Would you like to learn more about sustainable gardening?
Green Synergy is hosting a sustainable gardening workshop on Hillside Garden between 10am to 1pm, £30, delivered by their Garden Manager Ana who previously worked at the RH Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Places are limited, so don’t miss out. To book, please click below:
Creating the Sustainable Garden – September 13th 2024.
Recent Events
FarmStarts for the Future: Thriving & Sustainable Local Food Systems
Is the public sector ready for the food and farming challenges that lie ahead? We all need to eat, but our farming industry faces more challenges with climate change, higher input prices, ecological depletion, policy uncertainty, an ageing workforce and a new generation of people wanting to be farmers who have no clear pathway into skilled agroecological growing in the region. We need to create such a pathway.
FarmStarts are land-based training and business incubator programmes that offer a pathway for new entrant farmers to develop successful enterprises, increasing the supply of local produce and contributing to the development of a thriving local and regional food economy.
There are around eight FarmStarts in other parts of the UK, supported by the Landworkers Alliance’ Farmstart Network and new entrant support programme.
Join us for this online webinar as we share our knowledge and findings of our research and collaboration around creating FarmStarts in the Midland and Eastern region.
In this session we will explore how FarmStarts can support our communities to access healthy and nutritious food, support the local economy, create good quality jobs and restore nature at the same time – all essential components of building a resilient, efficient, sustainable long-term food supply that people can relate to and participate in.
The link between soil health and human health is becoming well known. Research shows us that we can get the same nutrition from one beetroot grown in optimal growing (agroecological) conditions in living soils as nine industrially grown beetroots. Not all vegetables are equal!
This has huge land-use and human health implications. FarmStarts are our key to growing these nutrient-dense foods. Can we afford to not invest in agroecological growing for the future? This is your opportunity to find out more about this crucial part of the coming food system transition, hear from each other and consider how our councils might support the creation of FarmStarts.
This regional network of food partnership coordinators has come together to think about solutions to the urgent concerns of their city regions food supplies and the nutritional security of our communities, by looking at the creation of a new generation of agroecological farmers in particular.
Agenda:
- The context of horticultural production in the Midlands
- What is a FarmStart?
- How can FarmStarts support access to food in our areas?
- Case studies – picture from across the country
- Nutrient security and a transition to local markets
Q&A / Discussion
Who is this event for?
- This is aimed at those whose work relates to the areas of Nottingham/shire, Lincoln/shire, Peterborough and Norwich/Norfolk and their peri-urban and rural hinterland in and around the Fens.
- Local Authority, county and combined authority officers (especially in sustainable food, planning, ecology, public health, green infrastructure, local economy, climate, procurement, commissioners, and property and assets)
- MPs and Councillors
- Established and new growers and those who would like to enrol in a Farmstart programme in this area.
- Landowners
- This webinar is also for all those who have an interest in access to food, agroecology and food sovereignty.
Presenters:
Bex Elston – Allotment Chef at Ecoworks Dig & Dinner Project and Forest School Leader. Previously the market Host of NeighbourFood Nottingham and Nottingham Food Assembly, Chair of Slow Food Nottingham, Coordinator of Ecoworks; 100% local subsidised Veg Box Scheme, ‘FRESH ingredients project’ teaching cook and grow workshops and Catering Manager providing hot healthy lunches to NHS sites across Nottingham. WEA Teacher of ‘Cooking on a Budget’ and ‘Food Resilience’, YMCA Nottingham. Nursery School Chef, Shaping Futures. Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Sector and A1 Assessor trained.
Bethan McIlroy – Good Food Nottingham, grower, researcher and co-author of the Nottinghamshire Farmstart feasibility study (2023).
