Community groups all over London are helping people through the rough economic crisis by running a host of events this winter to provide delicious and affordable food for local people.

The activities, which include a seasonal food swap, food growing and a Christmas fair, are being run by small community groups in order to bring people together in their local area and provide good food at Christmas.
 
Claire Pritchard, spokesperson for Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency, an organisation that supports local action on healthy and sustainable food in Greenwich, said "Over recent months we've seen a tremendous upsurge in interest in community food festivals, food co-operatives and cookery classes.  Instead of giving in to financial gloom, Londoners are responding creatively to the credit crunch by getting together to share ideas, learn food skills and trade food at affordable prices."

"Londoners are keen to spend money in a way that helps their local community" said Suzanne Natelson, London Food Link Project Officer. "Supporting local food businesses and food growers fosters local employment.   And the even better news is that local food events bring people together, provide good food, and are enormous fun!"

More examples of events; food/club night, food co-ops and the construction of an energy café.
 
Ends

Information on food events in London can be found at the London Food Link events calendar: http://www.sustainweb.org/lflevents/

For enquires about local events, please contact local coordinators (details below), or Suzanne Natelson at London Food Link, tel: 020 7837 1228; email: suzanne@sustainweb.org

For more information about the Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency contact Claire Pritchard Claire@gcda.org.uk  http://www.gcda.org.uk/    

London Food Link offers practical advice and support to communities who want to set up food co-operatives and trade in locally grown and environmentally friendly food. The network is promoting community food events all over London during the festive season, encouraging Londoners to find affordable ways to eat, drink and be merry, as a positive response to the financial downturn.

LIST OF EVENTS

Greenwich

Greenwich Community Food Co-op

Where & When: Stall Opening Times (please note will be shut for 2 weeks after December 24th)

• Ferrier, 19 Telemann Square, Ferrier Estate, SE3 9YR, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9am - 2pm (Tues),  9am - 12pm (Wed)
  
• Coldharbour Community Centre, William Barefoot Drive, SE9 3AY,  Tuesdays 10am – 1pm
  
• Horn Park Primary School, 11 Alnwick Rd, SE12 9BT Tuesdays 8.15am - 10.30 am
  
• Middle Park Community Centre, 150 Middle Park Avenue, SE9 5SD, Thursdays, 8.30am –12.30pm
  
• Glyndon Community Centre, Raglan Road, SE18 7LB,  Thursdays, 8.30am - 2pm
  
• Eynsham, William Temple Church, Eynsham Drive, Abbey Wood, SE2 9PT Thursdays, 9am – 1.30pm
  
• Abbey Wood Nursery, Dahlia Road, SE2 0SX,  Fridays, 10am - 3.15pm
  
• Thamesmead, Arnott Community Centre, Arnott Close, SE28 8BG,  Fridays, 10.30am - 2.30pm

Contact: Sue Pollock  Tel: 020-8856 1578  sue.gcfc@tiscali.co.uk

A “food station” alongside a community food co-op with interactive games and information about healthy eating.  Activities include healthy cooking demonstrations, the big heart check, hand massages and other activities such as henna painting and line dancing.  This will become a monthly coffee morning. 

Where: Barnes Wallis Community Centre, 74 Wild Goose Drive, New Cross, London, SE14 5LL
When: 5th December
Contact: Dr Radhika Puri, Health Development Coordinator, Tel: 020 7635 9000  radhikapuri@btconnect.com

Cookery Classes at the Greenwich Pantry for families to learn how to prepare and cook healthy food and spend time together.  Watch this space for a soon-to-be-launched story-telling club for children.

When: Saturdays (contact Lara for more information)
Where: Greenwich Pantry, 93 Trafalgar Road, SE10, 9TS
Contact: Lara Omoloja at info@greenwichpantry.com

Hackney

A food reggae club night with information around ethical food issues, seasonality, vegetarianism, global food system problems as well as local food solutions. Growing Communities veg box scheme will be promoted as well as many of the locally based independent shops and markets in Hackney.

Where: Passing Clouds. Community Music and Arts Centre. 1 Richmond Road, just off Kingsland Road, behind the pub on the corner. Knock on the grey door! Dalston, E8.
When: 5th December, 8pm onwards Price: £5.
Contact: Abigail Dunn, 07825742132

Haringey

Calling Highgate Growers for a gro-pot of garlic (from the Isle of Wight Garlic Farm) for your patio or balcony or windowsill. This is organised by Holly Lodge Community Centre which encourages people to grow food as well as flowers on their balconies.  For more information contact below.

