Calder Veg Collective

A network of community growing micro-hubs

Food micro-hub in the Upper Calder Valley, Yorkshire

Mission Statement

Calder Veg  Collective aims to help build a more resilient and climate friendly local food system by facilitating and supporting the creation of a network of community micro growing hubs which will enable local people to better access nutritious and affordable vegetables from their immediate environment.

 Broad Aims

1. Increased Production: Promote the growing of vegetables both commercially and domestically by identifying suitable land and people interested in working on it
2. Jobs: Increase opportunities for sustainable employment in horticulture by facilitating training and encouraging entrepreneurial skills while ensuring a living wage for growers.
3. Health: Raise community awareness of the importance to human health of increasing consumption of vegetables to reduce dietary related disease.
4. Climate Crisis: Raise community awareness of the environmental benefits of buying local in reducing food miles and importance of agroecological standards in maintaining soil health and biodiversity

 What we have done

1. Dynamic Partnership - representatives of two successful organic box schemes in the Calder Valley have come together with potential growers and interested community members to accelerate the pace of local commercial food growing.
2. Customer Base- collectively we have grown to meet the increasing customer demand precipitated by Covid, thus developing a guaranteed market for local produce.
3. Growers Collaboration- we have facilitated meet ups of existing growers and encouraged potential growers; investigated their needs and advised on optimum practices to secure successful pathways to market through assurances from box schemes to purchase their produce.
4. Liaison with local government - communication with Calderdale Council to identify council land and facilities suitable for food growing; positive negotiations are ongoing re: Manor Heath polytunnel facilities in Halifax. Liaison with Hebden Royd Town Council re: inclusion in High Hirst Wood MCase Studyeadow project to allocate an area for vegetable and soft fruit growing. Participation in Calderdale Food Network.
5. Case Study - work has commenced on a small overgrown but previously productive garden/allotment with a small grant from one box scheme and volunteer hours from an experienced grower. The objective for the coming growing season is to measure inputs and outputs, engage volunteers and initiate training for potential horticulture students and growers.

 What we want to do

1. Pocket Farm: Develop a network of diverse growing sites which will expand and accelerate local production paying particular attention to extending the growing season thereby helping to mitigate the potential effects of Brexit which may impact importing veg during the ‘Hungry Gap’
2. Growers Cooperative: Continue to work with existing and new growers to create a solidarity network, potentially a Co-operative (cf Liège www.catl.be)to realise the benefits of mutual collaboration when making crop decisions
3. Training: Build on grass roots training to work with statutory educational organisations and apprentice schemes to identify clear career pathways for horticulture students
4. Volunteer Base - Develop more opportunities for individuals and established groups to realise the mental and physical benefits of outdoor exercise and collaborative working
5. Community Awareness - Develop a recognisable identity for our group and its aims by using social media, producing leaflets and information booklets (Kale) holding promotional events eg Veg Day, market stalls etc
6. Local economy - Balance local production with growing our customer base to keep money circulating within the local community.