Laura Stratford – Greater Lincolnshire Food Partnership coordinator since 2021. She is passionate about sustainable and regenerative food systems providing good food for all, and in deepening our connection to land, food and one another. Laura’s background is in community and education (Steiner early years, Primary school teaching, and emancipatory higher education). (www.lincolnshirefoodpartnership.org)
Lauren Kendrick – Flourish Peterborough coordinator. and producer of Growing Together food and art events, Lauren holds the vision and activates and weaves the network of food projects and people across Peterborough. (www.flourishpeterborough.co.uk)
Sabine Virani – Coordinator of Sustainable Food Norwich and a Green Future Associate of the Urban Agriculture Consortium. Through this work and her blog posts for Norwich FarmShare on the Oxford Real Farming Conference, she explores how farming in harmony with nature can help restore essential Earth systems while also providing safe, nutritious food for all. (www.sustainablefoodnorwich.org.uk)
We have been brought together and supported in our collaboration thanks to funding and support from the Urban Agriculture Consortium (UAC) www.urbanagriculture.co.uk of which we are all members.
Join us online on 24th July 2024, 1-2.30pm to talk about how practitioners and policy makers can collaborate to lay these essential foundations, starting now.
Next online event
Wednesday 12th June, 10-11:30am
This will be of particular interest to people living and working in South Lincolnshire, and anyone involved in the wider food system.
Seed to Plate – interactive supper club
This month we will be celebrating herbs and edible flowers grown in the Mint Lane Community garden
The garden inspired dinner will include: Seasonal herb and flower salad, Homemade bread & herby butters, Rhubarb & Strawberry compote and Fragrant floral mocktails
For more information and to register, please click here
Local grain for the community
An opportunity to get together with local food producers and providers, farmers, millers, and bakers. We hope to stimulate conversation and help forge connections, support the growing interest in providing affordable, locally produced food for our communities.
- The Old School, South Ormsby Estate, LN11 8QS
- Sunday, 21st of April, 12.30pm
- FREE – including lunch – please let Finn know if you’re hoping to come and let her know any dietary needs finn.bracey@southormsbyestate.co.uk
- Parking available at venue
Next online event:
Friday 19th April 2024, 1:00-2:30pm – online
- What future for those working the Fens? Farmers’ experience of the present and anticipation of the future.
- The long view: What outcomes and values should drive the investment strategy for flood risk management in the Fens?
- A robust response to multiple, interacting challenges
All welcome – especially relevant for people who live/work in the Lincolnshire Fens and/or the wider food system.
Introduction to Permaculture
A 2-day course on the basics of Permaculture Design, hosted by Earth Lincs
- Saturday 13 + Sunday 14th April 2024
- 9am-5:30pm
- Mint Lane Hub, Lincoln
- Contact: EarthLincs@gmail.com
Full Permaculture Design Course to follow – please contact Earth Lincs if you’re interested.
Turning up the volume on Lincoln’s young voices
Hosted by Local Motion – and the Food Partnership will be there talking food!
Lincoln is listening. If you are aged between 15 to 25 years old and want to have your say on what matters to you and your place, join us.
- Tuesday, 9th Apr 2024 12:00 – 15:00
- Deans Building, Lincoln College, Monks Road, Lincoln LN2 5HQ
The Future of Food in the Lincolnshire Fens – workshop #3
- Monday 18. March 2024
- Holbeach
Participants will be invited to ensure balance and diversity at the event. If you are interested in participating, please register your interest below.
Painting by Nick Tearle
The Future of Food in the Lincolnshire Fens #2
- 10-11am, Wednesday 21st February 2024
- Online – All welcome, booking essential
The webinar will discuss:
- the importance of the Fens for the food system of South Lincolnshire and the UK’s
- the challenges, current and future, to continued food production, processing, transport, and distribution in the area
- coastal environments and how to manage the risks of tidal flooding as sea levels rise
- soil maintenance in the Fens
- road maintenance in the Fens
The presentation will be followed by a Q&A.
The Future of Food in the Lincolnshire Fens project is about co-designing robust responses to the current and future challenges to food production, manufacturing, transport and distribution in the Lincolnshire Fens.
It brings together a diverse group of stakeholders from the region, in a series of in-person workshops.
Food Partnership AGM
- Wednesday, 17 January · 12:00 – 12:30pm – ADD TO CALENDAR
- Online – Video call link: https://meet.google.com/rjg-jggc-dss
- All welcome; Registered Food Partners have one vote per organisation.
An opportunity to show your support for your Food Partnership, gain updates and celebrate the past year, and elect new members to the Board.
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/rjg-jggc-dss
Sudanese Supper Club (December)
Sudan feast prepared by Reham. We wanted our last World Food Supper Club of the year to bring us back to the food sharing ethos of the start of the journey.
