Spreading the word

Locally the word about Incredible Edible Tod has spread like wild strawberries. People are exchanging seeds, helping planting, involved in every school and church, doing it for themselves.

And news of our campaign-in-action has spread far and wide: check the News for the latest, and the Media button for past and present online coverage.

Other local initiatives include lots of people borrowing our ideas. Blimey, Incredible Edible Huddersfield even borrowed the entire title – but that’s OK, we’re neighbours across the moors. And you can see under Growing bodies how many local institutions are partners in Incredible Edible initiatives.

Calderdale Council have adopted polices borough-wide to remove obstacles stopping the use of community land for growing, and to give guidance to groups and public bodies about how it can be done. Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for community services, Todmorden councillor Ian Cooper, said: ‘It’s incredible! The way in which people all over the Upper Calder Valley have taken to growing their own fruit and veg is an example to communities across the whole of the country. We want to work in partnership with groups across Calderdale to support people to grow their own. It’s a healthy option, it’ s cheaper and it’s better for the environment.’ (full story here)

We’re also hoping to spread the word nationally. We’ve applied to the Sustainable Development Commission for an award to set up a national growing movement akin to ‘Britain in Bloom’ to encourage local growing and marketing. Stand by for more news!