International Women’s Day is the perfect occasion to celebrate some incredible women in Leeds’ food scene! From researchers and chefs to innovative business owners, here are 12 remarkable women driving positive and local change in the Good Food Movement.
(1) Jade Crawley, Head Chef at Fearns Leeds Dock , previously at head chef at Eat Your Greens and before that cheffing at the Wild Plum, who talks to Anna Schindler about the kitchens she worked in where toxic masculinity was oppressive. Read the full article.
“My advice to other women… people can tolerate a lot of unacceptable things and you don’t have to put up with it. You may have to look a little further, but you can find kitchens where people are treated fairly. Read, go on stages, volunteer your time and lift the curtains on what happens in other people’s kitchens. Inspiration can come from anywhere.” – Jade Crawley, Head Chef at Fearns Leeds Dock.
(2) Manjit Kaur of Manjit’s Kitchen who has been named one of the 100 most influencial women in hospitality by CODE, who described her as a chef owner who has made a mark on the city’s Punjabi food scene. Manjit is open hearted, resilient and rooted in her community, whilst also helping to give other women a leg up and into work.
(3) Amy Wright – As the founder of Nell’s Urban Greens and Farm Microgreens UK, Amy grows these tiny plants in multiple varieties for her local community whilst inspiring a new generation of microgreens farmers – all from her back-garden grow house in East Leeds. READ MORE
(4) Sonja Woodcock is the food partnership coordinator for Leeds who has been striving for decades to build a healthy, sustainable, fair food system for everyone in Leeds. See article below from independent researcher and writer Gemma Bridge.
(5) Season Well CIC, aka Viv & Becky, have been helping people have a go at growing for over 7 years. Through classes and food growing and cooking projects, they’ve been sharing the love and joy of delicious, seasonal food across Leeds.
(6) Ali Morpeth – Co-Founder Planeatry Alliance | Building a better food future for people + planet | Bridging the gap between sustainability and health to drive transformative change in food systems.
(7) Anna Shindler, the culinary genius behind Food With View, is a chef and writer, writing about Women in food. We highly recommend her vegetarian catering – it’s simple and delicious! You can taste for yourself at the upcoming Yoga Brunch at Leftbank Leeds. Meanwhile, why not check out their blog!
(8) Award-winning Emmanuelle Metz, of Metz Cheesemonger at Sunny Bank Mills, who emphasises artisan cheese for superior taste and quality.
(9)Tanalans, led by Tanya Cusan, an occasional supper club, offers a delightful vegetarian supper club inspired by her Colombian roots—think empanadas, frijoles, and vibrant seasonal salads straight from her allotment!
(10) Julie Nutchie of Bilberry Bee has over 35 years experience in the food industry and grows organic fruits and veggies right from her garden.
(11) Maureen Wilkes, opened Maureen’s Caribbean Food in Harehills in 2003—a community treasure amidst shifting eateries serving authentic Caribbean cuisine.
(12) Dr Effie Papargyropoulou is pioneering research into sustainable food systems for global food security while respecting our planet’s limits.
There are many other brilliant women working in Leeds’ Food Scene. Who would you love to shine a light on? Let us know in the comments!
Delighted to announce, Compost Collective Leeds (CCL) won the best community composting award at the Feed Leeds Food Growing Awards. Congratulations to Annie Whitehead, for all of her hard work and achieving so much.
Compost Collective Armley is coming soon to Charlie Cake Park (officially called Whingate Park). This will be the tenth Compost Collective scheme across Leeds. This means we have achieved one of our big milestones, as Food Transition Partner for Climate Action Leeds. Now that’s something to shout about! Want to get involved? Get in touch with Armley Common Rights Trust or Climate Action Armley.
Inspiration Nursery have almost filled their second compost bin and are really excited about how much food waste they have diverted from landfill and the future free soil they are producing for their raised beds in the school gardens. And there’s more! Horsforth Community Compost Collective got the go ahead from Leeds City Council to build more composting bins on public land.
And the numbers are in for 2024: Didn’t we do well!
