspiring speakers, informative workshops and discussion groups. Up to two people from a community group can register to attend. Come along to:
- Enhance your community project through native wild flowers and plants.
- Learn more about urban pollinators and habitat conservation.
- Delve into the mysterious world of fungi.
- Be inspired by some enterprising initiatives.
- Discover techniques for engaging new audiences and sustaining their involvement.
- Find out about social and therapeutic horticulture.
- Learn how to promote and share your project’s story online.
Find out more and register to attend here: Bristol: Saturday 1 April
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Intro to Butchery / Natural Tanning from Street Goat
Butchery : Every chef and cook (that works with meat) should understand the joints and cuts of the animals they cook. This butchery workshop is designed to give you an understanding of how to work with meat.
Tanning : A hands on workshop in which we’ll be tanning the hides of our 4 young billy goats. Together, 8 of us will be completing the full process of tanning ½ a hide with fur-on to take home.
This project is run as part of Street Goat’s commitment to use every part of our animals, in full appreciation and honour of the relationship between these goats and ourselves.
The tanning course takes place on Saturday 8th April and the butchery course on Tuesday 11th April.
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Funding and support for organisations working to tackle food poverty
We offer funding, training and mentorship to organisations using business solutions to tackle food poverty, which can demonstrate a commitment to increasing their social impact. Successful applicants to our accelerator programme also benefit from being part of a community of like-minded enterprises.
More info : https://good.kitchen
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Real Economy is recruiting a Community Food Centre Development Worker
The Real Economy are working towards developing a series of neighbourhood based community food centres across Bristol. We are seeking to recruit a community food centre development worker to help plan and develop the program that will be delivered in two areas of disadvantage within the city later this year, subject to funding.
This role is offered on a part time 0.5fte basis (2.5 days a week) for a fixed term contract of 3 months (13 weeks) at a rate of £88/day, offered as a self employed role.
More info on their website.
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Seasonal Field Worker at the Community Farm
We are looking for someone to join our small but lively field team as a Seasonal Field Worker. We have cultivated a sociable work environment with a strong sense of camaraderie.
You will be part of an outgoing team of full-time and part-time staff as well as volunteers, so the ability to work as part of a team is a must.
First and foremost you will need a basic understanding of farming principles and be happy and capable of performing farm labour in all weather conditions. A working knowledge of organic horticulture or sustainable agriculture would put you at an advantage.
You will need to have experience of working on a commercial farm or market garden. We are a community owned social enterprise so experience in a small-business or in the not-for-profit sector would also be an advantage.
More info : https://www.thecommunityfarm.co.uk/jobs/seasonal-field-worker/
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Job Opportunity with the Open Food Network
Are you interested in helping create food sovereignty in the UK? Would you like to help create food systems in which everyone has access to affordable, nutritious, culturally-appropriate food? Are you creative, motivated, autonomous? Do you like to inspire others to act and become involved in the movement for a fair food system? We might just have a cool job for you!
As OFN grows we are looking for another person to help with the support and social media roles. We are looking for someone who is comfortable using IT and social media, excited about OFN and is good with people. They need to be able to work flexible hours from their own office and be able to respond to support requests on most days. Job description, person spec and application details here.
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BOOM awards are open for entries
The award-winning BOOM awards are open for entries NOW. Don’t miss this opportunity to get the credit you deserve for producing, processing, serving, selling and delivering fully traceable, food as it should be.
Our categories cover the breadth of the organic market. We have also added some additional nomination categories this year to recognise rising stars, new products and businesses and organic farmers.
More info on their website.
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Shift Bristol courses open for booking
Providing holistic, solutions based and hands-on education in preparation for a low-carbon, dynamic and community centred future.
Bookings are now open for
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New weekly market starting in Easton
A diverse and lively weekly Saturday market is launching in the heart of Easton with food, crafts and community events. If you would like to host a stall at the market, please get in touch by filling in the application form: http://bit.do/eastonmarket
They are on the look-out for people to provide locally produced: Vegetables, fruit, bread, eggs, honey / jams, cooked breakfast & tea / coffee, clothing, soaps, candles, second-hand books, etc!
Check out the first market launching on 8th March
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South West Regional Permaculture Convergence 2017
The first South West Regional Permaculture Convergence will take place from 9th-11th June 2017 at Goffin Land on the edge of Exeter. The event will run over 48hrs and include a range of workshops, skillshares, strategy sessions, practical demonstrations and case studies.
Expect great quality local, organic food and evening music, childrens activities and lots to get involved in from start to finish. Camping will be available onsite.
The event is targetted at Association members, permaculture practitioners, community activists, green-fingered gardeners, social change pioneers and anybody else across the region interested in learning more and engaging in permaculture.
Goffin Land is a 96-acre community-led farm project on the edge of the City of Exeter. A tranquil haven hidden away but within easy reach of urban facilities and transport routes. Goffin Land seeks to be an oasis for social and ecological change, providing access to land for those in need and nurturing mind, body and soul.
Tickets will range in price between £60 and £100 for the full event. More info to come soon - follow the event here.
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SoilHack Gathering
A weekend to share our passion, knowledge, and skills for building healthy soils.
27-28th May 2017, Brook End LAND Centre, Compton Dundon – near Street and Glastonbury in Somerset.
We will be all learners at the gathering. It is a DIY event and everyone will need to play a role in helping the gathering run smoothly.
We are asking people to email us in advance with offers of workshops. We expect sessions to be participatory, science and evidence-based, and practical where possible. We can support you with designing a workshop if this is new to you.
Find out more about the event on the website.
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Community Farmer Days
Spring has returned, the soil has awoken and there’s lots to do. The Community Farm would like to welcome both old hands and new faces alike to their community farmer days. It's a great way to get involved, have some fun and children are welcome too.
They've just released the dates for this season - take a look at this link to check out the dates and info on how to register.
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