get the

TASTEin and around Nottinghamshire

Welcome to the Springedition of Get The Taste,produced by the Nottingham FoodInitiatives Group.

Spring

2010

INSIDE• Food Advertising and Children• Current Funding Opportunities • The Rise of the Bistro Chain Restaurant• Aspley’s ‘Miles Better’ Food Co-op• Cooking in the Joys of spring• A Slice of ‘The Good Life’• Future Jobs Fund – Growing Jobs

and much more………

As debates about healthy eating continue, here at ‘Get The Taste’ we have been presented with a new focus of concern that largely affects ourchildren. With the campaign for healthy schooldinners increasingly successful, the attention ofthe healthy eating warriors now turns to foodadvertising much of which targets young children.

Kellogg’s, partner of the otherwise admirable andinnovative Change4Life programme, recently ran anadvert for Coco Pops with the question ‘Have youever tried Coco Pops after school?’ With a box ofCoco Pops containing 35% sugar, food campaignersargue that the product should be banned fromschools and not be advertised on television.

The Children’s Food Campaign has written to the Department of Health arguing that the advertundermines two useful key messages that theChange4Life campaign is trying to conveyincluding “snack check” (a limit of two snacks a day) and “sugar swaps” (swapping sugary food and drink for lower or sugar free stuff).

Many parents are outraged that Kellogg’s havebeen advertising this as a product that should beconsumed by children twice a day while supportingthe Change4Life campaign. Kellogg’s haveargued that the statement made by the Children’sFood Campaign refers to a full box of Coco Popsrather than a typical 35 gram serving. Additionallythey argue that the product contains essentialvitamins and iron which can form part of a healthydiet. Research has shown, however, that mostpeople, including children consume far more thanthe recommended serving on the cereal packs.

The Food Standards Agency take children’s foodadvertising very seriously. Prior to April 2007, whenthere were no scheduling restrictions on foodadvertising, 80% of food advertising within children’s

airtime was on products high in fat, salt andsugar. Current rules compel manufacturers

to assess the nutritional composition of theirproduct against a Food Standard Agency’sNutrient Profiling system. Manufacturers nowadvertise products that do not pass this on busstops or use product placement.

There is also debate just how much of an affectfood advertising does it really have on children’shealth. A report by Ofcom puts forth the argumentthat food advertising actually has rather little effecton what children eat. Whilst recognising thatwatching large amounts of television can contributeto childhood obesity in that it often replaces physicalexercise, the findings in the report suggested thatfood advertising has relatively little effect on foodpreferences and that food choice is influenced bya number of things such as the peer group andfamily. Influences on food choice are notoriouslyhard to measure but if advertising plays any rolethen it should be tightly regulated. A gut reactionsuggests that if multi-national food companies areprepared to invest many mullions into advertisingtheir products then they probably have goodreason to think it works. Also, peer pressure and other influences will also be influenced byadvertising – new products don’t sell themselves.

Get the Taste urges its readers to take a look atcereals and other children’s foods to see what thesugar and salt content is. Advice on recommendeddaily amounts and on how to read (often confusing)food labels can be found at the Food StandardsAgency website.

Spring Guest Editor – Niall Auburn

Children’s Food Campaign http://www.sustainweb.org/childrensfoodcampaignFood Standards Agency http://www.food.gov.uk/foodlabelling environmentthrough food work. They were eventually rewardedwith a very healthy organic lunch provided byMiranda Cumberbatch from Organic Bites.

2

Rubbing Their Faces In It.Children and Food Advertising

“If the bee disappeared off thesurface of the globe then manwould only have four years of lifeleft. No more bees, no morepollination, no more plants, nomore animals, no more man.”

Attributed to Albert Einstein.

It is estimated a third of the food we eat is pollinatedby bees, so the dramatic and unexplained declinein the population of these insects over the last fewyears is of great concern and importance to us alland not just conservationists.

One way to help the situation is buy local (or at least UK produced) honeyand if your more adventurouswhy not try the rewardinghobby of beekeeping. Youmay need less space than you think and support is at hand from the NottinghamshireBee Keepers Association whocan offer support and have regular events if you would like to learn more.

www.nottsbees.org.uk

Info Maurice Jordanmauricejordan11@btinternet.com

Membership Bob Loganbob.logan@ntlworld.com@btinternet.com

Are TheFuture

IMPORTANT NOTICEPLEASE REPLY TO KEEPGETTING OUR MAGAZINEGet the Taste is changing!