1,963 kgs of material was diverted from landfill.
We set up 7 new schemes, worked with 11 new organisations and built 19 compost bins.
We trained 110 volunteers (and 96 are still active!)
We’ve got our finger on the pulse this Winter. Read on to find out all our healthy, sustainable and fair food news.
Power to the Pulses – We are on a mission to get people eating more pulses. Think fish and chips with a side of mushy peas, or the more recent menu additions like dhal and hummus. These little powerhouses boost your health, help our planet, and ease the strain on your wallet too! Read more about pulses and we have our finger on the pulse: Celebrating Pulses and Northern England has it’s finger on the pulse.
Please join GFEI’s upcoming webinar by Dr Andy Newing, School of Geog. Andy will deliver a webinar exploring if online groceries and branded convenience stores help alleviate contemporary food deserts (neighbourhoods lacking good access to fresh, healthy and affordable food).
Traditional Food Markets – In the UK eight supermarkets currently control 95% of the grocery market (Kantar World Panel), yet traditional food markets have potential to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable food system addressing pressing issues like the cost-of-living crisis and climate change. Prof Sara Gonzalez explores how a new research project advocates for public policies that can expand the region’s ‘right to food’ here.
Love is in the Pulses – We are interested in raising pulses in our communities. World Pulses Day is celebrated on February 10th each year. It’s an international day that recognises the importance of pulses for health, sustainable living and you can get involved by going to FAO website. Or Check out this informative article from The Food Foundation and from FAO on the Power of Pulses.
Support Community Composting! A huge thank you to Annie Whitehead for her outstanding efforts in promoting community composting in Leeds. Annie is also the 2025 winner of BEST COMPOSTING in Feed Leeds Growing Awards.
She also took on the challenge of weighing all her food waste before composting it over a year, diverting 115 kg from one household! Imagine the impact if every household did this. Want to support similar projects? If you can, please consider donating and/ or sharing with your networks via this link.
Share, Eat and Celebrate Good Food: Feed Leeds had their annual celebration at Meanwood Farm to celebrate local food growing heroes with their Local Food Growing Awards presentations this week. It was a great evening for networking and learning about food growing projects across Leeds, accompanied by a delicious meal. A little film about Get Growing Leeds here:
International Women’s Day 2025 Celebrate International Women’s Day with the classic Palestinian dish Maqluba (vegan option available) whilst watching the film ‘Bye Bye Tiberias’ made by Lina Soualem as part of Leeds Palestinian Festival at HEART Centre Leeds on 7 Mar 6pm. More info here.
Food Stories This February why not come together to talk over food? Food Stories is a free community project in Leeds designed to bring people together through the power of food. Funded by Tracy Brabin and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and Leeds City Council, and delivered by the Leeds-based charity Zest. Read more here about the Meanwood project.
‘Good Samaritan Laws and Surplus Food – A Solution in Need of a Problem?’
The Global Food and Environment Institute (GFEI) invites you to their February 2025 webinar. Redistributing surplus food minimizes waste and addresses food insecurity. Since 2015, the UK has tripled its efforts, yet much potential remains untapped due to “fear of liability” among donors concerning recipient health.
A shout out to Eat Your Greens and Greens Grocer. It is the newly opened grocers in the Climate Innovation District down by Leeds Dock. They champion fresh organic healthy produce available in the UK. And while you are down there, why not check out Pig Love and Fearns. They love to showcase incredible organic veg and other locally sourced products.
Want a Super Fresh Veg Box?
Ever fancied having a super-fresh, chemical-free veg box every week, from an actual farm? Join the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) scheme where you, the eaters, are directly supporting the food growers and local food in the community.
Courses at Leeds Cookery School – The new year is here, and so is Leeds Cookery School’s exciting line-up of cookery classes that promise to tantalise your taste buds.
Lunch Club from Eat Your Greens – Is February the new January? Eat Your Greens think so, and are keeping a bit of that January spirit alive to help us all power through with Lunch Club – 2 for £15 on selected plates every Thursday and Friday between 12 and 3pm. Eat Your Greens create delicious and sustainably prepared dishes, supporting local organic producers because, (in their own words) it’s good for the planet, good for you and good for the farmers that grow it.
