by Sarah Bowyer (HGFP Trustee)
On a sunny morning in April Highland Good Food Partnership headed to Broadford Village Hall on Skye to support the event organised by ReRoot, a local group based in South Skye that has emerged from the Skye Climate Action network . As a separate group, focussing on the food system, ReRoot aims to inspire the creation of a more connected, healthy, sustainable and resilient food environment in Skye and Raasay. These aims underpinned the day providing the opportunity for sharing information, education and a forum for discussion, as well as eating and enjoying food prepared using predominantly seasonal and local ingredients.
In the main hall Highland Good Food Partnership asked people where they ‘get’ their food from. Which included their shopping habits, access to community fridges, as well as any food they grow themselves at home or in community growing settings. We are using the answers gathered to update of our online interactive map to assist accessing food across Highland.
Fellow stall holders included local food producers including West Coast Organics, Ellas Croft and Dun Flashadder Cottage Croft, local community food growing such as Broadford and Strath Community Company who have allotments near the Broadford hospital. The Scottish Food Commission also joined participants on the day to talk to local people and find out more about the food environment on Skye and Raasay.
As well as the stalls, there was the opportunity to take part in a range of talks and activities from those skilled in growing food locally, including Raasay Walled Garden and members of the team from the Rowett Institute – the whole programme figuratively nurturing our ‘fields of hope’ for a better food system.
Participants were nourished by tasty, healthy food prepared by local chef John Coghill, assisted by Corry Capers Outdoor Learning Group, and members of the Broadford Youth Club. John had designed a delicious menu showcasing planet friendly recipes developed by the Rowett Institute.
ReRoot are very pleased with the initial feedback on the day and following collating of all the comments from the formal feedback forms, will use this in considering how they build on the momentum of the day, capture the impact within the community and plan the way forward. Congratulations to all of those involved in this fantastic day!