Food growing sites around the city (and beyond) will be opening their doors, gates, sheds and greenhouses to offer locals a look inside and the chance take part in a mass food growing event to put Birmingham on the food map on Saturday 16th March 2013.
Volunteers have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities including planting fruit trees, sowing seeds and building raised beds. Everyone is welcome whether they are green-fingered or trying something completely new.
Chris Blythe, BigDigBrum coordinator and lead volunteer explains: “By taking part, volunteers can learn a new skill, make friends, gain a food growing space for the future and open up a part of Birmingham they may not have known about before. There are also significant benefits to health, community development and education that food growing can bring.”
People can find out where their local food growing site is and volunteer to help start the growing season by using the map www.bigdig.org.uk/birmingham.
Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Steve Bedser, said: “As an allotment holder myself this is something I’m incredibly passionate about…I’m delighted to see Birmingham involved in the 2013 Big Dig and hopefully the event will encourage more people across the city to enjoy the many benefits of growing their own food.”
The Big Dig Birmingham is part of a nation-wide drive aiming to engage thousands of people in community food-growing projects across England. www.bigdig.org.uk
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