It’s never hard to find something to disagree about.
A quick glance at the news, a conversation with colleagues… even a few minutes within your own thoughts. We’re surrounded by ideas pulling views in opposite directions.
So it’s novel, transformative even, to take a pause and find reason to come together around a shared vision.
A mix of perspectives, each with differing views – listening, sharing and finding that there’s a thread that everybody can agree with.
Last month I witnessed this in action.
Climate Hope Lincoln and the Greater Lincolnshire Food Partnership brought together people connected to the city through a wide range of roles, each related to the local food system in some way.
We came together to explore what’s already working well for the food system in and around Lincoln, and to consider what could work better.
We were comfy up in the White Horse and extended our discussions over a thoughtfully crafted meal, the outcome of a challenge we’d set to chef Jack – a plant based dish based on local food.
There were people who already worked in partnership and others who were meeting for the first time. We were joined by growers, bakers, retailers, people in hospitality, public health, City Council…
It’s no understatement to say that times are tough. One of our guests, Nicola Goldblatt is testament to this, having closed the doors to zero waste shop Forage and Fill this summer. The high street, small businesses, local producers can all share stories of struggle.
So were we going to have a room filled with tension and heaviness?
Not at all.
Conversations were balanced and we heard about challenges, but there was no heaviness. What we had was enthusiasm, passion and a clear sense that we are connected by a vision to see a local food system that is thriving. A system that feels connected and collaborative, inclusive and accessible, where local food is good food – healthy, pleasurable and regenerative.
It’s not that we magically figured out a solution. We discovered many obstacles and it will take much more energy to create a path forward.
But we came away uplifted, knowing that there’s a firm desire, across sectors, to connect and explore creating a thriving local food system for Lincoln. We’ll keep building on this momentum.
And the White Horse discovered a new supplier for their beef – organic, regeneratively raised by Hannah Thorogood at the Inkpot Farm. Sometimes a conversation is all it takes!
Do you know someone who should be part of the conversation? Let us know by emailing laura@lincolnshirefoodpartnership.org
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