Our weekly crop sharing provides for up to 100 members, spread throughout the Tyne Valley and offers up to 50 varieties of vegetables, measuring an incredible 10 tons of crops a year.
Members are very conscious of the number of food miles expended in supply chains and reducing our carbon footprint was a motivating factor when the co-op was set up, 10 + years ago. As new crop sharers sign up they are put in touch with others from their village or neighbourhood, with a view to sharing collection. A system of network delivery or buddy groups has developed which worked particularly well during Covid.
The end of each week at our Ovington fields sees a hive of activity with our community weighing, boxing and bagging their allocated share. Hexham provides a great example of reduced food miles. Over the years the number of members from the town has grown and with it the number of buddy groups – we now have Hexham East and West! You can arrive at Shed-Quarters on a Friday to be greeted with a large number of empty bags and a waiting wheelbarrow at the door.
Janet, one of the Hexham group collection members wrote a summary of their experiences for us:
“We did not know each other before and were put in touch via Go Local Food admin. As we have the same aims it is super easy to get along. We supported each other when the lockdowns came along. I recall trying various hand gels then, when I delivered to Michelle who was sheltering, she rewarded my efforts with medical grade hand gel that made me yelp!
I met Bridget through the sharing system. I remember showing Bridget around the Ovington site. We have exchanged plants for homemade bread, had tea and chat and I was quite overcome when my horse died and Bridget turned up at my door with delicious bread and sympathy.
I have helped looking after the market stall with Kim and learned a lot about her life in Hexham. When Gill joined, I enjoyed calling in at her lovely home with bees and wild nature in abundance. Elizabeth joined us and we often meet up at Go Local Food meetings and members mornings.
There is more to be gained from the sharing system than you would think, and one day the intricacies of our rota spreadsheet will be a legend, to be admired and copied by all”.
Growing schemes are friendly to the environment, connect people with similar interests in their community and are instrumental in creating new friendships. GO Local Food has buddy groups in Prudhoe, Ovingham, Ovington and Stocksfield… there is space for you too!
