Valley Food Festival
May 1st - 31st
This week don't miss the evening with Geoff Tansey, winner of the Derek Cooper Award in the BBC Radio 4Food and Farming Awards 2008. The theme of the evening is “The Future Control of Food – from global to Local and there will be a talk and discussion about the issues raised. People are asked to bring food to share to this event which starts at 7pm at Central St School.
Next week, there is “Fruity Fun” - a Smoothie and Fruit kebab making session for children at the Children's Centre, Bridge Lanes. Just turn up from 3.30 till 5pm.
There will also be a Brew Your Own beer evening Thurs 21st at the Stubbing Wharf, where people can learn how to make home brewed beer using only natural ingredients. Last but not least, the last tour of Little Valley Brewery on Friday 22nd at 7pm.
The Biggest Slug Competition will be judged at the ATC at the Big Green Weekend - get your booking forms now from the ATC.
Unfortunately, foir reasons beyond our control, the Food Fair event at Central St School on Sat 16th is cancelled.
For more information about any of these events, please ring the ATC on 01422 842121
or email info@alternativetechnology.org.uk
Hanging Gardens of Cornholme - and Hebden Bridge...?
The ATC have been helping people in Hebden Bridge look for land to grow on. Few houses in the town have gardens and so allotments are in big demand.
Land is difficult to find and what there is, is very often steep. We then heard of someone in Cornholme whose visiting Nepalese friends has started to terrace his land just like they do at home in Nepal - and suggested that it could be done here. Is this the solution for Hebden Bridge gardeners?
Ben will be giving a talk about this at the ATC in July. If you are interested please contact the ATC on 01422 842121 or email info@alternativetechnology.org.uk
The Happy Valley Food Group
Calderdale, West Yorkshire
The food group promotes local food and local producers, makes links between producers and consumers and aims to support new producers to set up.
Using locally produced food will:
- reduce food miles
- improve the local economy
- cut carbon emissions
- make the connection between food
and where it comes from
The food group is led by the Alternative Technology Centre in Hebden Bridge, and includes Calderdale Farmers' Co-operative, Slow Food West Yorkshire, Hebden Royd Allotments Group, Calder Food Hub, Redacre Growing Project and Incredible Edible Todmorden. The Town Council, the Upper Calder Valley Partnership and Calder High School are represented.
To find out more or get involved contact the Alternative Technology Centre
What's Happening?
Calderdale Farmers' Co-op encourages the distribution of local produce, reducing food miles and creating business opportunities for local people. Membership is open to any local producers (based in Calderdale). Produce is sold at local markets (in Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and the Piece Hall) where co-op members can sell their produce on shared stalls.
Calder Food Hub aims to help people who want to grow their own produce but don't have access to land. They organise gardeners days, offering training and the opportunity for trying out growing on a small scale. They offer help and advice to growers. For more information contact Calder Food Hub
Incredible Edible Todmorden, aims for Todmorden to be self sufficient in in fruit and vegetables. They celebrate food and cooking, and promote local food production (within 30 miles of Todmorden). They work closely with local schools, seven of which have growing projects with pupils and parents involved. For more information see Incredible Edible Todmorden
Redacre Growing Project is a new initiative aiming to set up a social enterprise growing project on the Community Supported Agriculture model, plus provision of allotments.
Hebden Royd Allotments Group is working with the Town Council to provide more allotment sites in response to an increase in demand.
Slow Food West Yorkshire is part of the international Slow Food movement, which aims to counteract fast food and fast life, and the disappearance of local traditions. The local group holds apple days, and is promoting local milk producers and milk deliveries.
- Happy Valley Food -
2008