Sowing the seeds of change in South London

SEWN Together is our London regional networking event series that travels to South, East, West and North London – hence the acronym!  

These sessions aim to build relationships, strengthen connections and platform the great work happening in food gardens tackling the nature and climate emergency, creating inclusive spaces and helping to build more resilient communities.

Our South London gathering had a good turnout from a broad mix of people from food growers, community organisers, social entrepreneurs and local network leaders from Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Croydon and Bromley, with a few from further afield (shout-out to Hounslow!)

We enjoyed a whole day of talks, workshops and networking where people shared the great work they’re doing, the challenges they’re experiencing.  So many creative and clever ideas emerged for how to progress food growing and connect people and resources more effectively. 

Each of the following food growing networks shared more info about their work and the support they provide:

• Incredible Edible Lambeth
• Social Farms & Gardens
• Southwark Community Food Growers
• Lewisham Local

Jean, the gardening lead at Brixton Windmill took us on a tour of the food growing spaces around Windmill Gardens and we enjoyed a delicious vegan Indian lunch from En Root.

Kalpana Arias from Nowadays gave a presentation on the London Right to Grow campaign and shared her new mapping tool, glitch, to help map green gaps and grow more nature together.

Eoin from Integrate Agency (the Lambeth VCS) gave an insightful presentation on how to fundraise for your organization, which included extensive Q & A and rich conversations about the barriers to fundraising experienced by the group and how to influence funders to create more equitable processes.

With a focus on Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark, the group explored what was happening in food growing in each borough, what was missing and ideas for a more connected, food-secure and thriving urban edible landscape.  Participants threw themselves into dreaming up a lush green future for London while also recognizing the many challenges faced in these boroughs including poverty, inequality, poor health and lack of access to resources and support.

Our next stop will be SEWN East London in October so watch this space and get in touch if you want to get involved

Below is a summary of the key challenges, opportunities and solutions we explored together

1. Access to land

• Finding and accessing land
• help groups connect with land that is democratic and equitable
• Lease and stability of tenure
• Mapping green gaps/ available space for food growing
• Working with housing associations to develop food growing on estates

What you can do:

• Join the London Right to Grow campaign newsletter to stay up to date
• Come to our in-person Right to Grow London network gathering on 10 June
• Check out glitch – a new mapping tool, where you can record any potential growing space you are aware of

2. Practical Infrastructure

• A need for more community composting sites and systems

- Need more training on the 3 bin system

- A way to manage what goes in compost to avoid contamination and clear signage

• Access to water and more sustainable rainwater capture systems
• Soil testing and how to remediate soil contamination

What you can do:

• Find out more about Incredible Edible Lambeth community composting map & resources
• South London Urban Growers run composting schemes
• MadLeap - anaerobic digester/composting/circular economy CIC in East London
• Contact Safe Soil UK for soil testing for community growing sites
• Core Landscapes in Hackney have an extensive rainwater harvesting system with solar powered pumps, and sometimes run workshops demonstrating how to build your own.

What we’re doing:

• Tori (Incredible edible Lambeth) and John are going to look into whether they can develop document to map risks and show how water can be used by community groups in conversation and collaboration with councils and Parks.

•  Rachel (Capital Growth) will include recommendations for water access and rainwater harvesting systems in London Plan consultation

3. Resources, support and organisational development

• A desire for better communication and resources from councils
• More support on how to manage/organize a space and implement food growing projects
• A desire to make connections, learn together and share solutions
• Increase profile of community growing and challenge prejudices of cottage core aesthetics, twee or just for retirees, help people understand that it is part of a wider movement for healthy resilient food system
• Bridging divides in communities and connecting and sharing resources
• Addressing access for people with complex needs
• Clear pathways for progression for young people
• A desire for more inclusive/equitable funding processes and to explore participatory grant making  or network-led funding programme

What you can do:

• Register with your local food growing network and join Capital Growth and explore their resources  or sign up to our newsletter for monthly news  
• Connect with your Local Food Partnership, if you have one.  
• Have a look at the Future Gardeners programme - free training and work experience scheme
• Learn about the Energy Garden Youth Training Programme 

What we will do:

Rachel (Capital Growth) will feedback these requests and ideas to the Capital Growth Inter-Council Network and Working Party inform future initiatives

Summary

It was such an energising day, being able to connect in person can feel quite rare these days, and to take a day out of our busy work and lives to focus on the future of community cultivation in London was so valuable. 

Next up will be East London in the autumn, where we'll be bringing together Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Greenwich growers and councils to explore how we can progress communtiy growing. If you have a project or idea you'd like to share at the next one, get in touch!