Let’s give them some love!
Cooking with Pulses – Did you know that pulses count as one of your five -a-day? So why not add more pulses like beans, peas and lentils to your tea? Like one of these carlin peas recipes from Hodemedods, whose pulses and grains are British-grown – and always will be!
Find more recipes with peas, beans and other pulses in the recipes section of our website. Got your own great recipe with pulses? Add it to our recipes so we can share with others.
World Pulses Day is celebrated on February 10th each year. It’s an international day that recognises the importance of pulses, which are the edible seeds of legumes.
What are pulses?
Pulses, also known as legumes, are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food. Dried beans, lentils and peas are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses. Staples dishes and cuisines from across the world feature pulses, from hummus in the Mediterranean (chick peas), to a traditional full English breakfast (baked navy beans) to Indian dal (peas or lentils). For centuries, pulses have been vital to sustainable agriculture and nutrition. These small but impactful crops not only provide essential nutrients but also support healthier diets and resilient farming systems, making them a key source of nourishment even for the most vulnerable communities, contributing on leaving no one behind.Many grow in the UK. They are high in protein, low in fat, and rich in soluble fiber. Pulses can be served as standalone dishes, or incorporated into sauces, spreads, desserts, and as toppings. They count as one of your five-a-day and can be added as #JustOneMore veg to help you eat a healthy diet.
Why celebrate pulses?
To increase public awareness of the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses To recognise the potential of pulses to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development To acknowledge the role of pulses in increasing global food security, building soil health, and diversifying agricultural systems. More information at FAO [Click link for Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations]: https://www.fao.org/world-pulses-day/en
Did you know?
Pulses increase farm biodiversity and create a richer landscape for animals and insects to thrive. The nitrogen-fixing properties of pulses can improve soil fertility, which improves and extends the productivity of farmland. Pulses are highly water efficient: for producing 1 kg of lentils needs 1250 liters, while 1 kg of beef requires 13,000 liters.
How can you celebrate World Pulses Day?
Learn more about the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses Try eating more pulses in your meals Support the production and consumption of pulses
Join Feed Leeds to share, eat and celebrate local food growing.
Feed Leeds AGM Celebration is on Monday, 24 February, from 5.30-8.30pm at the beautiful Meanwood Valley Urban Farm
Why Attend?
Enjoy a shared meal with fellow food enthusiasts (included in your ticket!)
Celebrate and connect with the amazing community of local food growers
Learn about exciting projects and initiatives happening in our area
Grab Your Tickets Today!
Tickets are just £9.38, and they’re selling fast!
Secure your spot by clicking here: [Buy Tickets](https://shorturl.at/BtJep) or simply scan the QR code in the image.
Let’s celebrate the people and projects that are local growing #goodfoodstories and make a vital contribution to our communities across Leeds. We can’t wait to see you there!
If you find Black Friday and it’s no-holds barred, fight to the finish for the cheapest deal a drag – then Giving Tuesday might be the refreshing antidote you are looking for.
This year, over 4,400 UK charities, including Zest, the charity that host FoodWise Leeds, are participating in this meaningful event. We want to say thank you and express our gratitude to all supporters who help us create a fair community for everyone in Leeds. Zest empowers those facing disadvantages through people-led projects focused on hope and happiness.
You can support Zest projects by donating to our Just Giving.
Giving Tuesday is a global movement that promotes generosity and encourages acts of kindness. It highlights various ways to give, from volunteering time and donating money to raising awareness and opting out of spending. Here are some ideas for how people can enhance giving and promote equity in our communities in Leeds. You can find out more about the Giving Tuesday UK Campaign in this link.
In this picture:Images 1 & 2 slogans courtesy of free images from GivingTuesdayUK. Image 3 courtesy of Zest Leeds website of Leeds Cookery School and Men’s Pie Club at Leeds Markets.
