Food challenges and inspirations for Wythenshawe

This week I heard about a family who were feeding their children with dog or cat food because it was cheaper for them. They were not in Wythenshawe but it doesnt make it any better its another family elsewhere. Why? Fresh food is still a long way of the radar for tons of people. To grow it is even more off the radar. Its deemed posh, middle class, pricey and time consuming. Cheap food is quicker. In Wythenshawe The Dandelion Community via The Dandelion Food Community who are part of Real Food Wythenshawe - trying to change the way people eat in the next 5 years! Its a massive exciting challenge and one I am mighty glad the church in Woodhouse Park is part of - food affects all of us and its a political and community issue with the rise of households coming to the foodbank we host in our building and the benefit cuts affecting people really badly. The government dont seem to think there is a link between cuts and rise in going to food banks which is strange since tha'ts what people are telling us!

Recently I visited Todmorden Incredible Edibles - edible fresh food is planted all over Todmorden and anyone at all can come and pick it to eat when its ready. If you eat - you're in! There are huge amounts of veg, fruit, herbs and soft fruits planted in beds on the main road, in window boxes, in corner gardens with their walls taken down, all along the canal, in the huge health centre grounds, outside the police station, the fire station, the job centre, the theatre and more. There is food growing in every primary school and a food walk 'Green Route Map' has been produced, available at the train station and the information centre in Todmorden. There are 15,000 residents in Tod and the project has been going 6 years. In Wythenshawe we have 75,000 residents and there are stacks of community food projects, allotments and a monthly food market, 1 paid manager and 3 community co-ordinator posts (starting sometime in the next 2 months) so I think we will be able to achieve huge amounts together. The Dandelion Food Community have also connected with Incredible Edibles in Wilmslow - they have made their fruit map available here! So you can download it and get picking in Wilmslow. 

There are plans coming together in Wythenshawe for a largescale veg box/bag scheme based at Wythenshawe Park, a huge increase in planters, planting and edible food in public spaces in parks, at civic, the forum and somehow linked with the new tram route. But volunteers, households, businesses and spaces are needed! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer in Wythenshawe with The Dandelion Food Community on our community allotments you will learn about keeping chickens and ducks and fruit trees. We have also recently bought a mini orchard of 10 fruit trees to plant in The Dandelion Community grounds and have plans for raised beds, window boxes, hanging baskets filled with herbs, fruit and veg for people to pick. We'd love for you to get stuck in with soil, planting, woodwork or jams and chutney making. Leave us a message below and we'll be in touch! More on foodie things another time.