Growing Our Local Food System: a community convention

GROWING OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM

A COMMUNITY CONVENTION
 

SUNDAY 6th October 10am to 4.30pm

St Mark's Community Centre, Widcombe, Bath

Bath Area Growers is a network of community-focused projects rooted in the values of local food, regenerating nature and the power of community for systemic change.

Our aim is to nurture a culture of collaboration, support and creativity across Bath and the surrounding bioregion. By visioning together, finding shared purposes, and nurturing the amazing range of projects that already exist around Bath, we can take further steps towards a fair, inclusive, nature-restoring local food system. We can find collective power and create resilience in the face of unfurling crises. 

This gathering will focus on GROWING OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM. We’ll be spotlighting some amazing local work and exploring different themes that can together support local growing and food access, taking care of people and planet.

The invitation is to come and get involved. There will be speakers, workshops, reflection, song, creativity and delicious food!

~ Timetable ~

9.30am: DOORS OPEN. Teas and coffees will be available.

10.00am - 10.15am : WELCOME Led by space holders for the day Sarah (A Word From Nature / Strode Waterfall Land and Story Project) and Rosie (Psychology for Ecology / Waterleaze Growers / BAGs), a welcome to ground everyone and reflect on the intentions for the day. 

10.15- 10.30 THE POWER OF NETWORKS AND COMMUNITY

A whistle-stop tour of the community growing and affordable food networks in and around Bath. Understanding the power of networks to create change, and an invitation to participate in network mapping exercises. 

10.30- 11.00 REFLECTIVE SESSION ON OUR LOCAL GROWING AND FOOD SYSTEM

A guided process to reflect individually and together:

What is going well? 

What are the challenges? 

What do you most need, or wish for?

11.00 - 11.20 Break

11.20- 12:00 PANEL SESSION

Five speakers from across different aspects of the local food and growing community will share their joys, challenges and needs, followed by a Q and A. We will hear from people working or volunteering in market gardening, therapeutic horticulture, Bath Allotment Association, affordable food projects and community gardening. 
 

12 - 12.30pm VISIONING SESSION

A process for us to connect more deeply with the food system we would like to see and help create .

12.30 - 1.30pm : LUNCH

A delicious lunch will be cooked up from food surplus by Bath Community  Kitchen  and available to purchase on a pay-what-you-feel basis.

1.30 - 2.30pm : LEARNING SESSION: FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND BIOREGIONALISM

This session offers a range of frameworks and ideas  to expand our thinking in service of  growing a local regenerative food system. 

Hamish Evans, from Middle Ground Growers, will talk about bioregional thinking and applying a living systems or permaculture lens to local food systems. He will give an overview of the We Are Avon initiative that  is based on these principles.

Maddy Longhurst, from the Urban Agriculture Consortium, will discuss reimagining urban food growing and the greenbelt, food sovereignty, recommoning, fair food access, and  the Landed Community Kitchen model.

2:30 - 2:50pm: BREAK

2.50 - 3.40 pm: GROUP SESSIONS AND OPEN SPACE

Choose from a range of sessions on specific topics of interest with one purpose to dig into the detail and think about next steps for Bath and its bioregion. Expect reflection, emergent ideas, collaboration, games etc. 

This is also an open space for anyone to propose and lead a discussion, workshop, activity or exploration. Some sessions already proposed are:

1. Developing community seed saving and swapping
2. Towards a BANES planning policy that allows regenerative growers to live on the land
3. BAGs banner making
4. Funding to grow organic affordable food locally?

3.40 - 4.00pm: OPEN SPACE FEEDBACK 

An opportunity to feedback from the group sessions and share emerging threads with the wider community. We will collate ideas and opportunities so there is a plan for ongoing collaboration where there is energy for it.

4.00pm - 4.30pm: CLOSING

A chance to reflect on the day, next steps, and a community closing led by Sarah, Rosie and others, and a closing song!

BOOKING AND DONATIONS 

As capacity is limited, please book a ticket. Booking is free, however the event will be largely funded through donations, so would you be willing  to  make a donation at booking or on the day, relative to your financial circumstances? Suggested donation amounts are £0-5 for those with low financial means, £10-£20 moderate financial means, £20-£50 comfortable to abundant financial means. Thank you! 

GETTING THERE

The venue is 5 minutes walk from Bath‘s main bus and railway stations.  Please walk, cycle or use public transport if you can.   There is no parking at the venue.The nearest car parks are Avon Street and Southgate in the city centre (5 mins walk).  On foot from the bus/railway station, cross the river by the footbridge behind the railway station, cross the A36 dual carriageway, take Lyncombe Hill and immediately turn right onto St Mark’s Road. The community centre is in the large converted church towards the end of St Mark’s Road.

HELP ON THE DAY

if you’d enjoy helping out on the day, for example with setting up the room,  on the door, washing-up, or helping make a creative space, please get in touch, we’d love you to be part of the crew!