SPAN Sustainable Production In Active Neighbourhoods

Produced by the SPAN Partnership, March 2008.

This Manifesto highlights the changes needed, at both national and local level, to get more people actively involved in growing and eating sustainable food. It draws on the learning and ideas from everyone involved in SPAN.

Several organisations have endorsed this manifesto - click here to see who they are and why they support it.

Communities which work together to grow, eat and distribute their own food feel happier, healthier and take more positive steps to improve the environment – both local and global.

That’s the simple but powerful conclusion contained in a manifesto launched today [March 19, 2008], which calls for greater effort from policy makers, funders and support organisations to help those local community groups who create tangible benefits for their neighbourhoods.

Saturday 8th March 2008, Wapping Women's Centre - A free event with activities for women and children. Donations welcome to help cover the costs.

A two day event to integrate the SPAN learning into the training capacity of the permaculture teachers network. To be held at the award winning eco focused Frank Chapman Centre (www.frankchapmancentre.co.uk/) on the 15/16 March. Open to current permaculture teachers. Full report will be posted soon after the event. For more information contact andyg@permaculture.org.uk

Full discussion document is available at http://www.organiclea.org.uk/news.html

Background summary
Enter into the edges of the allotment world and you’ll hear the 1922 Allotments Act mentioned as forbidding allotment sales.

As an allotment-based project involved in small amounts of surplus distribution (1), we decided to look into this Act and explain, in as simple terms as possible, when allotment produce can be sold legally, when it can’t, and why.

Food growing professionals and community volunteers are finding out how to engage more people from diverse cultures in sustainable production whatever their language.

Working Across Languages and Cultures at the Women's Library on 15th November explores how to cross language barriers to increase access and involvement from all communities.

A dissemination and promotion event is planned for October with the aim of communicating the progress and achievements of the SPAN Partnership project so far. With news and discussion about SPAN and the pilot projects. More details here shortly.

An open source community portal with more interactive features, such as a forum, allowing better communication of information about SPAN and the pilot projects. Watch this space!