What do you think about forming a Community Food Action Group alongside the Community Food Network?
Lachie
Does Bendigo need a new Action Group for Community Food?
I wanted to pose two questions to the Foodies of Bendigo.
Since sticking my hand up to join the Bendigo Sustainability Group committee I've been thinking about food systems in Bendigo and also thinking about how new online technology can help groups of volunteers of community groups to develop and work together effectively.
I would like to ask what people think about the idea of forming a Community Food Action Group, supported by the Bendigo Sustainability Group? And Secondly, What kinds of online technology do people think would be useful to local community groups such as community kitchens, gardens or social enterprises?
An action group could be a little more focused and support the wider network in another way. At our last meeting we discussed the difference between the Bendigo Community Garden Network and what a Community Food Action Group would look like. It came up as we were talking about what had gone on at the different action groups for the last month. Since the community garden network is more of a network, it's a little different. My understanding is the network is kind of like community of various sized food communities, like any group of people involved in an edible garden, and individuals who have an interest in community food. I could only report the things I'd talked with other community food inspired people and some nice gardening experiences (Like the Permablitz Brian hosted). I wonder if community food could benefit from an action group. I also think discussion and information can work better away from face-book with some more appropriate online tools. A fantastic local book of knowledge could be developed by people online with the right tools. I suppose there has always been a network of community food gardeners everywhere food is grown. Surely isolated food growers would have more challenges in growing good organic food. An action group could be more focused in identifying challenges broadly faced in community food systems and work to effectively reduce those challenges. It would be great if community food enterprises could become sustainable and easy to be involved with, they could help people legitimately participate in the economy while becoming more self sufficient. Not to replace the supermarket system, but just to provide an alternative with different and more holistic and sustainable aims than pure profit.
So what's in it for me. I would love it if food was a part of my working life, but I'm not going to become a fulltime chef or horticulturist. I have been passionate about community food systems for a long time, More since I did volunteer organic farm work in exchange for food and a nice place to stay with WWOOFING and realised how refreshing it can be. I would just love it if it was possible for anyone to just participate in a community food enterprise for a few hours a week and everyone could get one very nutritions meal each day. I'd love to work in a vegetarian buretto and toastie wrap van in competition with other social enterprise kitchens with different styles like in Portland and so many other places in the world. Although not necessarily 'social enterprise' competition is good for creaticity. Having easier access to good nutrition knowing how stay healthy using all the steps from growing to eating is good for anyone. Community food is a vital part of community health and well-being and provides people, young and old with an avenue to participate in wider society in a positive and meaningful way, share and learn and take control of our own health and resiliance. Community garden helps your physical and psychological health. Everyone likes food, food is good, food connects us and keeps us well, unless it doesn't, like a lot of highly produced food. Good food is a reason to come together with good company and feel grateful..
I thought of some other positives of an Action Group to support the wider 'Network':
The BSG's 'Charter of practice' is highly ethical and _________
Explore what people would want from an Action Group for Community Food in Bendigo
Helping the existing Bendigo Community Food Network to do more networking, easier.
Provide an entry point for people who are wanting to to see what's out there or take more of an active role in community food projects.
Create local food events
Ensure food systems are as healthy for the public as possible
Develop more advanced online networking, food education, and opportunities related to growing, sharing, cooking, sourcing food using online technologies. Creating community owned resources that can be useful to other groups.
Help groups hold events where good food is shared, but not necessarily with food as the main event such as Sporting groups events, outdoor events, markets, art's festivals, outdoor cinemas and public workshops still need great food.
Work in co-operation with the Network to host events using the Bendigo Sustainability Group public liability insurance
Assist community food groups to access grant funding and ensure projects are successful using the resources of the wider Bendigo Sustainability Group
While setting it own agenda, Support food groups in any ways that are meaningful to members and as the need arises in a way as decided by everyone collectively, Potentially enhancing collaboration between members of different professional and community organisations but having members from green teams, food businesses, community gardens / kitchens, schools, government organisations and so on.
