The idea
As our borough grows upward, so can the amount of fresh food we have in our homes!
This experimental innovation in community gardening is a project that looks towards the furure of farming, how we can keep connected to gardening in urban places --and how we can feed more and more people using smart tech and science! Utilising easy to use, and industry leading smart technology, this will be the first Urban allotment in the UK specifically designed for community groups by a local community group.
This farm has been designed by the people who are leading research into 'farming to eliminate third world hunger' thus this project will passionately support local health. It will give Romford a priceless resource of fast fresh food to feed local people in need, and also provide inspirational education in smart horticulture and nutrition for our next generation of engineers.
Support with a pledge of more than £2,000 to become an official sponsor of a community group and their allotment.
What we'll deliver
- Fabricate, Build and maintain a set of 18 vertical allotments in Romford
- Team up with 18 local community and social organisations who can help feed the wider community.
- Teach school children and community leaders about nutrition and healthy eating.
- Teach community leaders how to use the allotments to their full potential.
- Teach community leaders and school children about future sustainable farming & engineering
- Launch the project with an event for local community groups to come together and celebrate thier food culture
- Host a food club (Harvest Club) for allotment users for 12 months to share diverse recipies and swap produce.
- Help local community groups plant, propigate and harvest organic food on a monthly basis.
- Through the activity above, thousands of edible plants to be distributed to local people through community groups.
- Create a sustainability plan to keep the allotment running for years to come
Why it's a great idea
Nutritious Resource: This localised, efficient growth approach will enable fresh food to be readily available for the most in need.
Engineering Aspirations: A ‘UK first’ in community farming. Young people will be inspired to get into engineering and smart- tech with community leaders supporting the way for the future of farming.
Alternative Education: The urban allotment makes food nutrition and farming sustainability tangible. It will educate daily with smell, sight, touch & taste in its very public location.
Healthy Attitudes: Introducing farming, and plants to urban spaces improves wellbeing for those with less access to green spaces. In addition, nutrition workshops will inform overall future healthier lifestyles.
Reducing Waste: Home grown food comes unpackaged and hydroponic farming is efficient its use of water, light energy and plant materials.
Learning Together: Harvest meet-ups will be peer learning spaces for cultural food sharing and exchange of ingredients for meals.
Steps to get it done
- Manafacture bespoke Allotments for up to 18 community groups
- Install Allotments in a secure Romford location
- Impliment designs on allotments for sponsors and community members
- Train local community leaders in how to farm hydroponic food
- Launch the programme
- Harvest food on a monthly basis for distribution to our community
- Arrange a monthly food club for community leaders to compare their harvest and exchange best practise
- Teach school children and youth groups about the importance of nutrition and sustainable farming
- Evaluate the programme after on eyear and create a sustainability plan for future years.
Additional Impacts:
It will improve access for local people to access fresh and nutritous food - especially those who may not access mainstream services (e.g. those with english as a second language)
Help Children in Havering Schools understand the importance of fresh produce - especially at a time of food poverty due to covid-19 and when there are substantial communities in the area with high child obesity rates.
Support a local non-profit arts collective in promoting the benefits of cultural exchange through food in their own community.
Support futuristic ideas, science, tech, research and development as a vehicle of possitive change in communities promoting socialisation rather than isolation.
Support the creatives behind the project in a time of economic hardship.
Put Romford on the map for being at the forefront of community innovation and creative ideas.