The Food Initiatives Group distributesover 1750 ‘Get the Taste’ magazinesacross Nottinghamshire. In an effortto reach a wider audience and cutcosts there will be some changesto distribution that will start withthe Summer edition. Thechanges are as follows:

1. An e-mail version of the ‘Get theTaste’ will be offered to all readers andmany more new ones. The magazine will be e-mailed as a PDF file.

2. Direct mailings to individual households will stop.

3. More magazines will be distributed through publicoutlets such as libraries, community centres,health centres and local authority buildings.

To continue to receive ‘Get the Taste’ pleasecontact us and state:

• Whether you wish to receive the magazine by e-mail

• Suggest a public distribution point local to you• If you wish the mailing to your workplace to

continue

If anyone on the FIG database has not madecontact prior to the Summer ‘Get the Taste’ it willbe assumed the magazine isn’t being read andthat mailing will stop.

If you pick up your magazine from a public placethen, do nothing, as that will continue as normal.

Action to takeTo get a PDF version of the magazine, simply e-mail ‘PDF Mag’ to leon.ballin@groundwork.org.uk

To suggest a public building near to you please e-mail or phone 0115 964 8817 and leave a messagewith the name of the public building and address.

To keep receiving magazines at your workplaceplease contact us and state the name of yourorganisation and how many copies required.

3

get theTASTEin and around Nottinghamshire

Welcome to the latest edition of

Get The Taste, produced by the

Nottingham Food Initiatives Group.

NOVEMBER2008

INSIDE •East Midlands Food and Health Action Plan Event

•School Food Trust highlights how takeaway food

outlets lure children away from school meals.

•East Midland Regional Assembly identifies food

as a priority in ‘Changing Behaviours Event’

•Hindu Temple Health Event

•Five a Day

•Local Food News

•And more

Here at Get the Taste we encourage the use oflocally grown produce both when cooking athome and when eating out. So with the constantfurore surrounding the domination of fast foodchains on our local High Street we couldn’t helpbut notice the vast increase in so called ‘casualdining restaurants’. What we would like to show ishow one meal in a chain restaurant on your localhigh street can have a massive effect on localbusinesses, the economy and even on yourself.The increase in chain restaurants on our HighStreet has resulted in a decline of independentlyowned restaurants, lack of variety when eating out,damage to the local economy and even a poor diet.

These chains offer international styles of food tothe High Street, but their ever increasing presenceis beginning to have a ripple effect on the locallevel. One huge negative aspect of the ‘casualdining’ restaurant is the under use of localproduce. Nearly all of these chains rely on a centralised supply and delivery system for their food and ingredients as opposed to theindependently owned restaurant which wouldnormally source their supplies locally. So as the big chains move in, not only are small,independently owned restaurants strugglingagainst the corporate giants and being pushedout, the farmers and local companies that oncesupplied the independently owned restaurants are beginning to suffer a fall in demand which can then affect the local economy. Not only doesthis process have severe economic implicationsbut environmental ones too. With the use of acentralised supply system by chain restaurants theamount of food miles being clocked up increasesjust by going to a chain restaurant.

The second disadvantage is the lack of variety that is available. Like fast food restaurants, casualdining chains generally tend to serve uniformmenus that are widely available both nationallyand internationally. A healthy, enjoyable diet is allabout variety and while the food being served maylook appetising, in many instances it tends to bethe same dishes with a few variations.

Finally, dueto the nature of restaurantchains and how they are operated we really don’t know what is actually in our foods. We areconsistently reminded of how bad fast food is forour health, yet we many of us still dine in casualdining restaurants oblivious to the nutritionalcontent of what we might be eating. A localrestaurant can let you know how the food wascooked and what with, a chain restaurant wouldstruggle with this request.

So while we may think that going for something to eat in a well known restaurant chain provides a nice atmosphere and appetising food, the realitybehind it is something quite different. Like fastfood chains, they too can have a negative.

To receive a PDF version of Notts Nosh - theNottinghamshire good food guide e-mail “NottsNosh” to FIG.

