Surplus food on allotments

[4390evans]

Hi everyone,

I was listening to the tv the other day and just caught something about food that goes to waste on allotments just going to waste.
I know there must be something out there where spare food can be advertised but for me I find facebook a good tool to get the word out about thing

Im thinking of starting up a page for people to advertise surplus food etc what do you think? It would be for the whole of the UK just to post locations or pick up spots etc.

Thought Id ask before I do it see what response I get?

Jen x

[RedThorn]

I stand corrected, however, I do not believe you can sell the surplus from an allotment, and shelters etc are worried about food safety from unknown/registered suppliers even if it is free

[alldigging]

Our local food bank will only take fresh stuff on a Tuesday and not very much when they do.

[Fleurisa]

We give excess produce to neighbours, friends and work colleagues, very little goes to waste. Anything else is composted, which isn't really waste in my opinion

[mrgrower]

You will be dogged by food safety morons The Supermarket I work at used to give all surplus food to charity untill we got letters saying thank you but due to food safety issues they could no longer accept most of the items we waste.

You then get these rubbish programes highlighting how supermarkets are just chucking good food away. They don't tell people that it's government policy that caused the problem.

Just a thought

[Two_Sheds]

Who said there was "surplus food going to waste"?

Most experienced growers only grow enough for their own use. They know there's no point growing food, with the hard work involved, only to throw it away. I don't believe that it happens. This might be another media "non-story"

[4390evans]

Hi there
Sorry I didnt mean to sell.

You know, last year we were very very poor ( we are not rich now like!) we didnt have any money to put on heating so resorted to washing out the sink using a kettle full of hot water. We hardly had any money at all so what money we did have was going into the car to get to the hospital to visit our daughter who had open heart surgery or going on dried stuff like pasta noodles just to sustain us.
This year we are ok but I know there is others out there working or not that is struggling so I thought If I opened a page where if people who owned allotments or grew their own at home had some food thats going begging instead of it being wasted they might want to give it away to the needy. Not necessarily shelters etc but say just someone who is struggling in general. I know if I was in that position I would go to a designated allotment and ask.

I know Ill prob have a lot that is ready to use but cant all be eaten at its best so I have a few friends lined up.

I dunno, would just like to help people x

[polc1410]

Thinking aloud here...

Your local SureStart probably know of people who are struggling to feed their kids. Thats their job! If you made contact (probably wait till you are at the point of having too much food) and said - if they have anyone who would want some free fruit and veg all they'd need to do is pop along to the lottie and help themselves from a box near the gate ??

Alternatively I think there are a few similar groups to these: What we do | Fruitful Durham around who will normally organise to harvest say an apple tree in public space or someone's garden who doesn't use it to avoid it going to waste. Presume they may have contacts who would be interested in things other than fruit...

[4390evans]

Ah fab thanks for the link.

I thought about sure start and social services but I find people are to terrified to turn to the government to ask for help as they will say oh well if you cant feed your kids or are relying on hand outs we will take em.

I had a health visitor popping out to see how the bairn was after the operation and I could see her scanning everything, alot of people like myself hate social services as they are not always good, but I will look on that link see what I can find to share about.

Thanks
Jen x

[RedThorn]

Just a thought, you could try the free sites both on faceache and free cycle when time comes, you might have more luck getting to your client base you're looking to get, also there's some charities that specialise in single mums who've had a rough time, try talking to the support staff at them for contacts

[Martin H]

Our allotments have a space outside the gate where people put spare produce. I don't know who takes it but most of it does disappear.

If I ever have any spare stuff that's where I'm going to put it. I reckon if anyone tries to sue me for providing substandard food I will be able to plausibly deny it was me.

It is a real shame that the charitable organisations are scared to accept gifts of fresh produce, though. They could do a better job of getting it to the people who really need it.

[Scarlet]

I never seem to have any waste. I do have the gluts but I welcome them! I try to preserve as much as I can for when there isn't much to pick. I have a large freezer for tomato sauces, ratatouille, apples, pears, plums etc gets prepared and frozen ready for deserts. I make all my jams, chutneys, ketchup and pickles. All my surplus eggs get frozen ready for the winter and after swapping with my neighbours or giving away to friends there isn't any left.

[rhonsal]

It might also be worth while contacting any local food banks in your area to see if they can take and fresh fruit/veg donations - i know some don't, but nothing to loose in asking!

[phil the shed]

i have to say that the padley shelter has never refused any of our produce donations from the allotment members. during the season of plenty we donated virtually 14 weeks in a row. all members leave excess on my plot in an old bakers tray and i deliver on saturday's.

we estimated over 200 kilo's of produce donated for there meal and soup kitchen.

[4390evans]

we estimated over 200 kilo's of produce donated for there meal and soup kitchen.

WOW phil how generous of you and thoughtful.


There is an allotment about 40 foot away from my front door but the men on there are a bit funny. They rather see a spare plot go to waste than to let a new person lease it out. Its a shame to as there is 2 vacant spots atm and I really would like one even if it was just to sow my spare seeds so they dont go to waste and I donated the food to anyone who wanted them.