Growing veg, self sufficiency (and community spirit). Live webchat with Pam Warhurst Tues 3 July 1-2pm

Hello Pam. This sounds absolutely marvellous. I would love to know how you got other people on board? The community spirit I remember as a child seems to have evaporated in many areas and it would be wonderful to reignite it as a force for good. Many thanks

Given the price of organic fruit and veg we are very keen to start growing our own. What are the best (easiest!) things to get started with?

I was a big fan of The Good Life and rather fancied myself as a Felicity Kendal (wishful thinking). But I do like the idea of self sufficiency and would welcome your advice on the best way to achieve this

Hello Pam - had a look at your website and it looks like such a brilliant initiative. I was very interested to know how receptive the community was, whether you had any resistance - and who proved the most enthusiastic to embrace the scheme?

Has this been tried in any inner city areas? How do you deal with the security aspect? How do you make the local communities sufficiently aware that the gardens don't become trampled by teens or end up as receptacles for drug paraphrenalia?

Hello Pam .I read about Incredible Edible on the radio some time ago.
In our village in N. Somerset we started a sustainability gp 3 yrs ago.We run a monthly Fair Trade cafe and Grub club.- buy organic foods in bulk and sell on, do plant and seed swaps,sell/give away surplus produce.We’ve had an apple pressing day for last two years and produced over 400 bottles of apple juice.We’re planning to rent and restore an abandoned orchard-also investigating other environmental projects.
Apart from the food and gardening help this has created a good community spirit and even as a newcomer I’ve made many friends of all ages.
Look forward to your visit to Gransnet.

I would love to get something like this going in our town. I half asked the vicar if we could use the (tnen completely bare) large beds in front of the church, just to start it off, set an example and encourage people. She was very nice but the 'plans' had been finalised by the Garden Club. So now we have pansies, marigolds and things. V pretty, but ......

We do have a Transitional Town group thing, (it's way over the other side of town and I can't get there). Do you think, though, that this could develop into a vaguely decent alternative?

CeilingCat Suggest you contact your nearby Transition gp. They tackle the same issues as Sustainability gps.Our nearby town has a Transition gp.We have a good connection and exchange/share info and resources. and attend each others events.
Good luck with your efforts.

Sounds a great scheme Pam. Human nature being what it is, how do you deal with those who do very little to help with the planting, cultivation, weeding etc but then help themselves to a rather bigger share of the produce than those who have put in a great deal of gardening effort?
And can you suggest why after three successful years my peas have not even sprouted this season? I'm a bit further north than you.

Have been following you from afar (SE Queensland Australia) from the start. Just want to wish you well, as I've definitely been inspired by what you've done in West Yorkshire, where I come from.

I have my own sub-tropical food garden, with 6 hens - very good layers, fruit trees and many vegetables. Every meal has something from the garden. Australia is very big on permaculture, and we also have some guerrilla gardeners planting on common ground. I'm doing a bit myself, planting spare seeds and seedlings on a nearby abandoned garden. In the unlikely event of someone moving into the property I won't begrudge them some free food!

PS
Here's a nice article with a video clip of summat similar to Incredible Edible in Queenland. Of course, this one is less about food, and more about a leisure and fun and healing:

www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s3476467.htm

Not sure what the opposite of green fingers is - but it perfectly describes me

I would love to start growing vegetables - but can you tell me what I am least likely to kill?

Hi, I've been over to visit my daughter today in Cragg Vale and visited recently flooded Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge and I feel so sad for those who have homes and businesses badly affected. I know Tod was also flooded and wondered how this has affected your project and if you've lost many plants?
Good luck yo you all,
Cagsy

Hi. I love this initiative so much, it's really inspiring and makes the most of the very best aspects of human nature. I don't know Todmorden (only been there once years ago) and I imagine it to be a place with a lot of 'alternative' types who care passionately about the land being used wisely and equitably etc etc. Do you think that Incredible Edible could happen and be successful in any kind of community? I'm thinking of a hardboiled, post-industrial, down-in-the-dumps kind of place where people have learned (for no real reason) to be suspicious of their neighbours? I'd like to think it could!

Have you found that kids are more interested in eating their greens after watching them grow? I have a theory that learning to grow your own could be a crucial educational tool to help youngsters eat better.

Welcome Pam,

I wondered if there had been any vandalism and if not, how you've avoided it?

Presumably it all costs money? How are you funded and do you have to spend a lot of time fundraising?

I think incredible Edible is a great idea and would love to do something similar. How did you find the spaces to grow on and how do you negotiate with the owners, if they are owned, to allow you to plant?

I think someone else has asked a question a bit like this, but I am absolutely fascinated by how you stop people just pinching stuff? Do you have to have security? It's hard to believe you just rely on people's good nature....