Links
Useful links for UK Food and Sustainability Projects
Organisations
www.localfoodgrants.org
Local Food Fund, part of Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme: funding available for projects that fit under five themes. Projects could include growing, processing, marketing and distributing local food; composting and raising awareness of the benefits of such activities.
www.defra.gov.uk
DEFRA - The main government department dealing with sustainable patterns of consumption and production, food and farming (and our funder!).
www.neweconomics.org
NEF is an independent 'think and do' tank - they believe in economics as if people and the planet mattered!
www.soilassociation.org
The Soil Association is a key UK organisation that supports organic farming, local food and food links, in particular Community Supported Agriculture.
www.sustainweb.org
Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
www.thrive.org.uk
Thrive is the national charity whose aim is to enable positive change in the lives of disabled and disadvantaged people through the use of gardening and horticulture.
These are other interesting and inspiring projects, organisations and individuals related to food growing in cities
www.greenmap.london21.org and www.greenmap.org
The London greenmap can be used to search for green events and organisations in specific areas and to view what's going on in wider London! The map was developed as part of the international Green Map System which supports local Green Mapmakers as they create perspective-changing community ‘portraits’ which act as comprehensive inventories for decision-making and as practical guides for residents and visitors, and enabling greater sustainability.
www.schoolofeverything.com
The School of Everything is a new site that is creating an easy way for anyone to learn what they want, when, where and in the way that suits them best. Putting people in touch with each other, not with an institution. We're very new, but we're growing – and we've got big plans. Teachers can advertise, and everyone can browse for someone to teach what they're looking for.
www.seedysunday.org
Seedy Sunday promote and publicise Seed Swaps across the UK and valuable information on how to save seeds etc.
www.appletrees.org.uk
Julian Brandram. local expert on fruit trees and soft fruit offering advice and trees for sale suited to the region.
www.fallenfruit.org
A great website by fruit activists in USA.
transitiontowns.org
Transition Towns – a number of UK and US towns which are preparing for peak oil and planning strategies for more self sufficient and locally based economies in the future (including the importance of local and urban food generation).
www.organiclea.org.uk
Interesting local food growing and distribution and fruit harvest project in Lea Valley, London.
www.greenguerillas.org
A thirty year old organization in New York with uses a unique mix of education, organizing, and advocacy to help people cultivate community gardens, sustain grassroots groups and coalitions, engage youth and address issues critical to the future of their gardens.
www.edibleecosystems.net
Interesting articles and research on urban agriculture, edible ecosystems and permaculture.
Interesting websites related to local food
www.littlelocalfood.com
A site designed to give people across the country access to their local food producers, not only helping to keep their food miles down, but uniquely committing to the local industry. Register yourself or find local producers!
www.localfood.org.uk
f3 provides specialist research and consultancy services to organisations and enterprises involved in local and sustainable food initiatives.
www.foodlinks-uk.org/index.asp
Foodlinks is a national network supporting the local food sector, leading towards sustainable local food systems.
www.wholesome-food.org.uk
The WFA local symbol scheme is a low-cost, 'grassroots' alternative to organic certification for people who are growing or producing food for sale in their local region.