Pick out local restaurants from the others at the regional guide GoDine.http://www.godine.co.uk/

4

Fast Food, Slow Dining.The Rise of the Chain Restaurant.

A Nottinghamshire farmer is giving peoplethe chance to live just like Tom andBarbara Good in ‘The Good Life’, helpingpeople to grow their own fruit andvegetables and rear their own animals.

David Rose is inviting people to his Screveton farmnear Bingham to pay to adopt a lamb, watch it growand have it butchered and delivered. Or alternativelycustomers can adopt a tree and enjoy its fruitsover the year as they ripen. Additionally David, isproviding the opportunity for Community Groupsto rent an area of land so that they can grow theirown produce. This is known as CommunitySupported Agriculture.

These are all ideas that the farmer has to help getthe community involved in farming and eating localproduce. David says “I’ve been involved in localfood for the last 10 to 15 years. I understand whatlocal food is about and how important it is with thegrowing demand. The interest in local food hasbasically doubled in the last five years. I see this as another great opportunity to create a foodsystem which gives food security to the people of Nottingham.”

Mr. Roses’ plans do not stop there either, he plansto build an eco building made from straw at the farmto serve as an educational attraction for pupils to visit.

Mr. Rose currently grows wheat and oilseed rapeand rears lamb but he hopes to return to a time

reminiscent of the 1930’swhen his grandfathergrew a biggervariety of food.He said, “Thereare a lot of peoplewanting to growfood, farms arestruggling frommoving from bigfarming systems tosmaller local food systems.If they work with the communitythey’d have the drive and the labourforce and new skills to create local food systems.”

If you would like to get involved with the project or find out more e-mail Mr Rose atdavid@sustainweb.org.

Find out aboutCommunity SupportedAgriculture athttp://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/about/csa/index.cfm

Eating locally produced food supports theregional economy and tastes better. Try and getout your nearest Farmers Market or use ‘BigBarn’ the online ‘virtual farmers market’ whichhelps us find good, safe,accountable food from local sources.

Find Big Barn athttp://www.bigbarn.co.uk

5

Eat Local

Bingham Farmer Gives Nottinghamshire a Taste of

‘The Good Life’

Farmers Markets Where When in the Month

Beeston Stoney Street 4th Friday 9am – 2pmMansfield The Buttercross Market 3rd Tuesday 8am - 4pmNewark Market Place 1st Wednesday Nottingham City Market Square 3rd Friday and Saturday Southwell Market Place 3rd Thursday 9am - 1pmWest Bridgford Croquet Lawn Central Avenue 2nd & 4th Saturday 8:30am - 1:30pmWorksop Bridge Street 2nd Friday 8:30am - 2:30pmRetford Exchange Street 3rd Saturday 9am to 2pmWollaton Co-Op car park Trowell Road 1st Saturday 9am

Country Markets Where When in the Month

Beeston, Nottingham Methodist Church Hall, Wollaton Road Fridays before 11.45amBingham WI Hall, Station Street Thursdays before 11.30Southwell WI Hall, Shepherd’s Row, off Queen St Saturdays before 11.30amMansfield Buttercross Market 3rd Tuesday before 3.30pmLoughborough Devonshire Square 2nd Wednesday of the month before 2.00pmDerby The Community Centre, Mickleover Fridays 10.00am - 11.30amNewark St Mary’s Church, off Market Place Wednesdays before 12 noonMelton Mowbray Cattle Market, Scalford Road 1st, 3rd & 5th Fridays Syston Syston Methodist Hall, High Street, Fridays 10.00am - 11.00amMatlock Imperial Rooms, Imperial Road First Friday before 12amMansfield Woodhouse Turner Hall, Church St Every last Saturday of the month before 1pm

Glenfield St Peter’s Church Centre, Church Road, The Square Fridays 10.00am - 11.15am

Chesterfield New Square Saturdays before 4.00pm6

Local Farmers Markets

LOCAL FOOD LATEST!FRESH BoxScheme fromEcoworksEcoworks has been delivering fruit and vegetableboxes for over 4 years now. This year, they will besourcing some of the fruit and vegetables fromlocal growers and farmers as well as from theEcoworks community market garden on St Ann’sallotments. A newsletter is provided with the boxeach week with recipes and info about whereyour veg has come from. A 30% discount will beprovided to those on a low income and FRESHnow accepts Healthy Start Vouchers offering afurther £1.40 discount on each box brought.