1. Support Local Community Initiatives ✨
There are loads of initiatives encouraging positive support of a range of communities. One excellent example, Mahogony Market. Founded in September 2020, Mahogany Market orchestrates events that showcase and create platforms for African and Caribbean culture. They connect the community with local independent businesses and there is a wide array of products and services. You can support local black-owned businesses by buying gifts at their next festive Mahogony Market on Dec 1at Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Also consider supporting Give-a-Gift a local grassroots organisation supporting the most vulnerable across Leeds. With support from volunteers and donations, they have supported over 2000 people with toys and emergency supplies. Other food aid across the city can be located on this brilliant new map.
2. Start a Community Garden and Cultivate Generosity 🕒
Compost Collective Leeds is a city–wide community composting scheme revolutionising the reduction of food waste. Did you know 200 kilos of food waste is produced by the average Leeds household each year? And the good news is that 40% of this can be transformed into valuable free soil by being composted. Yet many homes aren’t suitable for home composting compost. Well. Compost Collective Leeds have the perfect solution.
What can you do to help build the compost revolution? Join, start or donate towards a new community composting scheme. Compost Collective is a city–wide community composting scheme that began as a pilot in 2022. Read more about our journey here.
Fancy watching something about Compost Collective? Click here
In this picture:close up images of the new compost bin build at Horsforth Community Composting Scheme (1) logo on side of bin (2)volunteers before it is built (3) tools and the bin lid being created (4) a person having a moment of rest with tools inn hand (5) wood parts being assembled.
4. Invest in your local community.🌍
Community Share offers are one example of ways you can support your local community by investing in them. Community Ownership allows local people to have control over spaces that are important to them and to use them in ways that meet the community’s needs. One current local example is Bramley Baths Share Offer Raise the Roof, where people in Bramley, Leeds and beyond can invest in a piece of local heritage, and the only remaining operational Edwardian pool in Leeds. More information here. Another national example is the Black Farmers Uk, who are a grassroots black-led food justice inititative in Croydon. You can donate in this link or sign their petition here. Another fun and festive themed scheme you can support is Rainbow Junktion‘s reverse Advent Calendar. For each day of december they have suggested items you can donate to build a donation package of 24 items to give to local people who need it, and for those looking for a cause to support more reguarly you can become a friend of Rainbow Junktion here.
In this picture: Reverse advent Calendar 2024 from Rainbow Junktion with 24 items you can donate.
5. Buy an Experience ✨
Another alternative to Black Friday deals and a way to take part in #GivingTuesday is buying an experience to share with loved ones – local foodie and cultural experiences include – Leeds Cookery SchoolVouchers or why not go see a theatre production such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Leeds Playhouse and Leeds Food Tours run delicious tasting foodie tours which often includes a taste of the amazing chillis at the Chilli Shop right here in the heart of Leeds.
In this picture:Courtesy of Leeds Playhouse – a poster of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
6. Buy Nothing 🌿
What might be a refreshing change or flip of the coin, is to buy absolutely nothing. The Buy Nothing Project is a global network of community groups that encourage people to give, lend, and share items instead of buying new ones. The Buy Nothing Project was founded in 2013 by Rebecca Rockefeller and Liesl Clark in Bainbridge Island, Washington. It started as a Facebook campaign, but now also has a website and standalone app. The project has over 128,000 communities around the world. Features of the scheme include:
Giving: Members freely give or request items without obligations.
Sustainability: Rehoming items is eco-friendly compared to disposal.
Community: The project fosters trust and empathy among members.
Awareness: Highlights the negative effects of overconsumption and benefits of buying nothing to your mental health, bank balance and more.
To find out more or join up for FREE click this link.
7. Support Local 💚
When you buy local, you’re not just purchasing a product; you’re investing in a story. Each item at a local market has a history and a heart. The artisan who crafted that beautiful ceramic mug, the farmer who grew that squash in the field down the road. It helps build stronger communities, is more sustainable, and is often unique and high-quality products. Here is a listof some of the local artisan, Christmas and Farmers’ Markets coming up. You can also check out our mapfor some of the #goodfood initiatives happening across Leeds. From Little Veg Librariesto community gardensand farmers markets, find out what is happening locally.