Hosted by Reham.
- Friday 15th December, 6pm to 9pm
- Mint Lane Cafe
Lincolnshire Food Summit
Bringing together foodbanks, community groceries, – kitchens, -gardens and others addressing poverty through food to share inspiration and solve problems through collaboration.
Get involved:
Diwali Celebration Supper (November)
Diwali celebration with lovely traditional food cooked by Ruchita, the lady behind Masala Masters in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire.
Hosted by Ruchita.
- Friday 3rd November, 6pm to 9pm
- Mint Lane Cafe
World Food Day
Networking with the brilliant people of Greater Lincolnshire working towards fairer, greener, healthier food for all.
Our guest speaker, Greg Barrow, was until just a few weeks ago the Deputy Director of Communications for the United Nations World Food Programme and former BBC foreign correspondent.
Greg will be telling us about the work of the World Food Programme and his time with the world’s largest humanitarian organisation.
- Monday 16th October 11am – 1pm
- Mint Lane Cafe
- Drop in event; to know how many people to expect, please complete the booking form
More about permaculture from our blog:
The Inkpot – a permaculture farm in Lincolnshire
How does permaculture address the big challenges of our times – from the climate and ecological crises, to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities? Hannah Thorogood – a permaculture designer and senior UK Permaculture teacher – farms 100 acres (without a tractor). Her land and farming practices embody a mindset of abundance – one that many of us are aspiring to and wondering how to realise. Farming the future The Inkpot Farm near Sleaford is a model for post-fossil fuel farming. It is designed for carbon sequestration and long term resilience, as well as producing nourishing food and…
Keep reading
Uniting the British Isles Supper – (October)
Using organically grown salad and vegetables to create nutritious meals fit for any family.
Atma and Ben have a wonderful space and we thought they could try and bring some wellness, home grown organic food and their loveliness to share with us at Mint Lane. But I’ll let them explain in their own words.
A night of uniting the British Isles with seasonally sourced dishes – all produce provided from Old Wood Organic CIC a community organic, No-Dig garden. During the evening you will be taken on a journey of Sound (folk songs), Silence (mindful pauses) and conversation.
“You see my five fingers, but somebody can see the five gaps between my fingers. Ordinarily you will not see the gaps, you will see five fingers. But the gaps are more real: fingers may come and go, gaps will remain. Between the sounds of music there are gaps of silence.” – Osho.
Ben and Atma are directors of Old Wood Organic CIC, a woodland community that supports local residents with nature connected activities for mental health and wellbeing. Ben and Atma are passionate about food, nature, sound and silence.
Hosted by Ben and Atma.
- Friday 6th October, 6pm to 9pm
- Mint Lane Cafe
LOGO Apple Day
A celebration of Apples and Orchards hosted by Lincolnshire Organic Gardeners’ Organisation (LOGO)
East of England Apples & Orchards Project (EEAOP) will support with its display of 20 local Lincolnshire apple varieties as well as over 100 more from other counties in the east of England.
The EEAOP team of experts will be offering apple identification, putting names to any unidentified fruits whilst also on the lookout for any previously unrecorded and any ‘lost’ or Lincolnshire varieties.
To help with identification please bring along 3 typical examples of fruits plus a few leaves.
If your tree is more than 50 years old there’s a chance you may have one of the potentially ‘lost’ Lincolnshire varieties such as Old Man, Garrett’s Golden Pippin, Stoup’s Leadington.
- Apple Juicing available: up to 10kg of your own clean apples juiced free. Don’t forget to bring containers for the juice.
- LOGO produce stall, organic gardening advice and displays by other associated organisations.
- Delicious homemade refreshments
Save the date:
- Sunday 1st October, 11am to 4pm – Free Admission
A Lincolnshire Breadbasket
What would a Lincolnshire Loaf be like?
Conversations and networking for farmers, millers and bakers.
We’ll be talking diverse grain, stone ground flour, slow fermentation bread and feeding our communities. We’ll assemble a breadbasket of Lincolnshire breads – and taste them!
It will be an opportunity to share the issues we are facing at every stage on the journey of grain to bread in Lincolnshire.
