Heartland Community Wind is pleased to share this 2023 update from Healthiest Town Aberfeldy on their ‘Better Food Better Health’ project. The Community Funding of £15,000 is being spent over three years 2022-2024 and it’s great to know the grant is being put to such good use. Thanks to Chair, Imogen Karas and Emma Burtles, co-ordinator of Healthiest Town Aberfeldy.
Healthiest Town Aberfeldy ‘Better Food Better Health’ project: brief update:
Purpose:
To encourage and enable people from the Aberfeldy area to understand the links between affordable healthy food, sustainability and healthier living
Objectives (over 3 years of funding):
1. support healthy, affordable eating from locally sourced ingredients thereby reducing food miles
2. reduce food wastage from shops, restaurants and households
3. encourage active participation in growing, cooking and learning in our community with a particular focus on those who are or may become at risk of food poverty
4. address climate change through community fruit tree planting scheme.
Project Plan: year 1
• identify where pockets of food poverty exist in Aberfeldy and surrounding areas
• identify referral sources (e.g. Community Food Larder, GP practice, other community food providers)
• identify sources of expertise (locally and beyond) for learning to preserve and conserve donated fresh foods
• pilot feasibility of conserving and preserving excess community food
• deliver 12 participative affordable cooking community lunches
– deliver 2 workshops on techniques for conserving and preserving fresh food / food waste
• deliver 2 demonstrations promoting affordable cooking and growing
• raise profile through participating in local events relating to climate change, food waste and healthy food security
• develop and deliver ‘FeldyCook’ ingredient bags with recipe ideas, working with local businesses.
Key members of project team:
Emma Burtles (Part-time Project Manager)
Imogen Karas (Healthiesttown Aberfledy)
David Ashcroft (Healthiesttown Aberfeldy)
Kaja Ekiert (Handam)
Review: three months in!
The project team meets regularly and has had active discussions about the proposed plans. We are keen to strengthen the links between healthier eating practices and our carbon footprint as a community. We are also aware of the potential fragility of food supplies in an area such as ours with some of the poorest transport links in Scotland, and are keen to promote greater resilience. Additionally, we are conscious that there are a number of food-related projects ongoing, both locally and nationally: we need to be able to be fluid and flexible to engage with these whilst at the same time not duplicating what others are already doing.
We have spent time thinking through the framework for the project – P and K Council have just recently joined the Sustainable Food Places Network so will engage with their work as they progress. We would like to aim to be a Good Food Place which would cover climate and health.
We have identified other interested individuals within our community who would like to become more involved with this project- such as a nutrition coach, people interested in promoting good food and others keen to develop community food growing projects.
We will be launching the project at the Aberfeldy Farmers Market on Sunday May 7th, with a stall that will include promotional materials and a range of recipe ideas for simple, healthy food using leftovers and locally available ingredients.