This week I am sharing an article and resources which focus on Local Eating, Growing and Self-Sufficiency. Next week I hope to share on Saving Family Green our Family's Goals for 2012 and specifically those related to Local Eating, Growing and Self-Sufficiency.
A Deliciously Resourceful Town Aims For Total Food Self-Sufficiency Within 7 Years
Admittedly, it sounds like the most foolhardy of criminal capers, and one of the cheekiest, too.
Outside the police station in the small
Victorian mill town of Todmorden, West Yorkshire, there are three large
raised flower beds.
If you’d visited a few months ago, you’d
have found them overflowing with curly kale, carrot plants, lettuces,
spring onions — all manner of vegetables and salad leaves.
Read more of this article here. About Incredible Edible: We grow and campaign for local food. Our growing around town is organised by our community growers’ group: find out about that here. From our beginnings with herb gardens, we’ve taken to planting and growing veggies and trees round town we’ve planted several orchards and there are more to come, and we’re working with public bodies
round town to use their land – like the fire station and the railway
station – or to work with them on their own Incredible ideas – like
social landlord Pennine Housing. Every school in the town is now involved in growing with us and we promote food-based learning for the community as a whole.
Here in Central Ohio we have some great local resources available on the topic of Local Eating and Growing:
Local Matters has put together 'Growing Our Own' Free Workshop Series. "
Growing Our Own" is a FREE workshop series packed with opportunities to learn exciting new things, network with growers and other members of the community, eat delicious foods and get some free giveaways!
JANUARY 21 — 12:00–2:00PM
Art and Gardens
Artists and growers, don’t miss
this opportunity to connect creatives with gardeners who are interested
in having creative input and art in their gardens. Artists Melissa Vogley-Woods and Elena Harvey Collins will discuss planning, funding and shared visions. Lunch provided.
FEBRUARY 11 & 12 — 8:30AM–4:00PM
Growing Communities Free Weekend Workshop
In this award-winning 2-day workshop designed by the American Community Gardening Association you’ll gain skills and strategies to work with the most important aspect of gardens—people.
Attendees will learn proven
strategies to build dynamic leaders and create strong gardening
programs, using a participatory approach to community building. Delicious food provided!
*Remember, this workshop will NOT be located at The Godman Guild. Check back for an update about the location TBA!*
FEBRUARY 25 — 9:00AM–12:00PM
Grow Year-Round: Hoop Houses, Low Tunnels & Cold Frames
Learn how to grow food and herbs
year round! Join us for an information session on the wide range of
ways that we can all extend the midwest seasons. Featuring a
presentation from Hal Green with OSU Extension greenhouses. You'll leave the workshop with inspiration and building plans.
MARCH 3 — 9:00AM–1:00PM
Planning and Seeding Your Garden
Join Pam Bennet
from OSU Extension for essential garden planning tips and learn how to
grow your own seedlings. Growers can increase diverse, healthy plants in
their gardens, adding more to our kitchens and plate. Learn about
heirloom plants and gain successful growing tips for lush gardens. All attendees will also receive free seeds!
MARCH 24 — 9:00AM–1:00PM
Fruits and Berries
Mark Meckling and Mark Langifeld
of OSU extension will lead this two-part workshop about fruit and
berries, the most in-demand local crop. Learn the basics of fruit tree
growing and care and, plus
ways to include healthy,
delicious berries in your meals. You’ll also learn about the best
sources to purchase fruit trees and berries in Ohio. Includes a tasting of local fruits for all attendees. Yum!
APRIL 14 — 10:00–12:00
Mushrooms!
Join the owners of Green Edge Gardens to learn how to grow your own mushrooms from start to finish. We’ll conclude by sharing a delicious mushroom and local herb pizza!
MAY 19 — 9:00–12:00
Irrigating Urban Gardens
Dr. Larry Brown and Angelica Huerta
from OSU will lead this hands-on workshop to learn how to build
irrigation systems that will allow you to grow higher-yielding crops
with less labor!
JUNE 2 — 10:00–12:00
Water Harvesting: Methods, Care and Resources
Local experts Rain Brothers and FLOW
(Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed) will talk about programs
for discounted or free rain barrels, how to care for rain barrels and
cisterns, winterization and other helpful tips.
You’ll also receive free materials for planning and planting rain gardens to direct water for your individual garden needs.
This six-part series will challenge your concept of suburban
gardening. Learn more about beekeeping, urban farming, growing
not-usually-found-at-the-nursery plants, the benefits of using native
plants, intensive vegetable growing and spring flowers. Call
614-842-6320 for more information.
October 20: Jayne Barnes of Honeyrun Farm will discuss beekeeping and how to make honey and honey products. Items will be available for purchase.
November 17: Native shrubs and small trees play an important role in the ecology of suburban landscapes. Peter Lowe, a public garden horticulturalist at The Ohio State University, will explain more.
February
16: Don't miss the planting time! Don Humphrey, lifelong gardener and
Worthington resident, will discuss how, through intensive gardening, you
can grow a wide variety of vegetables for nine months of the year.
March
15: Welcome the arrival of spring wild flowers, a sure cure for the
winter blues, as Sue Stevens talks about the principles of shade
gardening.
April 19: Veteran hobby gardener Dave Marsolo grows
plants you may not find in local nurseries and explains how you, too,
can become a certified "plants person."
May 17: Urban farms? Yes! They are happening across the United States. Clintonville farmer Joseph Swain shares his experience with this new phenomenon.
Where: Griswold Center, 777 High Street, Worthington, OH 43085
Note: Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links. You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.
is written by Colin Beavan who is a self proclaimed environmentalist. I have referred to him as an overnight environmentalist, however at the same time many who say they are experts in the field have not gone as he has in lifestyle changes. 
