Links and resources
Below is information we hope you will find useful:
* Growing in London
* Gardening and activities with children
* Courses and growing for adults
* Education
* Box schemes in other areas and advice on buying local food
* Farmers' markets
* Organic suppliers
* Other useful links
Growing in London
Useful information on finding an allotment is on this allotment site.
In general, in London there are long waiting lists for allotments. The waiting list for allotments in Hackney is now closed as is the waiting list for allotments in Islington.
Garden Organic also has information on allotments
Guerilla Gardening website
Waltham Forest allotment information
Gardening and activities with children
Contact Abney Park for their child-centred gardening events and nature walks in the cemetery
The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens has details of the many community gardens in Hackney and further afield
The BTCV run various children’s projects including the Green Gym
Courses and growing for adults
Naturewise runs permaculture courses
The Permaculture Association supports people and projects through training, networking and research using the ethics and principles of permaculture. They run several permaculture courses
The Soil Association works in partnership with other organisations to provide hands-on courses
OrganicLea is a small food growing co-operative in the Lea Valley which runs courses, events and volunteering days
Spiral Seed also run permaculture courses
The BTCV run various children’s projects including the Green Gym
Garden Organic offers support with growing with their Organic Food for All programme
Thrive runs a community garden project that works with people with special needs in a therapeutic capacity
The Culpeper Community Garden is an environmental community project in Islington
Forest Farm Peace Garden is an organic garden in Hainault, Redbridge, which aims to contribute to sustainable local food production, and to the physical and mental health of the community
Ru Litherland, Growing Communities former grower, teaches one day and longer courses in Chingford. Search for 'gardening'
Education
Ecoactive run environmental educational events for children in East London
Growing Schools is a Department for Education website, which is designed to support teachers in using the outdoor classroom as a resource for all age-groups across the curriculum
The Learning Trust in Hackney has an Environmental Study Support Officer, Robert Sambrooks, 020 8820 7302 robert.sambrooks@learningtrust.co.uk. They produce the Sustainable Schools Toolkit (pdf) which has details of useful contacts in Hackney and nationwide. There is also a model school garden based in Eltham, London, SE9 which can be visited by arrangement and which provides lots of hands-on ideas for how barren playgrounds can be transformed into thriving gardens. Contact them on growingschoolsgarden@widehorizons.org.uk
Garden Organic also provide excellent resources online for teachers and schools in addition to links to further contacts on organic gardening. They provide free downloadable leaflets on topics such as building a compost heap, creating a pond or growing from seeds
Learning through Landscapes helps schools and early years settings make the most of their outdoor spaces for play and learning
Common Ground is an arts and environment organisation which has information on apple day, fruit tree growing, and traditional apple stories and games
Schools wanting to visit farms should contact the Soil Association where there is a list of organic farms, some of which are close to London and run visits.
Box schemes and buying local
The Soil Association's why organic? website has details of other box schemes
The Big Barn website also has lists of of box schemes and direct suppliers in other areas
Farm Shopping has information on farm shops, farms where you can pick your own, box schemes and other local food
Local Foods has maps of farmers' markets, farm shops and other local foods direct from producers
Tottenham Food Co-op is a non-profit food market based on volunteer labour and sustainable food
Box Scheme gives details of box schemes throughout the country
Farmers’ markets
Details of other farmers' markets in London are on the London Farmers' Market website
Details of other farmers' markets country-wide are on the Farmers' Markets website
For information about setting up a farmers' market, see FARMA. They publish a detailed guide to how to set up a market
Organic suppliers
Ripple Farm Organics is a small horticultural farm of 14 acres situated in the Stour Valley, Kent, at Crundale between Ashford and Canterbury. Ripple Farm has been certified organic since 1989 and produces vegetables for our box scheme as well as selling at the Farmers' Market every week
Alham Wood Organics is one of the organic producers who sells their produce (milk, many varieties of cheese, yoghurt) at our Saturday Farmers' Market
Wild Country Organics is a small organic family farm located seven miles south east of Cambridge in Abington. The farm has been organic since 1988. They grow vegetables for our box scheme as well as selling at the Farmers' Market every week
Perry Court Farm was Kent's first organic and bio-dynamic farm, established in 1953. They supply to our box scheme as well as selling at the Farmers' Market every week
Langridge Organic Products specialise in organic wholesale and are based at New Covent Garden in London. They are involved in the wholesale and distribution of organic fruit, vegetables, eggs, milk and various other organic products to customers throughout the UK and they supply our box scheme
Growing Communities holds a plant and seed sale/swap once a year, usually the first Sunday in May. We do not have seeds or plants for sale at other times. Try the Organic Gardening Catalogue or Tamar Organics or Suffolk Herbs.
Thames Organic Growers (TOG) is a self-supporting group aiming to increase production and consumption of organic vegetables and to strengthen the integrity of organic standards.
Other useful links
Friends of the Earth is the largest international network of environmental groups in the world, represented in 58 countries. One of the leading environmental pressure groups in the UK. 26-28 Underwood Street, London N1 7JQ T: 0171 490 1555
The magazine of the Permaculture Association features practical articles on organic gardening, sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, climate change, peak oil, eco-villages, alternative technology, eco-architecture, and personal and community development.
The Soil Association is the UK's leading campaigning and certification body for organic food and farming. They develop and provide practical and sustainable solutions which combine food production and environmental protection and human health.
Bristol House, 40-56 Victoria Street, Bristol BS1 6BY T:0117 929 0661
Butterfield Green Community Orchard is intended to improve Butterfield Green by providing a place for enjoyment as well as sharing knowledge about growing fruit. The majority of the trees were donated and supplied by Growing Communities.
Sustain advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, promote equity and enrich society and culture. They represent around 100 national public interest organisations working at international, national, regional and local level.
94 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF T: 0207 837 1228
The Vegan Society promotes ways of living which avoid the use of animal products- for the benefit of people, animals and the environment
Donald Watson House, 7 Battle Road, St Leonards on Sea East Sussex TN37 7AA T: 01424 427393
The Vegetarian Society promotes vegetarianism.
Parkdale, Dunham Road, Altrincham Cheshire WA14 4QG T: 0161 928 0793
The Apricot Centre is a small eco-venue in Manningtree, Essex, run by one of our farmers at the market, Marina O'Connell. The aim of the centre is to give courses and experiences on the theme of 'sustainable living' for the general public and for professionals in the fields of therapy, creativity, and agriculture/horticulture.
The Fife Diet is a local initiative in Fife, Scotland, Around 600 local people have signed up to eating only food which comes from Fife.
If you spot any broken links, please let us know!