Harvest

Harvest

Harvest Logo

Exeter Community Initiatives’ Harvest Project ran from 2010 to 2013, with the aim of Spreading the Growing Bug in Exeter. It was made possible thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery’s Local Food Fund.

Project Workers Andi Tobe and Ellie Parker set up numerous food growing activities in Exeter, targeting the most disadvantaged communities and individuals in the City.

Activities included a container growing scheme, where, with the help of a team of volunteer growing champions, hundreds of kits (container, compost, seeds) were given away to people without access to a garden or allotment, enabling them to grow herbs and salads on patios, balconies and window sills.

The Harvest team worked with other groups and agencies around the city to set up community growing projects, and a number of small gardens were established in the grounds of children’s centres and social housing projects.

Harvest’s Seed/Plant/Produce Swaps have become very popular events, giving growers a chance to network with likeminded people, exchanging tips and experience as well as seeds, plants and surplus produce. They have also provided a showcase for other organisations with a local food theme.

The team also organised a range of training to upskill participants, including a series of ‘Get Growing’ workshops on the Harvest allotment, an introduction to Permaculture, plus lots of cookery.

And finally, City Fruit Harvest was established to address the two problems of food waste and food poverty in Exeter. More about City Fruit here.

Of course none of this would have been possible without the involvement of our fantastic volunteer team. We really appreciate the commitment, energy and enthusiasm they brought to the project.

To view the photos below at a larger size, click on the image.

Harvest Newsletter Archive

Looking ahead

Some aspects of the project will continue beyond the funded period:

Seed/Plant/Produce Swaps will be co-ordinated by Love Local Food
City Fruit Harvest has been established as an independent group: contact cityfruitexeter@gmail.com
Supporting Change worker Rachel Gillmore will be available for ongoing advice and support to Harvest’s Community Growing projects

Downloadable ‘How To Guides’

Some of the activities developed by Harvest could be replicated anywhere. We have produced these guides to help by sharing what we did and what we learned in the process.