Grow With Us

From January 2010, local residents in Tower Hamlets are being offered work placements, free cooking classes and the opportunity to grow their own organic fruit and vegetables by Spitalfields City Farm as part of their ‘Grow with Us’ programme. The three-year programme is funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food scheme to encourage food growing and healthy eating in one of London’s most deprived boroughs.

Olivia Burt and Lutfun Hussain - who has been appointed as one of London’s Local Food Leaders by Mayor Boris Johnson - will offer free training to individuals and organisations that will include women-only sessions and work placements for young people leading to an Asdan Activity Award.

Mhairi Weir, Spitalfields City Farm manager said, “Funding from the Local Food scheme has given us a fantastic opportunity to broaden our reach within the local community and gives us the chance to teach people to help themselves by eating and cooking healthy foods”. There are several projects involved in the ‘Grow with Us’ programme:-

For more information or to book a place on any of the activities call: 020 7247 8762 or contact Olivia Burt, Grow With Us Project Co-ordinator

• GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY - grow your own food. Women only sessions are available on Tuesdays and general sessions open to all are held on Wednesdays.
• PICK & COOK – learn how to make delicious healthy food from freshly picked ingredients. Women only sessions on the 1st Monday of the month, general sessions on the 3rd Monday of the month.
• FOOD FOR THOUGHT – offering ten week work placements leading to an Asdan Activity Award, where young people (age 14 to 18) can learn how to take care of animals, help run the farmyard and find out where their food comes from.
• FREE GARDENING ADVICE – this service is available to new or existing community growing groups and offers tips on growing organic and Asian vegetables as well as guided tours of the Farm gardens.