It’s truly heartwarming to see the variety of ways we can connect with our local community and support one another. From organic veggie boxes, which include more affordable solidarity options to ensure everyone has access to fresh produce, to incredible dining experiences that celebrate locally sourced ingredients, there’s a genuine sense of care and community spirit in Leeds. And let’s not forget about the joy of fresh locally sourced organic meat, or the delight of picking out a locally grown Christmas tree. Each of these options not only brings quality into our lives but also supports our local farmers and artisans. It’s definitely worth exploring and supporting these wonderful local initiatives. Take a look at a few we have listed ( titles are click throughs): Eat Your Greens including their new greengrocers in the CITU: Climate Innovation District, Leeds Veg BoxPassion 4 PlantsMeanwood Valley FarmKirkstall Valley FarmSwillington Farm and last, but not least The Swine That Dines. This is just a hint of the flavour of the #GoodFoodMovement in Leeds. You can find out more on our website here and we will be sharing more about the amazing work happening in Leeds soon!
In this picture: Courtesy of Eat Your Greens website.
🌱 Compost Collective Leeds, is a city–wide community composting scheme revolutionising the reduction of food waste.
🌱 Did you know 200 kilos of food waste is produced by the average Leeds household each year? Yet 40% of this can be transformed into valuable free soil by being composted?
🌱 IMPORTANTLY not everyone can compost in their homes, and community composting is the solution.
What can you do to help build the compost revolution?
Inspired by the best and brightest from across the UK, we’ve designed a city-wide community composting system that already has 9 successful composting schemes sprinkled across the city.
In these images: (1) Compost Collective Hunslet bin with 3 people (2) Compost Collective Chapeltown with 4 people smiling holding caddies (3) 6 people at Compost Collective Horsforth at Drury Fields (4) Four children walking towards a compost bin
If you ‘Pay it Forward’ this Christmas, more communities across Leeds can compost their food waste.
How your donation helps:
💚£10 pays for one compost caddy for volunteers
💚£30 pays for the eco-stain to weatherproof the bins
💚£50 pays for 1 hour compost training for up to 12 volunteers
💚£75 pays for stencils and info panels for the bins
💚£150 pays for all the equipment you need to make one community composting bin
💚£900 pays for all the equipment you need for a full Compost Collective scheme for your community! With your help we can build a greener, climate-friendly Leeds.
Compost Collective Leeds is at it again, spinning straw into gold— or rather, food scraps into fertile soil!
Compost Collective Leeds, set up with communities, is a city-wide community composting project that is transforming the way communities work together to put food waste to good use. With the support of FoodWise Leeds, there are now 8 thriving community composting schemes city-wide and a few more sprouting up soon! Here’s more about the latest successes.
Compost Collective Hunslet & Riverside is a community composting scheme have filled their first compost bin, and are thrilled to be starting their second. You can join the scheme if you live locally by contacting Friends of Hunslet Moor on their facebook group. Meanwhile, Compost Collective Gipton, based at the Old Fire Station in Gipton, are enjoying their very first batch of soil. This is really exciting as their is a community garden and lots of use for free good quality soil.
The two newest sites are at Feel Good Factor in Chapeltown and and Drury Fields in Horsforth and both are remarkable.
You can read more about the successes of community composting in Horsforth by clicking this link or check out this little film about Horsforth Compost Collective building a compost bin by clicking this link. Or watch this film about Feel Good Factor’s Compost Collective Chapeltown in this link.
If you would like support to set up a community composting scheme, or are interested in joining one of the already thriving schemes, we can fit you in!
If you’d like to dig deep and donate towards the costs of future compost schemes, you can support us by donating to our Just Giving / Pay-It-Forward Campaign, or get in touch with Annie Whitehead for more details: annie.whitehead@zestleeds.org.uk/
Or why not speak to us in person?
