Links and resources
Below is information we hope you will find useful:
* Growing in London
* Gardening and activities with children
* Growing and courses for adults
* Education
* Box schemes and buying local
* Farmers' markets
* Organic suppliers
* Other useful links
Growing in London
Getting an allotment is virtually impossible in this part of London: councils such as Hackney and Islington have closed their lists completely as they are both more than ten years' long!
But if you want to have a go, some useful information on finding an allotment is on this allotment site.
Garden Organic also has information on allotments, as well as advice and growing courses.
The Guerilla Gardening website has news and advice on growing in public spaces.
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.
Garden Forever is an inspiring US site with links to articles, tips and curiosities about horticulture in all its forms.
Growing and courses for adults
The Permaculture Association supports people and projects through training, networking and research using the ethics and principles of permaculture. It runs several permaculture courses.
Naturewise and Spiral Seed also run permaculture courses.
The Soil Association works in partnership with other organisations to provide hands-on courses.
Organic Lea is a small food-growing co-operative in the Lea Valley that runs courses, events and volunteering days.
Spiral Seed also run permaculture courses.
The BTCV runs various projects including the Green Gym.
Garden Organic offers support with growing with its 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, which aims to contribute to sustainable local food production, and to the physical and mental health of the community.
Education
We run workshops for schools groups on our growing sites at Allens Gardens and Springfield Park in Hackney. Contact Helen or Fi at learning@growingcommunities.org
Ecoactive runs environmental educational events for children in East London.
Growing Schools is a Department for Education website designed to support teachers in using the outdoor classroom as a resource for all age-groups across the curriculum. 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 environment@widehorizons.org.uk .
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.
Garden Organic also provides excellent online resources 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 local food near you.
Local Foods has maps of farmers' markets, farm shops and other local foods direct from the producer.
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
The London Farmers' Markets website has details of all the markets they run in London.
City and Country Farmers' Markets runs several markets around London.
Details of other farmers markets around the country are on the Farmers' Market website.
The Real Food Guide site lists details of farmers' markets and other local retailers and producers selling sustainable good food.
Fordetailed information about setting up a farmers' market, see the National Association of Farmers' Markets.
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 sell 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 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
Hackney Harvest is an organisation that is mapping the fruit trees tucked away in parks and gardens around Hackney and then helping to harvest and make the most of the fruit that they produce, ensuring that it doesn’t simply fall to the ground and go to waste.
Friends of the Earth is the largest international network of environmental groups in the world, represented in 75 countries. One of the leading environmental pressure groups in the UK. 26-28 Underwood Street, London N1 7JQ Tel: 020 7490 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. It develops and provides practical and sustainable solutions that combine food production and environmental protection and human health. South Plaza, Marlborough Street, Bristol BS1 3NX Tel: 0117 314 5000
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 Tel: 020 7837 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, 21 Hylton Street, Hockley, Birmingham. B18 6HJ Tel: 0121 523 1730
The Vegetarian Society promotes vegetarianism. Parkdale, Dunham Road, Altrincham Cheshire WA14 4QG Tel: 0161 925 2000
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 that comes from Fife.
Common Ground is a charity that runs diverse projects linking arts and the environment.
Hackney Community Tree Nursery and Edible Forest Garden is a community operation run by volunteers on Hackney Marsh.
Capital Growth runs a campaign to support the introduction of 2,012 new community food-growing spaces for London by 2012.
Hackney Environmental Network brings volunteers together to support the development of local solutions to local and global environmental issues. It also aims to influence policy on environmental issues and develop community links.
Hackney Environment Forum (HEF) is a network of groups and individuals committed to protecting and enhancing Hackney’s built and natural environment.
Get Growing is an organisation that provides training and inspiration to grow food in your own home.
Project Dirt is an active online community linking environmental projects.
Several box scheme members blog about what they have cooked with their veg: Urban Foodie, London Plains and Wholefood Kitchen.
If you spot any broken links, please let us know.