Contact info@ecoworks.org.uk or call 0115 962 2200 for more information or to place an order.Winter Salad Growing at Ecoworks

When: The last Thursday of every monthWhere: The Salvation Army, Aspley LaneWhat time: 10am-12pm

What is it?The basic idea behind running a food co-op is thatit is run by the community for the community and isnot done for profit. ‘Aspley’s Miles Better’ is currentlyrun by Pat Ferguson a community activist who ispassionate about selling fruit and vegetables toher local community at more affordable pricesthan currently available.

What happens?Most food co-ops sell fruit and veg and some willalso sell other foods, for example eggs. This willeither be done at a stall, a shop, or through a bagor box scheme, as well as through other outlets.At the moment, Pat runs the stall with othervolunteers and together they sell a variety of fruitand vegetables, as well as free range eggs. Pataims to provide locally grown produce as much aspossible and plans to link up with allotments andcommunity gardens in the West of Nottingham.

How did it start?Aspley’s Miles Better food co-op first took place in July 2009 and was initiated by Pat, after shediscovered that the fruit and veg shop that used to be on Aspley Lane was no longer there. Thistherefore meant that access to fruit and vegbecame more difficult, as local residents now hadto travel to supermarkets like Asda and Tesco. In terms of distance, it can be inconvenient,especially if traveling by bus or walking a longdistance in order to get to the supermarket andback again with heavy bags.

Next stepsAlthough the stall is only set up once a month atthe moment, as it develops Pat would like to run itat least once a week. This would give the communitymore access to affordable fruit and veg.

What are the benefits?• It’s affordable

• It’s fresh

• It’s locally grown

• Few food miles

• Money stays within the local economy

• Creates stronger communities as shoppers

socialise

• Volunteer opportunities available creating a

skills development

Did you know?Eating fruit and veg reduces your chances ofdeveloping chronic illnesses such as coronaryheart disease or cancer.

To find out more about food co-ops visitwww.foodcoops.org

Guest reporter – Vigil Nkata 7

Aspley’s Miles Better Food Co-op

Community Food Initiative Spotlight

Pat Ferguson (in red) with some satisfied customers

Spring EventsArkwright CommunityGardens

Thursday 29th April Spring Hanging Basket Workshops 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Come along to the gardens, bring your oldhanging baskets or buy a low cost one from us and we will show you how to plant & look after your basket and make sure it blooms allsummer long.

Saturday 8th May 2010 Spring Day 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Bring family and friends and celebrate Spring withus at AMC Gardens. Make a planter out of scrapwood with our resident joiner Johnny, meet theanimals, weave your own basket out of recycledmaterials and eat yummy homemade food here inthe gardens.

Contact AMCG, Arkwright Meadows, KirkbyGardens, The Meadows (next to Surestart) on 0115 986 7777.

http://www.amcgardens.co.uk St. Ann’s Heritage Gardens

The St Ann’s Heritage Gardens are a very specialand unique allotment site - the oldest and largestarea of Victorian detached town gardens in theworld and listed a Grade 2* by English Heritage.Whilst the site is not open to the public, there aremany ways to visit or become involved in thegardens.

Sunday 18th April, Sunday 16th May. The Community Orchard 11:00am – 4:00pm

The Community Orchard runs free monthly ActivityDays for all the family, everyone is welcome to joinin with workshops, or just relax over a cup of tea.They run regular heritage tours at 11am alongsidethe Orchard activity days and can also run tailormade tours for groups on request.

8

Dig In Community AllotmentStapleford

Saturday 29th May Willow Weaving Workshop

Learn to construct a natural willow garden featureunder expert tuition. Run in two groups: 10.00amto 12.00 midday or 1.30pm to 3.30pm. £1 chargetowards the cost of materials. Booking essential,call Kathy on 0115 875 2095.

Stonebridge City Farm

Green Street

‘Green Street’ is a program to help and encouragethose interested in food growing and more. Theprogram offers advice on growing food at homeboth indoors and outdoors including a chance to have a visit from a growing Outreach Advisor.‘Green Street’ will even supply plantlets to get you started.

