Pea Pod Veg

Can Hastings create a local food network?

On Saturday 22 February,  from 12 -2pm, a discussion is being held over the possibility of creating a local food work in Hastings. It takes place at All Saints Hall, All Saints St and immediately follows on from the Hastings Green Party AGM, but is open to all of any political persuasion and none. All local food and growing groups are invited to share their knowledge and expertise. Vanessa Alves reports on food redistribution in Hastings.

There are many great food projects in Hastings, from Dom’s Food Mission to Bags of Taste, Home Ground Kitchen and Peapod Veg. Some work is already going on to create a local food network, but the question is, how could this include local growers as well? As well as use even more of the food that is currently going to waste?

Emily O’Brien is policy and partnerships manager for Brighton and Hove Food Partnership. The Food Partnership is nationally acclaimed for its work to join the dots in the food system strategically alongside practical projects like their successful Community Kitchen.

She will talk about The Surplus Food Network, an alliance of organisations tackling food waste by working with suppliers to distribute surplus to people in need in Brighton, Hove and surrounding areas, and explore how a similar network could work in Hastings.

One way is to take a look at what Abby Nicol, the founder of Pea Pod Veg, is doing. It is a working example of small scale organic agriculture feeding our local community. This a chance to build on the success of Pea Pod Veg and establish connections between the many great food projects mentioned above and more.

The meeting will finish off with some bread and soup made with veg from Peapod (small donation requested). Please do book in advance so they know how much soup to make.

Also in: Home Ground