Green up your own backyard
Women from ethnic minority communities across the country are being encouraged to join a Women's Environmental Network local food groups initiative launched by Oona King, MP at the House of Commons a few days ago.

Ms King, MP for Bethnal Green, launched the Marigold Information Pack, a resource pack for Taste of a Better Future: a national network of organic food growing groups being set up by WEN. A recent survey found only four percent of people grow any of their own food although 50% would like to ¹. Consumer demand for organic food is growing at 40% a year ².

WEN aims to empower ethnic minority women to grow their own food on patches of land near where they live. Many women of diverse cultures already have food growing skills they are keen to use, or want to maintain or learn skills in danger of being lost to younger generations. Food growing groups help people share and value those skills, reconnect with the land and provide traditional foods, which are otherwise expensive or difficult to buy. They also reduce packaging and food miles and help regenerate communities.

At the launch, Wapping Women's Group and the Coriander Club from Spitalfields City Farm, provided samples of the food they've grown, including coriander, dugi (amaranth), mange tout, spinach, beetroot and cucumbers.

Ms King spoke of her own poor diet when growing up and of health concerns associated with pesticide use and intensive food production. "Why should we have to eat things that will damage us and our children and our health?" she asked. She said many people could not afford to buy organic food. "Poverty means you can't give your children the best food," she said and added: "To give your children the chance that they deserve you need to get hold of any opportunity you can - that is what the Marigold Information Pack gives." Referring to Prince Charles' organic farm at Highgrove, she said: "If Prince Charles can eat food of this quality, why can't we all?"

Mariam Begum, of the Coriander Club, spoke about being involved in the group. "I was sitting at home doing nothing but now I'm very proud that I've got to know all these people. I live in a council flat and thought that I was just dreaming about growing my own food. Now my dream has come true."

Women's groups from any ethnic background are encouraged to join the taste of a Better Future Network. Participating groups get permission to take over unused allotments or patches of land on their housing estates or around community centres or local schools and the pack is full of advice on growing organically and making the best use of limited space.

Caroline Fernandez, project organiser, said: "Growing in groups is a cheap and healthy way people can ensure their food is free of pesticides as well as bringing communities together to regenerate their area."

ENDS

Contact Liz Sutton, Press Officer or
Caroline Fernandez, Local Food Co-ordinator on 020 7481 9004 e-mail: food@wen.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Source: 'Gardening Which?' survey of 1,013 people, April 2000.
2. Source: Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming, December 1999.
3. WEN researches and campaigns on environmental and health issues from a women's perspective and aims to educate, inform and empower women and men who care about the environment.
4. The marigold is the symbol of Taste of A Better Future because it is used in organic planting to attract pest-eating predators and has healing properties used in herbal medicine. It represents sustainable agriculture, shared knowledge and united opposition to genetic engineering in the food chain.
5. Taste of a Better Future is half-funded by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' Environmental Action Fund.
6. The Marigold Information Pack is available from WEN, price £5 inc. post and packing.