Wednesday 13th July 2011 / Environmental

Grow your own

We started to grow our own food three years ago, I have always loved gardening but had never attempted vegetables, now the garden mixes veg with flowers and I often find my creative inspiration comes when outside digging, pruning or tending. Our next studio will definitely have a garden space where any of the team can nurture their own small plot, breath in the air, clear the mind and let the creativity flow.

In the UK our current food system is responsible for up to a quarter of our carbon emissions, relies on oil for production and transportation and is a major contributing factor to global warming. We are facing growing numbers of adults and children suffering from obesity and food related disease, and rising food prices in the past year has shown the impact of our current globalised food system. As a society we need to explore ways of providing healthy food which does not impact negatively on the environment.

Harvest is a partnership project in Brighton and Hove which co-ordinates a city wide approach to producing more food within the city. They are bringing together lots of different organisations interested in food who will help people learn to grow their own, make use of surplus produce and eat more tasty local food. Perhaps more councils should be following their lead.