At Taunton Transition Town we aim to increase the amount of local food grown and eaten here. We have a number of projects in progress and would like plenty of volunteers to join us and help to build a resilient Taunton full of gorgeous fruit,trees, herbs and vegetables.

Taunton Transition Town is interested in promoting the growing and buying of local food for a number of reasons:

• Local food is fresher than shipped-in food and so tastes much better.
• Local food has travelled less – less food miles, hence less CO2 omissions.
• Local food helps support the local economy – more money in the pockets of the community and not in the pockets of the multi-national companies.
• Local food can be traced more easily.
• Sourcing locally ensures food security and makes us less reliant on imported goods.

Here are just some of the projects we are progressing or just trying out. If you are interested in any of these schemes please contact us,

SOURCE LOCAL, COOK LOCAL Recipe Book Project

This is an opportunity for interested people to produce a recipe book, and also any ideas for spin-off projects throughout the year that get people ‘cooking local’. The book will include a number of “guest chef” recipes from local chefs who ‘source local’. The first of these comes from Simon Beaumont of the Rendezvous Cafe.

We are already halfway through the year and have some wonderful recipes to share. To use up that glut of beans – bean chutney anyone or maybe a recipe for whortleberry jam. But we want more contributors! If you want to contribute with some scrumptious local recipes please contact me (Vicky) – shuunyanet@googlemail.com

You can check out my blog which is mostly about cooking from local produce on http://fastcheapgood.blogspot.com

GARDEN SHARE

Are you a keen gardener with nowhere to dig in your spade? We might be able to pair you up with a garden owner who needs their garden kept in check. Together you can reap the benefits; they provide the land, you provide the muscle and know-how and share the rewards of a fruitful garden. Visit the wiki site for more information.

WILD FOOD, FREE FOOD

There is nothing better than going out into the local community and finding free food in our hedgerows, verges and heathlands. Help us to compile a map of great foraging locations.

If you want to contribute to the food foraging map please contact me (Vicky) – shuunyanet@googlemail.com.  Check out our custom map on google maps and some great tips and recipes on Fergus the Forager’s blog – Wild Man, Wild Food.