Posted on 9th Dec
An initiative aimed at giving allotment holders the chance to support other residents with fresh fruit and vegetables is celebrating a successful first year.
A special ‘thank you’ event was held at Feel Good Gardens, Edwinstowe, for Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Crop Drop scheme.
The project has grown throughout the year, attracting not only numerous allotments holders locally but also various organisations willing to take donations of the produce to distribute to families.
It was initially promoted to parish and town council allotments holders, but quickly attracted large-scale growers, community allotments and the NTU Brackenhurst horticultural research team.
Coun David Lloyd, leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “This is a great initiative and it’s been rewarding to see it flourish and grow in the past year.
“Not only has it helped our keen allotment growers find willing outlets for their excess crop, it also provided families across the district with delicious ingredients while teaching our younger generations about how food is grown, harvested and enjoyed.
“It’s pleasing to see allotment owners supporting our communities and this initiative really brought the community together.”
Miles Harriman, one of the growers who contributes to the project, added: “I moved back to the town three years ago and when I heard about the scheme I was excited to get involved. It’s been brilliant so far and it gives those people the opportunity to try vegetables they would never have thought about getting.
“It’s gratifying to introduce these new vegetables to people and knowing that the donated food goes to those that need it most is a rewarding feeling.
“The scheme is making a huge impact in the community and I want to start getting more people involved in the growing of vegetables and trying it out for themselves.”
The growers not only volunteered to grow and donate produce, but supported with transporting the crop drop boxes weekly to food clubs, food bank, local schools, colleges, emergency food provision centres and Beaumond House Hospice Care, Newark.
It’s estimated that volunteers took donations and distributed food to more than 200 families per week.
Throughout the scheme recipe cards were given to families to support them and showed different ways to use the produce creating tasty healthy meals.
ABOVE: Miles Harriman is pictured, left, with Newark MP Robert Jenrick.
