The council’s Business Continuity Committee today (16 April) adopted Argyll and Bute’s first Community Food Growing Strategy, aimed at encouraging and empowering people to grow their own food.
The finalised Argyll and Bute Council Community Food Growing Strategy reflects the already-established culture of individuals, community groups, care homes, and school gardens all growing our own food.
The Strategy’s vision is to encourage and enable people in our community, who wish to grow their own food, by providing information on potential community food growing spaces, advice and guidance.
Councillor Aileen Morton, Leader of the council, said: “Our Community Food Growing Strategy will contribute to Scotland’s wish to become a Good Food Growing Nation by enabling those people interested in growing their own to enjoy and benefit from nutritious, healthy food.
“I am pleased to promote our culture of growing our own food through the Argyll and Bute Council Community Food Growing Strategy and to acknowledge the great work already taking place locally. I hope the finalisation of the strategy, following substantial community feedback, will empower more people and community groups to take up the challenge.”
The strategy features some of the good work already taking place around Argyll and Bute. For example, a number of schools run a variety of programmes in order to gain the necessary skills for successful food growing. Tighnabruiach Primary School runs a year-round permaculture programme which is based on ecological principles for food growing. It includes composting and nutrient cycling, energy cycles and renewable energy, building design, storytelling and practical hands-on experiences. The school has a poly tunnel, an orchard and a forage hedge allied with two beds within the local Kyles Allotment Group community growing space which is located within the Kilfinan Community Forestry.
The Community Food Growing Strategy is available on the council’s website.
Developing the strategy is a duty placed on the council by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, which requires each local authority to produce a food growing strategy by April 2020.
Also, as part of the Act, the council has a duty to establish and maintain an allotments Waiting List register, make allotment site rules and regulations, and produce an allotments report for the area each year.