Urban Harvest: Help save Birmingham’s fruit from going to waste
Our friends at Northfield Ecocentre need our support. They’re re-launching the fantastic Urban Harvest project originally set up by wonderful Loaf and Stirchley Market supporters Eleanor Hoad and Nigel Baker. As keen wild food foragers at Loaf (next Foraging course – 3 Oct), we know there’s loads of free edible treats in and around urban street, canals, parks and back gardens, and whilst we do our best to pick and use what we can, it’s a crying shame that so much goes to waste each year.
The aim of Urban Harvest is to turn local fruit that would otherwise go to waste from back gardens and public places into jams, preserves and juices, and to give apples and soft fruit away for free to children centres and food banks for re-distribution to individuals and families who could benefit from the good old five a day.
Crowd funding – £10,000 needed by Weds 18 Sept!
They’re looking to raise £10,000 to re-launch the project and employ a part time co-ordinator, and need 2000 people to donate £5 (or more!) each to reach their target. The deadline is looming, on Wednesday 18th September, and if the target is not met they will be unable to go ahead.
To donate visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/urban-harvest
They’re also looking for:
- Volunteers and drivers to help pick fruit
- People with fruit trees and bushes who would like their produce picked (tell them how much you want to keep and they’ll use any surplus)
- People to help promote the project and share the crowd-funding site with friends and families
- Retailers wiling to sell juices and preserves made with local fruit
- Local producers who need fruit to make their own preserves etc
- Children centres, food banks and charities who can re-distribute free fruit to those who need it.
Northfield Ecocentre is working with Martineau Gardens, Urban Veg and Growing Birmingham to deliver Urban Harvest.