- Wednesday 20th September
- Grain of Truth Bakery, Lincoln
- £10 – booking essential
Caribbean Supper Club – (September)
A taste of is a culinary fusion of Caribbean food cooked with love and served with a smile. I’m Angeletia a self taught chef who loves to feed my nearest and dearest.
In celebration of Black History Month I will cook black eyed peas stew, fried plantain and Caribbean fruit cake. Cooking using Black British Zero Waste recipes.
Hosted by Angeletia.
- Friday 8th September, 6pm to 9pm
- Mint Lane Cafe
World Food Supper Club (August)
A multisensorial meal experience facilitated by our Mexican friend Dr Carolina Camacho.
- Friday 18th August
World Food Supper Club (July)
Besime and her friend Hilal hosted an evening of traditional cuisine from their home village in Turkey.
- Friday 28th July
World Food Supper Club (June)
Social dining on Tex Mex bean-based dishes.
Mint Lane Cafe
- Friday 30th June
Edible Community Garden Tour
The Community Farm Donington-On-Bain
We are collaborating with local community farms and gardens to organise edible garden tours.
Our second visit will be to The Community Farm Donington-On-Bain to share, learn and enhance our local Good Food Movement by connecting and working together.
Contact amie@lincolnshirefoodpartnership.org.uk for more information or just turn up
Our next Edible Garden Tour date:
- Tuesday 27th June 2023, 11am to 1pm
- The Community Farm Donington-On-Bain
Edible Community Garden Tour
Old Wood Organic CIC
We are collaborating with local community farms and gardens to organise edible garden tours.
Our first visit will be to Old Wood Organic CIC to share, learn and enhance our local Good Food Movement by connecting and working together.
Our first Edible Garden Tour date:
- Friday 19th May 2023, 1pm to 3pm
- Old Wood Organic CIC, Skellingthorpe, Lincoln
World Food Supper Club (May)
Ghanaian food & story telling with Mother & Daughter duo.
Mint Lane Cafe
- Friday 12th May 2023
A Lincolnshire Breadbasket
How can farmers, millers and bakers can work together towards diverse, resilient, nourishing, accessible bread for all, in a changing climate?
If you’re a miller, an independent or micro baker (or would like to be!) in Lincolnshire, we welcome your involvement in addressing these big issues together.
Email Laura@lincolnshirefoodpartnership.org to find out more.
The Open Food Network
You may have missed these workshops, but we’re still buzzing from them! – There will be more to follow…
If you’re interested in getting involved, email laura@lincolnshirefoodpartnership.org
Seed Co-op Open Day – Cancelled
The highlight of the market gardener’s calendar – the Seed Co-op opens its gates to guests to share their vital work, sowing the seeds of a healthy, resilient future.
Parking on-site
Refreshments & stalls
https://seedcooperative.org.uk/
- Saturday 12th August, 10am – 3pm
Pitch In Kitchen Supper Club – Rescheduled
We are proud to be working with Greater Lincolnshire Food Partnership and SoundLincs to host music based workshops alongside a Pitch In Kitchen at Mint Lane Cafe. These will be multigenerational and combine the demonstrations of simple food preparations of gourmet salads, slaws and soups. We will be planning, preparing, cooking and sharing surplus food with music and good conversation.
All our Pitch In Kitchen Supper Clubs will be held at Mint Lane Cafe, Lincoln.
From 6pm to 9pm.
Our Pitch In Kitchen Supper Club dates:
- Friday 2nd June
From the blog
Food Access for All – Gaps, Challenges and Joining the Dots
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Hunger, Hardship and Low Hanging Fruit: two new food reports
I don’t normally cry when I’m in a cafe. Last week, poring over a report on my laptop, I angled myself away from other customers as tears dripped quietly onto the table. The cost of hunger & hardship The Cost of Hunger & Hardship report produced by the Trussell Trust…
Why is Foodbank Use in Lincoln Reducing?
By Simon Hawking, Acts Trust Andrea turns the key and gives the door a shove with her shoulder. Her two daughters run under her arm, darting into the house and out of sight while she fumbles for the light switch. As she clicks it, she frowns curiously as nothing happens.…
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