The program also runs a beekeeping course forthose wanting to have their own bees and honeyor just want to help out with the farm’s hives.Thefood growing programme at Stonebridge alsooffers ‘Green Talk’ a food growing forum andchances to volunteer on the farm.

The Trading Post

This new shop is a central sales point for animalfeed, eggs, surplus vegetables, greetings cards,plants, toys, pencils and pens, children’s books,and arts and craft items.

Contact Stonebridge on 0115 950 5113.

www.stonebridgecityfarm.com

SUMAC Centre

Peoples KitchenEvery Saturday at the SUMAC Centre

A delightful dish is cooked and served at theSumac Cafe by a different volunteer team eachSaturday(suggested £3 donation ). Food will beserved from 6.30 until all gone. All food at Sumacis vegan.

NOGS

Nottingham Organic Gardeners (NOGs) aim to promote the organic movement inNottinghamshire by encouraging people to garden organically and to use resourcessustainably, maintaining the link between people, food and the soil.

We meet every month for sociable talks anddiscussions about organic gardening and relatedissues. In addition to the monthly meetings weorganise visits to organic producers, farms,gardens, allotments and horticultural shows.

Though most of our members livein Nottingham, we attract peoplefrom all over the county andbeyond, with some travellingfrom Mansfield,Newark, Granthamand Derbyshire.

Membership is £6(£5 concessions) forindividuals and £10(£8 concessions) forhousehold/familymembership. Newmembers, guests andvisitors are alwayswelcome. Admission fornon-members is £2.00.

Barrie Ward 0115 960 2324 oremail organicgardeners@btinternet.com

http://www.nogs.btik.com 9

Funding GuideSources of funding for food related initiatives andapplication advice from the Food Standards Agency. http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/enforcement/enfe08040guidance.pdf

Regional Funding ResourceThe East Midlands Funding Index is a searchablesnapshot of funding and investment opportunitiesthat will support local community based projects. www.fundingindex.co.uk

The People’s MillionsBig Lottery Fund competition gives community the chance to win local public support and sharein up to £3.8 million. Support for projects thattransform local environments or communities andoffer opportunities or facilities for people to takepart and enjoy their local area. Grants range from£20,000 to £50,000. Projects must have started by31 March 2011 and must finish by 31 December2011. The deadline for the receipt of entries is 12.00pm on Friday, 14 May 2010.Contact: Jane Churm 0115 977 2029 orjane.churm@nottscc.gov.ukhttp://www2.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_peoples_millions

Recipro8Schools can gain free transport for school visits tofarms, field study centres, botanic or communitygardens etc. Reciproc8™ offer 49-55 seat coacheson a return travel basis with nationwide coverageto and from virtually any destination in the UK.Collect Rewards Points for the mobile phones,inkjet cartridges and toners that you collect forrecycling, then exchange your for transport withthe added benefit that Reciproc8 arranges it for you.www.reciproc8.co.uk. or call 0845 194 8288

Eco-MindsEcominds aims to reduce the stigma and socialexclusion faced by people with mental healthproblems by funding environmental projects thatbring people together right across the community.Over the next five years Ecominds will award

grants up to the value of £250,000 to 125environmental projects.

http://www.mind.org.uk/help/Ecominds

Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Food Strand which aims to promote anunderstanding of the role of food in enhancingquality of life. It will prioritise the enjoyment andexperience of food rather than its production andwe seek to enable as many people in the UK aspossible to access, prepare and eat nutritious,sustainable food.http://www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/funding/food.html

The Plunkett FoundationProvides funding and support for rural communitieslooking to set up and run a community-owned shop.http://www.plunkett.co.uk/whatwedo/rcs/ruralcommunityshops.cfm

Community Matters Initiative from Waitrose. Every month each storewill have £1,000 to divide between three localorganisations. Ask your local store for anomination form if you wish your project ororganisation to be considered.

Sheila McKechnie AwardTwo community food initiatives will be chosenevery year and each will receive £15,000 (£5,000 a year) over a three-year period. Applications by12 noon GMT on Monday 28th June 2010.http://www.smk.org.uk/application-forms

Current Funding Opportunities

10

The Future Jobs Fund has been set upby the government to help young peoplewho have been claiming Job SeekersAllowance for 9 -12 months get jobs inthe local community in order to improvetheir skills, gain relevant experience andtraining and improve their futureemployability.

