If you are successful in engaging businesses with your IE group and local food, it is really important that it is reciprocal – make sure that you also benefit from it.
- Start a local food trail or map, encouraging people to visit growing sites in your area, but to also visit the independent shops or cafes that sell or use local food. Here are examples of Incredible Edible urban food growing trails from Bristol and Lambeth
- Does a local business have some land or raised beds that you can grow on/in? Contact them and ask them, stating the benefits that this will bring to them (profile in the community, profile via social media, better looking premises, reduced ground maintenance costs)
- Can you ask local businesses to sponsor a planter or growing space within their vicinity? Or will the business support their staff to look after a planter on their premises? This will be a great opportunity for businesses to get involved in something positive that is improving their area and that is in the public eye. They may need the expertise of a local IE group to help get them started. You could give this time for free in exchange for something else that is valuable to your group, or you could charge them for your time, bringing in resources to your group.
- Can you support local food businesses by promoting their products using your communication channels? See our section on Online communications section for advice.
