A community vegetable garden provides much more than fresh, organic produce, evaluation of WEN's Taste of a Better Future project has found. The project aims to empower women from minority ethnic communities to grow their own food on patches of land near where they live.

At the end of the first full growing season, WEN evaluated the benefits the women gained, in some of the network's 20 groups. The findings, just published, in a 16 page report, record the benefits women have reported from joining groups including empowerment, environmental appreciation, social and health benefits.

"All of the women said their lives had changed for the better; the project has made them happier and helped them fight boredom", wrote report author Vinciane Rycroft. She added "It was interesting to note the role of the vegetable garden as a place of natural beauty and the feeling of connection with their country of origin".

The value of the project is explored and will be of interest to growing groups, local government and anyone interested in local food and diversity issues.

ENDS

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