What’s in it for me?If you apply for one of the roles and you aresuccessful, you can expect to receive employmentof between 6 -12 months duration, on the jobsupport from a mentor within the company andthe groundwork Future jobs fund staff, on the jobtraining (in most cases this will comprise an NVQrelevant to the role you are undertaking) and youwill be paid at least minimum wage for your work.

Who is Eligible?To be eligible to apply for one of the roles, youmust be between 18 and 24 years old and havebeen claiming Job Seekers allowance for over 9 months and under 12. If you are unsure as towhether you meet these criteria, please visit yourlocal Job Centre Plus and ask about the FutureJobs Fund roles and they can help you work outyour options.

What roles do we haveavailable?There are a number of different roles available inthe Nottingham area under the Future Jobs Fundprogramme, one of them is:

Horticultural WorkerYou will be working outside for the majority ofthis role, you must be confident with physicalwork, have good communication skills and beable to take instruction well. A CRB may berequired for this role and the successfulcandidate will receive training in horticulture.

What support will I get?All successful candidates for these roles willreceive a comprehensive induction, training toenable them to acquire the skills needed to besuccessful in the role and Personal ProtectiveEquipment.

How do I apply?If you are interested in applying for one of theseroles, then please contact your local Job CentrePlus to check eligibility and be submitted to theposition or if you would like to find out moreinformation about the roles please ring Lizzy Kirkat Groundwork Greater Nottingham on 0115 978 8212. 11

Growing Jobs

Food Growingin Schools– the next big

FIG, the School Food Group, the Federation ofCity farms and Community Gardens, City NHSand County NHS, Food for Life Partnershipand many others are planning to providesome welcome support for food growing inschools this year. This is very timely as is anew national champion for such projects.

Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins has putdown his spade to call on the Government toensure that every child has the chance to havea go at growing their own while at school.

Backed by Emmerdale actor Lyndon Ogbourne,children’s author Michael Morpurgo, greenauthor Dominic Murphy, Rosie Boycott, thechair of London Food Board, and a coalition of charities including the Royal HorticulturalSociety, Good Gardeners Association, GardenOrganic and the Children’s Food Campaign, thecampaign highlights the health, education andenvironmental benefits of food growing, andcalls for it to be incorporated as part of a realfood education for every child.

Watch this space for localaction on school food growing!

thing

HedgerowsA new hedge-ucation resource fromHedgelink Hedgerows can befound in all areas of our countrysideand towns. As well as providing uswith blackberries, sloes, hazelnutsand elderflowers, they’re vital forfood and shelter to many birds,insects and animals, includingmany of our rarer species.

Aimed at children aged seven toeleven, this resource includes fun,interactive games to help themlearn about hedgerows and thewildlife they support, as well asbackground information and activitysheets. Children can learn how tolook after hedgerows, and take partin a hedgerow survey.

For more information,visit www.hedgelink.org.uk/hedgerows

NottinghamshireCook4life is a free four week cooking course.The course aims to increase knowledge,confidence and skills around planning, buyingand cooking balanced meals. Each week willconsist of a two hour fun, practical session.

Call 01623 785183 or go to http://www.

nottscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/

index.php/cooking-courses

for more info.

12

• Are you aged 40+?• Do you want to find out about healthy

eating in a fun and informal way?• Do you want to know how to cook

healthy meals that are quick and easy to prepare?

• Can you spare 2 hours a week for 6 weeks?

If YES then come and join a FREE Cook and Eatgroup in St Ann’s. The NHS City ‘Cook and Eat’Health workers are increasingly using localproduce in their sessions thanks to a tour ofNottingham Community Gardens. Thanks to LynnTaylor from the Federation of City Farms andCommunity Gardens, Candice Lau from the Citydietetics Team and all the Garden to Plate Group(most of whom are listed on our events page).

Date: Tuesday 20th, 27th April and 4th, 11th, 18th,25th May 2010

Time: 11.00 - 1.00pm

Location: Bluebell Hill Community Centre,Dennetts Close, Beacon Hill Rise, St Ann’s NG3 2GN

Clair from the Dietetic Department on 0115 8834291 or email: clair.morley@nottinghamcity.nhs.uk.