Develop grant proposals for Bendigo in anticipation of suitable grants becoming available
Secure funding and create opportunities for members by doing research and practice.
Provide and interface between food groups and other Bendigo Sustainability Group Action Groups like Policy, Education, Energy, Waste and Biodiversity. Also helping these groups develop as they all have shared goals.
Keep developing sustainable food 'ways' using traditional knowledge and appropriate, sustainable technology together with current science.
Other resources of the BSG include it's members and experience with grants and project work.
As the BSG website is developed we could use online tools if people think they will be worthwhile such as forums, project management tools, An eNews letter and internet news recommendation system could allow selected articles to be discussed online by members, a local 'Wiki' (bendigo community food book of knowledge), local seasonal online and paperbased book book newsletter, mapping tools could show where food is grown, cooked, preserved and so on. I think these would be great tools for the wider food network in Bendigo. Real world tools can also be shared, There are so many amazing 'low-tech' techniques for growing and cooking food. Online tools can be accessed from real world community food localities reducing barriers for people who don't have the internet, notice boards could cross promote events such as food techniques workshops like the amazing things that Castlemaine Community House does.
I would like to find out if people are interested in forming an Action Group alongside the existing Network and what qualities an action group could take. Bendigo Sustainability Group Action Groups are not managed by the Bendigo Sustainability Group, the are supported by volunteers. The BSG 'Statement of Purpose' is worth reading 'http://www.bsg.org.au/images/BSGs Statement of Purpose.pdf'.
There is only so much any one person can reasonably contribute to things like this. Everyones lives have different pressures. I would personally like to assist by helping to develop networking and project implementation tools to be used by the wider network. I would love to be involved in a group like this and work with others people who are passionate about food on interesting and worthwhile projects. I don't want to take a role in directing a group like this as I think it should set it's direction collaboratively. I will also be overseas until spring time so would only be able to participate in online discussion for the time being. There are some great places to have informal meetings where people can throw ideas around and get inspired. I personally love cooking and I'd love to make amazing vegetarian take away as a regular part of my week.
I would love to hear any feedback, thoughts, suggestions and/or advice?
Thanks
Lachie
kias...@gmail.com
I believe that Bendigo Community Food Network is the broader action group. And I think what you're getting at is to have sub-groups off that. When the Bendigo Community Food Network started it was all about those from the different community gardens networking together. I think it has now come to the stage where it's becoming much more than that. Therefore, I suggest having a community gardens and a community food sub-group. From there, you can specify what each of these sub-groups is about.
I think it would be useful to have a website that is all about Food in Bendigo! This website could provide links to other food websites eg. Food Fossickers, Bendigo Farmers' Market. It could also provide information on locations of community gardens and contact details for coordinators. It could also make people aware of food events in the region. The possibilities are huge! Or the idea of making a e-book is fantastic too!
I would love to be a part of a community food action group :) Agree that it would be great to identify the challenges in community food systems and how we can reduce those challenges. I am also passionate about encouraging healthy and nutritious eating and believe this needs to be more accessible.
It would be great to have a facilitated discussion on this Lachie! Perhaps this could be brought up at the Food Forum next week!
What a lovely rainy day in Bendigo!
Lachie
r...@xsystem.net
A quick response from me
Great stuff. It will be interesting to see what comes out of the forum tomorrow, I can't make it either unfortunately. Kia, you'll have to bring us all up to speed!
An action group is worth exploring, the important bit will be to make sure that its significantly adding value to the what's happening in this space already. The online concept and other projects you mentioned would fit in with this...Things like the Tour De Home Grown could also find a permanent home with such a group..? + I think it'd be great to have a tour de coop for ppl thinking about chickens...
One thing to Keep in mind is that BSG is a member of Bendigo Food Share and as such there are opportunities for sustainable, socially equitable, community food projects with that too.
I wish I had time to attend all the BCFN activities!
Thanks Lachie, happy to discuss further at any point.