Introducing ‘Diverse Communities, Diverse Crops’

This summer saw the start of Diverse Communities, Diverse Crops: Barleybird’s latest project which seeks to support resilience and diversity in the UK’s food and farming systems.

In collaboration with Carrie Phoenix from Suffolk based charity Natural Habitat and Busiswa Madikazi, members of the public of non-UK heritage from Ipswich and Colchester were invited to spend the day at farms, market gardens and community gardens in Suffolk and Essex. Informal consultations, site tours and the opportunity to share food stories whilst immersed in nature, allowed us to build urban-rural relations and explore ideas about which crops of cultural significance have the potential to be grown more commercially in East Anglia’s changing climate.

A large range of countries were represented, including Ethiopia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Iran, Syria, Ukraine, St. Lucia, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and South Africa. There were so many interesting, and often surprising, outcomes from the visits. Each group brought a different energy, imparting new knowledge and experiences, and sharing memories and ideas about growing and cooking food.

Over 3 Sessions held in both Suffolk and Essex, discussions developed around Diverse Crops: growing unusual (for the UK!) crop species and varieties, supplementing different crops into traditional recipes, seed saving, eating ‘weeds’ and where they currently buy culturally significant crops. And equally important, there were also conversations about Diverse Communities: access to the countryside and growing spaces, social isolation, diabetes, the importance of communal eating, and opportunities for wider community interactions.

Many thanks to our farm hosts and our funders from both Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape, and the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley National Landscape through the ‘Farming in Protected Landcapes’ programme.