Food Wave

During University Fran volunteered for Sow the City on their Manchester Growing programme. Through this she connected with groups local to her and learned about growing in cities, funding and community engagement. This programme was how she found out about Food Wave.

Fran decided to take part in Food Wave as she had decided to learn more about how we can improve the global food system and how local people can be more involved in action to produce for accessible, local food.

When asked about her favourite part of the programme Fran stated,

‘It was meeting so many people and organisations who are doing great work and connecting to their projects. It was great to see the possibilities of food growing and city greening.’

During her time at Food Wave Fran has learnt how important local food production is and how it can benefit our mental and physical health. She also learnt how the micro-organisms in locally grown food are beneficial to our gut bacteria and that benefits our mental health.

What happened after Food Wave?

‘I was looking for a job for my placement for my BSc Geography at Manchester. I heard about the job at Groundwork for Community Projects Lead from Kieron at Sow the City and was surprised when I got it! But it has been the most amazing year- I’ve done so much and can’t imagine what else I would have wanted to do!’

Fran has visited a composting workshop at Platt Fields, where she helped to plant vegetables and build additional solid composting bays. She also has been volunteering at the Fallowfield secret garden and helped facilitate the development of the new physic garden there.