Community food projects allow local people to take control of their food sources and connect with each other and their community. They are a way to involve everyone, bring communities together, and create local pride. When starting a community food project, it is important to ask the local community what they want, be realistic about available time and resources, and keep the community informed about the project by creating a group to get things started and involving local skills and knowledge.

1. Extract from An eden project field guide to Community Food Projects
Everyone is interested in food. It’s a basic human need, but it’s more than just fuel to us –
it’s a common need that can provide common ground between us. It also carries powerful
personal and cultural associations for many of us. And yet people are getting increasingly
every aspect of the way food is made, supplied and prepared in their community.
Community food projects are all about allowing local people to take control of where their
food comes from and connecting them with each other and where they live. A food project
is a great way to get everyone involved, bring communities together, helping to create a
sense of local pride.
For more ideas, information and inspiration the complete Eden Project Field Guide to
Community Food Projects is available on www.slideshare.net/
Also coming soon as an e book to EDENPROJECtcommunities.com
Deciding what to do
As with any project you will need to look what’s appropriate for your local area. Here are
some of the things you should consider before starting on your voyage into food.
Ask the local community
Be realistic
How much time do you have?
Keep the community informed
How are you going to let people know about the food project?
Create a group to get things started
Involve other local people at the outset and use and develop their skills and knowledge.
Identify the need
Review what local food is already available. Are they any gaps or opportunities?
Look at other local food projects
What’s worked in other neighbourhoods like yours?
Use what’s already available in your community
What resources does your neighbourhood have already and what you need to make it
work? Think about space, time, expertise, money and equipment.