Just imagine....

[singleseeder]

.... could this be started in your neck of the woods? Could it work?

Google 'Incredible edible in Todmorden' to check it out.

Where/how would you start?

If you live in Todmorden, can you spill the beans and tell us how it really works there?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...=feeds-newsxml

[mothhawk]

Interesting article but I think the folk are too trusting and will find outsiders will soon start coming in and emptying the beds of the food they've grown. I wouldn't want to put in all that effort and not have it benefit the local community.

[zazen999]

Incredible Edible Todmorden | The Future Of Local Food In Todmorden

Is a link to their website.

[singleseeder]

Thanks Zaz, I was a bit nervous of keeping the link in case it was something to do with my computer. I don't really understand these things.

[zazen999]

I've relinked to the DM article [which I never read but what the heck] and it went through fine for me.

[northepaul]

Been there, lovely place and a very strong Transition group! (NB I heard about it before HFW!!)
It IS possible to do this sort of thing anywhere.
Welcome | Transition Network

[veggiechicken]

I've known about it for a while too. Its all about trust and acceptance - believing in others. So a visitor takes a few veg, so what. Its still keeping food local, organic and communal. Whenever I have surplus fruit or herbs, I leave it outside the front gate with a sign saying "help yourself". In my experience, nobody has ever cleared the lot at once, they just take what they can use and leave the rest for others.
Try it and see what happens!

[singleseeder]

Love the idea, but perhaps it works best in a smaller community. We had someone climb over a high fence to dig up all of a plot holders tatties a couple of months ago, so not sure how a bed of broccoli would fare in the Bigg Market.

[Glutton4...]

A lovely idea. I love the fact that so many people are still so trusting of others, and I find it refreshing. Unfortunately, I'm a lot more cynical than that.

[veggiechicken]

I take your point! Allotment plots often seem to attract the worst sort of visitors, but the incident you mention is deliberate theft. Hopefully a project like Todmordens will not be cleaned out by a couple of lowlife.
Cardiff has an active Transition group that has recently held a conference on "Can Cardiff feed itself". I didn't go so don't know the conclusions!