Residents get taste of growing their own food
17 August 2010
Residents are being encouraged to grow their own fruit and vegetables in a project designed to get communities active and healthy.
Project Grow is a pilot scheme being trialled in Port Street and Travis Street, in Middleport as part of a RENEW project to regenerate the area. If successful it is hoped, with future funding, the pilot can be expanded into the wider Middleport area.
On Saturday August 14th at the Middleport Park Community Fun Day residents were given the chance to have a literal ‘taster’ as staff encouraged people to sign up to the courses and take up free cookery tasting sessions and advice.
The scheme, which will give tips and advice on exercise, gardening and using fresh food to cook, is set to start in September to prepare residents for next year’s growing season. It follows research by associates for NHS Stoke-on-Trent that found nearly half of residents in Middleport would be interested in growing their own food.
Councillor Mervin Smith, Stoke-on-Trent council cabinet member for City Development commented: “Project Grow is a fantastic initiative giving people the chance to learn new skills and improve not only their health but their family’s lifestyle as well. I know from my own experience that it is all too easy to turn to takeaways and microwave dinners for food as they are quick and easy to prepare. Growing your own food is not only fun but a great way of getting active and eating something fresh and tasty.”
In Burslem South, which covers Middleport, only one in five of the population live within 500 metres of a fresh food retailer. However, 98.9% of residents live within 500 metres of a takeaway.
Research undertaken by associates for NHS Stoke on Trent in 2009 found that nearly half (42.7%) of Middleport residents would be interested in growing their own food.
And so Project Grow is designed to help residents live healthier lifestyles by growing their own food. This is not only economical for them but also encourages people to get active, using gardening as a form of exercise, and also helps people to think more about what they eat and the meals they prepare.
The project is designed to compliment initiatives being run by NHS Stoke-on-Trent, such as Living Well Stoke-on-Trent and My Health Matters, to reduce the cost of obesity to the health service.
Residents signed up to the programme will undertake a series of workshops that will prepare them for the 2011 growing season. Workshops will cover topics such as cooking, exercise, gardening and healthy eating.
At the end of the programme, residents with excellent attendance will be rewarded with a 3ft by 3ft square garden planter to grow their own fruit and vegetables at home.
During the programme it is also envisaged that a ‘community booklet’ will be produced containing recipes, gardening ideas and local history for the area.
