Dandelion Award - Food & Garden Shortlist
We are pleased to announce our shortlist for the Dandelion Award Food & Garden Category. Thank you for all your nominations, we have been blown away by the quality. It's now over to our judges to select the lucky overall winner. However, feel free to leave your comments at the bottom of this page.
The shortlisted candidates for Food & Garden are:
(click the names to learn about what people have said):
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Food Up Front
“Food Up Front is encouraging inner city South Londoners to grow food in any space they have, mainly front gardens and balconies. They've gone from an idea at home to a thriving network that provides a starter kits, advice, workshops, social events and lots of advice and support for novice gardeners...”
"It's slowly, but impressively, changing people's
attitudes to growing food at home."
"...Food Up Front is showing urbanites that we all have an inner Alan Titchmarsh that just needs a bit of encouragement to come out."
Learn more at: www.foodupfront.org
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Happy Kitchen
“Happy Kitchen is a social enterprise that engages people through the sale of food. They promote awareness of healthy foods that are sourced using as many local suppliers as possible. All the food is organic, dairy free, sugar free and contains no animal products. They ensure their food is accessible to all demographics of the community they serve by making sure it is affordable whilst also ensuring the local suppliers receive a fair amount for the ingredients used..."
"They don't believe healthy food should
be a privilege for the few."
"...Happy Kitchen runs social projects in the community with the profits and these have included cooking classes in under privileged parts of London raising awareness as to the health benefits of locally sourced ingredients and the many different ways to use those ingredients.
Through the sale of their food they are able to communicate directly with the public and receive much interest as to how the products are made. They campaign against the causes of climate change and raise awareness of the problems associated with food traveling long distances and the effects this has on the planet. They also fund farming projects in the developing world through donations to Action Against Hunger and raise awareness of global land mass issues associated with mass agriculture.”
Learn more at: www.happykitchen.org.uk
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The Youth Food Movement
“The premise of the Youth Food Movement stems from Slow Food and the goal is to individually make a difference in communities in an effort to together change the world. Slow Food is an eco-gastronomy movement that supports food that tastes good, is produced in a clean and non-environmental harming way (including animal welfare and supporting good health), as well as fair compensation for producers..."
"The Youth Food Movement is comprised of a network of young farmers, cooks, artisans, activists, and students who hope to change the future of food and farming by supporting traditional and sustainable methods and practices with food production."
"...Young people in the movement are starting farms and farmers markets. They are also demanding food justice and equal access to good food through a number of practices. It is important to note that this movement is driven and supported by young people in the community.”
Learn more at: www.youthfoodmovement.org
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The Big Lunch
“The Big Lunch is all about getting the 61 million people in the UK to sit and have lunch with each other on July 19. Already - since it's launch peoples lives have been changing all over the UK. Streets are 'baking' memories already, people are reaching over the garden fence and touching lives with the friends they did not know they had - their neighbours.
Some people have lived in the same street for 20 years and still don't know the people that live over the road. Some people may have just moved to their neighbourhood - and don't know anyone - the Big Lunch is changing all of this. It's creating babysitters, sharing of talents, lawn mowers are getting serious work outs as they are being shared down the street. The lonely single Mum has made new friends, the fed up old lady has someone to chat too, the smiling gardener down the road now has someone to pass on his tomato growing secrets..."
"The Big Lunch is a social revolution, an evolution
of the UK as we know it. Not a throwback to the
street parties of the past but a step into the
community strengths of the future."
"...The reason I am nominating Tim Smit for this is because he is making this happen, his idea is spreading seeds into the mind of people all over the UK. People are stepping into their garden, reaching into their kitchens and creating communities worth shouting about - Tim Smit is creating streets of strength all over the UK.”
Learn more at: www.thebiglunch.com
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Self Sufficientish
“Andy and Dave Hamilton have done an amazing amount to promote self sufficiency around the world. Helping people to help themselves, to save money and help the environment. Their book is incredibly informative, yet easy to read and their website has loads of fantastic information. They really live the life as well and aren't afraid to try things out themselves..."
"The thing that gets me the most is their passion and energy. They care for the environment and the world we live in and their passion for what they believe in is truly awe inspiring."
"...I have been a regular over at the self sufficient-ish site for 3 or 4 years now and what I've learnt from these guys is just amazing. From gardening tips and foraging tips and ways to live a better more eco friendly life to homebrewing, saving energy...you name it - these guys have done it.”
Learn more at: www.selfsufficientish.com
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LandShare
“Landshare is a UK wide online initiative that helps connect people who want to grow their own fruit and veg to space where they can grow it. It addresses the huge waiting lists for allotments and promotes a variety of benefits across health, environment, food bills, food security, biodiversity and community..."
"Landshare helps increase access to fresh, quality produce and also helps lower the barriers for people
to become involved."
"...The project is not just in terms of access to land but in providing a free UK wide network of expert help - on and offline.
Landshare gained the interest of over 30,000 people, who pre-registered with the initiative, before the site went live at Easter 2009.”
