The number of miles our food travels before it hits our plate increased by 15% in the ten years up to 2002, and that trend has yet to be reversed. 19 million tons of CO2 were emitted in food transport in that year, and in Europe, Britain was the worst offender. The water in our cities is polluted by the chemicals and fertilizers used on farms and food waste including packaging makes up close to a third of the waste that goes into many of our city landfills.

The Dott 07 Urban Farming project is focusing on combating these unsustainable trends. And with demand growing for community gardens, collective kitchens and simply better, healthier food they will be helping communities in Tees Valley make those aims a reality.

The team are David Barrie, Debra Solomon (Culiblog) and Nina Belk (Zest Innovation), and they have spent the last few months consulting with community groups and farmers about how to make the project effective and sustainable.

The growing spaces won’t need to be large, they can be a hanging bag or a window box on a high rise balcony, a ‘micro-garden’. The next size up will be a planter box like the ones that usually decorate a city centre or train station. Normally they are filled with flowers and landscape planting, but in this case they will be full of vegetables planted in an ornamental way, a common practice in Chinese cities Culiblog - 'Sort of Public Gardens' and 'Salad Song'.
Communities, schools and businesses will be establishing gardens in low sided skips, which, unlike the traditional high sided yellow variety will be easy to access and transport. For the businesses involved there will also be an element of competition as an incentive to get growing.

The aim is also to get meal assembly centres or ‘MACs’ up and running, where growers can learn more about how to cook and enjoy their produce.

The culmination of the year will be a ‘Meal for Middlesbrough’, a big event for everyone involved in the Urban Farming project to cook, eat and enjoy the food they’ve grown.

Project details

Dott07

About the Authors:

Debra Solomon
Culiblog

Nina Belk
Zest Innovation