Get the Cook4Life Toolkit at:www.cook4lifeeastmidlands.org

13

St Ann’sFREE Cook and Eat group

Nottingham City NHS Dieticians visitingCommunity Gardens in Nottingham.

April to JulyDig In and sow your seeds thinly, every 2.5cmor so into a large pot orwindow box (at least20cm deep) filled withmultipurpose compost (the best option if yourgarden soil is shallow,heavy or stony) with a layerof stones at the bottom to aiddrainage or in the ground intowell-dug, well-raked soil - it shouldhave a fine, crumbly texture - in atrench no deeper than your thumbnail.

Cover with a fine layer of compost or dry soil andthen water. Stand pots in a sunny spot and keepthe compost moist. For a continuous supply of

carrots, sow a few seeds every fortnight.

May to August Once the seedlings are big enough to handle gently

pull out the weaker plants, leaving one carrotevery 2.5cm. Try and do this in the evening or on a damp day to avoid attracting carrot fly. Watersparingly, being careful not to let the soil dryout completely.

June to September After about 12 weeks your carrots

should be ready for the table. Gentlyease them out of the soil with a fork.

Free seeds (notnecessarily carrot) athttp://www.bbc.co.uk/

gardening/digin

14

What to Eat, What to GrowSeasonal Spring FoodRhubarb

Broccoli

Savoy Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Kale

Spinach

Watercress

Rocket

New Potatoes

Seasonal Spring GrowingWhat to Grow - Carrots

FIG recipes Good food made easyFrittataReally just a poshomelette, this dish iscommon in Italy forlunch and known inSpain as tortilla.

Preparation time 10 minutesCooking time approx. 15 minutes

Ingredients• 2 free range eggs per person• New potatoes (1 or 2 per person)• Spring onion

What to do• Boil the potatoes until cooked (so a knife will

easily go through them).

• Drain & put aside to cool.

• Whisk up the eggs with a fork in a bowl with a splash of water. Add salt and pepper.

• Slice up the cooled potatoes.

• Chop the spring onions and fry in olive oil or butter until soft in a frying pan.

• Pour in the eggs and add the potatoes.

• Cook for about 5 minutes. Lift at the edge to see if brown.

• Either flip the frittata over with a spatula andcook for another 5 minutes or

• Finish under a hot grill but only if you have a metal handled frying pan.

• Serve with salad or bread. Can be eaten coldor in a sandwich.

TOP TIPS• Leave out the potatoes to save time.

• Fry up other veg such as peppers, ordinaryonions or mushrooms and add.

Find organic eggs at www.trinityfarm.co.uk 15

This new project offers exciting volunteerplacements across Nottingham to give you skills,experience, training and support to get back intoemployment.• Get hands-on experience in food growing, tree

planting, gardening in parks & open spaces • Learn to prepare & cook produce grown on

community allotments and gardens. • Embark on an OCN course in horticulture.

Attend short courses in food hygiene, first aid,health & safety, healthy eating, etc.

• Help design & plan improvements to existingcommunity gardens and horticultural projects

• Be part of a team supporting local initiativessuch as composting projects

• Be involved in outreach and variousenvironmental activities happening in yourcommunity

• Help run events or be part of educational worklinked to horticultural projects

For more information please contact DoriKirchmair on Tel.: 0115 970 8200 or email:

Dori@partnershipcouncil.co.uk

The Community Garden project is part of One Nottingham’s Community Programme and Nottingham City Council’s Job Plan to help get over 2,000 city residents into employment and training courses.

Are you unemployed orin a low income job andlive in Nottingham City?

G a r d e nProjectCommunity

Got any ‘feed’ back for FIG? If you have a story related to food, health or theenvironment that you would like to see published inthe next FIG newsletter, or a group or project youwould like to promote please contact FIG on 0115 978 8212

For more information please contact:Leon Ballin – FIG Project Officer

Food Initiatives GroupC/o Groundwork Greater Nottingham

Denman Street EastNottingham NG7 3GX

Tel: 0115 978 8212Email: leon.ballin@groundwork.org.uk

Web: www.groundworkgreaternottingham.org.uk

FIG is supported by:

Nottingham City PCT,NHS Nottinghamshire County

Designed by Nottingham NHS Media Design Service 2010