food for thought Fancy some good GRUB? GRUB is good enough to eat.


grown veg and delivering it free to your doorstep. The veg boxes are just £5 each and


F


are packed with straight from the soil goodies. Project Co-ordinator Alexis McLean said: “People are becoming increasingly


or the Hulme-based social enterprise is sourcing the freshest, locally


concerned with where their food comes from, how it is grown, how it gets to their plates, and food waste in general. We share those concerns, which are the basis for our enterprise. “We want to give people access to


food grown near to where they live, at the time of year when it is at its best, with the whole service being provided by people who care. “Sustainability is our focus. That is


why we always choose produce from our locality and why our veg boxes are just that – boxes of vegetables with no unnecessary packaging, why our deliveries are made for free by bike trailer, and why we recycle and redistribute our surplus. “A typical veg box costs just £5 - bought from the supermarket, the same items would cost up to £10. “As well as being incredibly good


value, our veg is healthier and better for the environment, having cut out a lot of time and distance between fi eld and fork.


A typical recent box contained: • Beetroot, Swede, Potato & Parsnips from Brookfi elds Farm, Preston. • Savoy Cabbage from Worthingtons Farm, Tarleton, Preston. • Leeks from Homestead Farm, Ormskirk. • Carrots from Merscar House Farm, Scarisbrick. • Onion from Lincolnshire (GRUB are still trying to fi nd a local supplier)


Monty’s meeting about food


TV presenter Monty Don, President of the Soil Association, welcomed almost 250 people to Manchester Town Hall to talk about food. Speakers were Deborah Doane, from the World Development Movement; Tim Lang, Professor of


Food Policy; and Julie Brown from the Hackney-based Growing Communities. Deborah called for re-balancing the relationship with the Global South and urged her audience to


embrace the La Via Campasina – the international peasant movement. Tim Lang shared this frustration at the new government: after years of fi ghting for a quarterly meeting of ministers to talk about food, it then became one of the fi rst things to be scrapped. Julie Brown made a passionate case for transparent costs, which explained how much goes


back to the farmer and how much with the seller. The meeting was organised by The Kindling Trust, Unicorn Grocery and the Soil Association.


5 “We are currently taking orders for


our veg box scheme in Hulme, Whalley Range, Old Trafford and Moss Side. We aim to be affordable, sustainable and accessible. “


GRUB also have a community allotment plot on Bethnall Drive, Fallowfi eld and are running volunteer days on site through the winter, with volunteer days starting in the Spring. GRUB stands for Growing, Redistribution & Urban Boxes.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20