Join us Sunday 24 November 1-4 pm at Killingbeck Community Orchard on Collin Road LS13 6AQ or pop along to Feel Good Factor LS7 4BP on Louis Street in Chapeltown Wednesday 27 November 11.30am.
🌱 Thanks for reading! We’ll leave you with a picture of the newest compost collective member and their rather fabulous canine friends.
Temperatures may be falling, but Leeds is cooking up a storm this Autumn. Here’s a taste of what’s on offer.
Compass Festival 2024 – bringing a signature flavour this Autumn Season
If Leeds was a Sauce, what might it taste like? Find out with Leeds Saucea week of events from 1-8 November. From locally harvested rhubarb, rose petals and local beer, join the Popeye Collective in collaboration with the people of Leeds. The events will encourage conversations over food as a catalyst for new culture, inspired by plant-based food systems. Take a look at the full programme of Compass Festival 2024 which runs across between Leeds from 1–30 November 2024.
Also part of the festival is Leeds’ Low Carbon China Town. This two-week installation at Kirkgate Market showcases an experimental food farm and data pop-up store, in collaboration with UK-based East and Southeast Asian migrant communities and the architect-artist Ling Tan. Visitors are invited to explore a myriad of sustainable ingredients, cooking techniques and food sources that, in combination, still retain a core essence of Chinese food culture. They’ll be housing locally grown ingredients that will be used in a not-to-be -missed one off Supper Club hosted by Leeds Cookery School at Kirkgate Market on Friday 15 November, 6.30–8.30pm.
Apple Feast – a celebration of many flavours!
If cooking is more your passion, why not join Fruit Works Co-operative at LILACin Bramley for a celebration of the many things you can eat with apples? This free event is inspired by the “The Flavour Thesaurus” books by Niki Segnit which highlights 56 ingredients that pair well with apples! All they ask is that you prepare a dish featuring one of the flavors they list. More info and sign up here.
Let your Inner Child Loose to Play this Autumn!
Festival of Playand Creativity festival brings you a collection of events happening across the city. It is a chance to celebrate Leeds as a place that knows how to Play, happening 25 Oct to 3 Nov 2024. From spooky crafts and putrefying potions, to Coco Rave‘s and a spooky splash with BoomChikkaBoom at Bramley Baths. Read about all the playful happenings here.
Market Scavenger Hunt Cooking Experience
Embark on a foodie adventure through Europe’s biggest indoor market with Leeds Cookery School! This is an experience like no other. First you will be treated to a food tour around Kirkgate, gathering ingredients from the market stalls, from local bakeries to fresh seafood. Next, you get to bring your spoils back to Leeds Cookery School and take part in a cooking competition – winner gets a bag of goodies! The Market Scavenger Hunt Cooking Experience is running at Leeds Cookery School in Kirkgate Market on October 26th 2024.
As the night falls, get wrapped up and experience the city in illuminated splendour. Leeds Light Nightreturns this year with all sorts of delights to add a glow this Autumn. Our pick is NocturnHog: The Enchanted Wanderer. A seldom seen hedgehog emerges from the shadows, now large and illuminated for all to see. Taking up residence in Leeds City Bus Station, its intricate details are captivating. Light Night Leeds 2024 is happening across the city from Thu 24 Oct 2024 – Fri 25 Oct 2024.
Just a small selection of the delights on offer this Autumn. So wrap up warm and enjoy the flavours of the city.
In more #GoodFoodStories, there is a Feed Leeds’ Get Growing Leeds project has been an enormous success with over 300 seedlings handed out and over 24 events across Leeds. We are celebrating what people have grown. We’d love you to send us any photos of the veg you grew.
We’d love to hear you if you came to an event, took home some seedlings or ran an event.
🌾 What did you grow and how did that go?
🌾 What are you planning on growing next year?
🌾 Any recipe recommendations you used things you grew in?
🌾 Send us recommendations, top tips or other growing stories.
📷👉Could you send us photos of what you have grown from the free seeds / seedlings.
