With others, we are working to create a local food culture in Tayside, one which recognises the importance of eating produce grown in our communities in ways which are mindful of both people and the planet.
We know that it can be hard to get access to fresh, healthy fruit and vegetables and so we are looking at ways to make it easier for people to grow more themselves as well as connecting local growers to the folk who live and work across Tayside.
Foraged apples, photo Clare Cooper
Scotland now has the ‘Good Food Nation Act’, which says ‘everyone will have reliable access to safe, nutritious, affordable, sustainable, and age and culturally appropriate food. People will benefit from a sustainable food system that plays a role in improving biodiversity and treats animals with care.’
How can we make the most of this legislation?
We are proposing, with your help, to develop a new Food Manifesto For Tayside.
Our aim for the Manifesto is to put a strong emphasis on seeing food grown and consumed locally, where possible, pointing to the importance of food security, the local economy, and cutting food miles.
We’d like to hear your views.
How can we make locally grown food a priority now? What would encourage you to grow more of your own food? How do you think we can make locally grown produce more easily available? Are there new partnerships needed to make local produce more widely available in shops, markets, or through other outlets?
Home veg patch, photo Clare Cooper
50 years ago, a group of people in Aberfeldy looked at what was happening to the quality of the food on our plates, and the impact modern systems were having on local jobs and agriculture, along with concerns about the effects of chemicals on the natural environment as well as our health. They wrote ‘The Aberfeldy Manifesto’.
The original Aberfeldy Group Manifesto, whose 50th anniversary was celebrated in Aberfeldy this year.
Reading that today, the points they raise are still as relevant, and even more urgent. 50 years ago, people didn’t really take it that seriously. Now, though, the impact of climate change and biodiversity collapse means many more people recognise that they were right about the concerns they raised. So, with the help of Aberfeldy Healthiest Town we are looking again at the Aberfeldy Manifesto and using it as the basis for a modern Manifesto, which we can use as a mission statement from Aberfeldy to Arbroath, and beyond: A Food Manifesto For Tayside!
Local farms, market gardens, and other commercial growers obviously are crucial to our food supply, but growing food in our own gardens, public spaces like parks, schools, and community gardens, farms, and allotments are also really important ways people can access fresh food, especially because there is much evidence that being involved in growing food is so good for our physical and mental health.
We know we need more insects and other wildlife around us for the environment to be healthy, and that wild populations are in real trouble because they are losing so much habitat and so many poisonous chemicals are being used outside. What can we do with our gardens and growing spaces to be more nature-friendly?
Peacock Butterfly, photo Aylwin Pillai
We are asking people across the community for their views, from primary schools to community growers, policymakers, and farmers. We would like to hear what you think.
We’ve created a very short survey to capture your views. Looking at the Aberfeldy Manifesto, what comments or changes would you make?
Open this link here.
If you want to send us any thoughts by email as well, please email: [email protected]
We would love to hear your thoughts.
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