Contact:  hollylodgelondon@hotmail.com  

Tottenham Food Co-op – A non-profit food market run by volunteers providing opportunities for local producers to sell for charities or make a bit of money trading

• fruit and veg from your garden or allotment 
  
• organic dry goods like beans, rice, flour and dried fruit at wholesale prices
  
• good value fresh organic fruit and veg from farm suppliers close to London 
  
• fair trade, organic tea and olive oil

Where: Broadwater Farm Community Centre
When: Friday 12 Dec. 1pm to 5pm, Sat. 20 Dec. noon till 3pm
Contact: E-mail tottenhamfoodcoop@yahoo.co.uk    Phone: Anne Gray on 07791 904375

Hounslow

Open work session at the Chiswick House Kitchen Garden. All welcome to drop in and dig. Equipment and gloves provided, wear sensible clothing. For more information, http://www.kitchengarden.org.uk/

Where: Chiswick House Kitchen Garden
When: Sunday 7th December, 1-4.30.
Contact: Karen Liebreich (Via Suzanne at London Food Link 020 7837 1228)

Kingston-upon-Thames  & Richmond-upon-Thames

On 1st December, registrations closed for an exciting competition for schools in Richmond and Kingston.  School Food Matters has teamed up with the Richmond Environment Network and Rushall Organic Farm to run a competition to encourage pupils to think about food production and sustainability.  Fifteen schools have registered and will receive fun workshops and are asked to produce a short film on the life of a food staple – the journey from farm gate to school plate.  The winning entries from Richmond and Kingston will each receive an allotment space built in school grounds, compliments of generous sponsors, Mears.  And there are great runners-up prizes too.  Waitrose has kindly funded a trip to Rushall Organic Farm for sixty children and another lucky school will receive a visit from the Nice-Green Van.

When: Winners will be announced on 1st April and the allotment prize awarded on 1st May by RHS School gardening champ and Blue Peter gardener, Chris Collins
Contact: Stephanie Wood stephanie@schoolfoodmatters.com  http://www.schoolfoodmatters.com/ T: 020 8392 5055

Newham

Inspiring Art for All Family Day to celebrate the arts, inspire participation from the whole community and offer insights into sustainable living. The centre is organising a feast of free creative workshops and activities for all the family including a photography workshop, tie-die fabrics workshop, a mural wall, pottery and postcard painting workshop.  There will also be a henna tattoo stand, carol singers, a steel drum band, a Fair Trade stand with sample products, and a food debate stand where you can discuss food issues and try some vegan and vegetarian food. In the run up to the festival the centre is holding a photography competition.  Selected entries will be exhibited at the festival and awards given to the winners.

Where: Rosetta Art Centre, 1 Hamilton Rd, London E15 3AE
When: Sat 6 Dec 08, 11am - 4pm
Contact: For more information see http://www.rosettaarts.org/info@RosettaArts.org or call 020 7511 1117 and speak to Sanaz or Trisha.

Tower Hamlets

Community Food Co-op.  St Hilda's have been running a food co-op for three years, selling fresh fruit and vegetables to local people at an affordable price.  The co-op is run by volunteers and encourages local people to get involved and learn new skills.

When: Every Thursday from 11-1pm
Where: St Hilda's East Community Centre, 18 Club Row, London E2 7EY
Contact:  Aziz/Lourdes for further information  020-7739-8066 or come along

Christmas Fair at Spitalfields Farm. Celebrating the Tower Hamlets Food Link with Christmas food & flower fair, homemade mince pies, and the Coriander Club will be selling their new cookbook!

When: Sunday 7th December 12-3pm
Where: Spitalfields City Farm on Buxton Street, near Brick Lane
Contact: Joanne  Joanne@spitalfieldscityfarm.org  0207 247 8762

Waltham Forest

Variety of food-related events at the Hornbeam Centre including a seasonal food swap: Swap your home-grown produce for somebody else’s pickles and bakes in a locally celebrated 'good food swap'

When: Saturday 6 December, 5pm
A market stall every Saturday: fresh produce at the market stall (10-3), tasty food at the community café (10-4).
Where: Hornbeam Centre Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street. E17
Contact: Clare Joy 020 8558 6880  07786 657713 (Clare's mobile) http://www.hornbeam.org.uk/

Workdays organised by Organic lea Community Growers 'Food growing on London's edge'

Where: Hawkwood Allotments, E4 [Join a work day on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month.]
Contact: Clare Joy 020 8558 6880  07786 657713 (Clare's mobile) http://www.hornbeam.org.uk/

Construction of an “Energy Café” at Gunpowder Park.   Part of a project meeting local food growers and planning how to harvest food from the local area, experiment with sustainable ways of cooking, and develop better understanding of the landscape by those who use it.

Where: The Field Station Over Flow Car Park, Gunpowder Park,
Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 3GP
When: 21st November - 5th December 2008 Every day
Contact: Pilot Publishing  http://www.energycafe.wordpress.com/ 07947367463 or 077912460
or Landscape+Arts Network Services team at Gunpowder Park 01992 762128  www.gunpowderpark.org/artofcommonspace    

Westminster (City of)

Community food co-op

Where: The Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue, London W10 4JL
When: Every Monday from 1.00pm-4.00pm
Contact: Christopher Nicholas, Westminster PCT Tel: 020 7150 8214  Christopher.Nicholas@westminster-pct.nhs.uk

Community food co-op

Where: Westbourne Family Centre, corner of Porchester Road and Westbourne Park Villas, London W2
When: Every Thursday 10.00am-12.00pm
Contact: Christopher Nicholas, Westminster PCT Tel: 020 7150 8214  Christopher.Nicholas@westminster-pct.nhs.uk