We would love you to share your stories and photos with us. Huge thanks to those of you who already have. Send via email to Zoe: zoe.parker@zestleeds.org.uk
Not heard of Get Growing Leeds? Read more here. Want to know more about Feed Leeds other projects like Little Veg Libraries Sow a Row Xtra or Good Food Awards?
As FoodWise Leeds, we work with people from across the city to deliver the Leeds Food Strategy. In 2019, Leeds was awarded a Bronze Award from Sustainable Food Places (SFP). More about these awards here. Our aim is for Leeds to achieve the Silver Award and eventually the Gold.
But we can’t do it without you.
The next step in achieving these aims, is to reach our target of 500 Individual Good Food Actions.
Will you help us do that?
By telling us about the good food actions you are taking, we can know the impact we are making collectively as a city. Whether you are reducing food waste, eating healthier food or learning how to grow your own veg, every action matters.
And we want to know about your actions.
Every Action Counts and gets us one step closer to our goal.
As an example of how simple it is to get started, I thought I’d share my own food story.
I stumbled upon FoodWise Leeds about a year back during an event at Leftbank Leeds. At the time, I was intrigued and perhaps a little daunted by the idea of growing my own veggies, and so I decided to attend a workshop organized by Feed Leeds. At that point, I had just about been able to keep all my indoor plants alive for a whole year (and I was pretty excited about that!)
The workshop turned out to be a game-changer for me. I was really inspired by Feed Leeds. It was such a large network of growers across the city and they introduced to us some brilliant ideas: like ‘Little Veg Libraries’ and #SowaRowXtra – simple schemes that I thought had the potential to really help new growers like me get growing. I left that session with two free tomato plants and enough growing ‘know how’ to get me started. And that was just the beginning of my food journey.
Now I grow my own salad veg, and herbs, as well as climbing roses that the bees absolutely adore. This all grows in pots and old tyres in what was an ugly unused area in a communal concrete yard. A real transformation with very little effort – now the space is peaceful, pretty and a nice place to sit and watch nature.
I‘ve taken many more actions since that first tomato plant: like eating more fresh and locally sourced veg, wasting less food by using it up in home-made soups; and switching to locally made compost. I’m now beginning my own bokashi composting system and am considering community composting to turn my food waste into nutrient-rich soil for the local area. I could never have predicted a year ago where one free workshop would lead.
You can help us reach our target of 500 by telling us about the actions you are taking and encouraging others to take action. We’d also love for any organisations or food businesses to join us in taking action too! For more examples of what we’re looking for, take a look at our Take Action pages for individuals, organisations and food businesses.
Together we can create a healthy, sustainable and fairer food system for everyone in Leeds.
We are absolutely delighted to introduce our new Advisory Group Chair, Juli Thompson. With her extensive background as a seasoned Chief Executive Officer at Inn Churches in Bradford and lead for the Food Savers Network, she is poised to bring a wealth of knowledge and a unique outlook to propel us towards success.
“I am thrilled and honoured to step into the role of chair for FoodWise Leeds. Our city has made remarkable strides in creating a more sustainable and equitable food system, as evidenced by our bronze award from Sustainable Food Places in 2019. However, I believe we have only scratched the surface of our potential.
As chair, I am excited to build on our strong foundation and lead our diverse coalition of partners towards our silver and even gold award goals. I’m particularly passionate about advancing our six focus areas outlined in the Leeds Food Action Plan. From improving food governance to promoting planet-friendly food choices, each aspect of our mission is crucial in transforming Leeds into a model food city.
This is a wonderful opportunity to bring together people from all walks of life – from local businesses and government officials to community organisations and individual citizens – in our shared vision of a healthy, sustainable, and fair food system for everyone in Leeds. Together, we can cultivate a thriving food culture that nourishes our community, supports our local economy, and protects our environment.
I look forward to championing FoodWise Leeds’ initiatives, inspiring more individuals and organizations to become FoodWise, and showcasing our city’s innovative approach to food sustainability on a national and global stage. Let’s make Leeds a shining example of what a truly food-wise city can achieve!” I like our chances.
Juli chairing our Advisory Group meeting at Rethink Leeds
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