Happy New Year from LION
Happy New Year
We've tumbled into 2021 and we are full of beans for what's to come this year but also taking this January lockdown gently, looking to be slow and intentional. We had a brilliant time at Oxford Real Farming Conference Global 2021 with amazing talks and workshops from all over the world that have energised us in many ways. We'll be writing up an account of our experience soon so keep your eyes on our website blog!
We've just started preparing for our first project of 2021 - we will be interviewing BPOC commercial growers in London and we're really excited to get to know all the black and brown growers out here! IT's part of the brilliant Rootz Into Food Growing project spearheaded by Ubele alongside Black Rootz with support from us and Organiclea.
Read below for more information about other opportunities that are popping up this month!
ROOTZ INTO FOOD GROWING
Land In Our Names (LION) are looking for food growers in the Pan-London area who are Black/people of colour (BPOC). We specifically want to interview people with experience of growing for social enterprises and sustaining livelihoods: "commercial" food growing / selling produce from a growing site / working as a part of a larger social or community enterprise.
If you are interested in participating in our research, or know someone who we should contact please fill out this form here
The form is a way for us to identify potential interviewees and for people to express their interest in the overall project.
You can read more about Rootz Into Food Growing here
Illustration by Javie Huxley
We wanted to uplift The Roots Farmer a commercial grower in Suffolk who has started a small market garden to provide healthy and delicious food to North and East London.
“Having had a career in music and the arts since I left school, I am completely new to growing food on this scale. However, it has always been my other dream to live in a sustainable way producing organic food. The 2020 pandemic has led me to realise thisdream as my music business has been pretty much wiped out by the lockdown restrictions so I have decided to make the leap now! I feel like it is the best decision I have ever made. I have a huge sense of freedom and a feel-good factor that I am doing something really exciting and important.
One of the most inspiring aspects of this, is how many new things I am learning everyday about natures eco-system. I have met some really amazing people who have so much knowledge in this area and it's a privilege to learn from them. I have also discovered that there is a real spirit of sharing among growers.
My biggest lifelong passion is social justice and equity for Black communities living in the west and I have passionately been active in this area throughout my career in music and the arts. Through farming I aim to continue with this.
As a father of two sons, I have a responsibility to lead by example in teaching them about sustainable and self reliant ways of living. The farm will not only be a teaching ground for mine and others youths but it will also be a legacy for them long after I’m gone.
Lastly, I can't wait to serve my local community in Hackney some of these vegetable goodies!”
@DecoloniseTheGarden and @PublicLibraryQuilts are doing a funsraiser for our BPOC Grower's Grant (We'll be launching it later this year) You can enter to draw to win the finished quilt too!! Find out more information about the fundraiser here