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Community
Growing food together is where it all begins.
Galvanise your community through growing and celebrating local food.
The Community plate is about creating visible, open, welcoming spaces where anyone can show up, get their hands dirty, and feel part of something.
It is the most public-facing part of the movement – the thing that makes Incredible Edible visible in a town and says: this is a place where people can connect.
WhY Community matters
Food growing in public places does something that noticeboards and newsletters cannot. It creates a reason to stop, to talk, to come back. It turns a patch of ground into a place that belongs to everyone.
When communities grow food together, the benefits reach well beyond the harvest.
People who felt isolated find company. Neighbourhoods that felt run-down find something to feel proud of. And ordinary people start to believe they can change the places they live in – because they already have.
What community action looks like
You don’t need a committee or a budget to get started. Here are some of the ways groups put the community plate into practice:
Involve others
Think about someone in your community who might enjoy some company and time outdoors. Say hello, invite them along. Many of us are lonely – food is one of the best reasons there is to make new friends.
Display your wares
Grow food somewhere visible and be clear about what it is and when to pick it. Work your plot at different times so different people see what’s happening – talk to passers-by, offer produce, make it welcoming.
Make room for everyone
Not everyone who believes in Incredible Edible is a grower. Make room for different skills – keeping the group connected, making jam, applying for funds, spreading the word on social media. Kindness and connection don’t only happen at the plot.
Show up around town
People get involved for all sorts of reasons, but most of us just want to connect. Offer different ways to take part, at the plot and around town. The more visible you are, the more people you reach.
Grow in unexpected places
Start growing outside the GP surgery. Or the train station. Encourage commuters to water the plants while they wait. It gives people something to talk about and makes the idea impossible to ignore.
Think about who isn't there yet
Think about how everyone can get involved, no matter who they are. A diverse group attracts diverse people – consider how someone new, or different to you, will feel welcomed and at home.
Use what's around you
Use the resources around you – venues, networks, other local groups. Connect and share what you have. Building those relationships means you can do more, and makes everything more resilient when times get tough.
Spread the word
Make some seed bombs and stand by your bed handing them out while you talk about what you’re doing. Never stop using your gifts. Folks don’t always want them, but they can’t stop you giving.
I was that person who didn’t get involved in community groups. But being out in nature is so calming. It’s amazing for your mental health.
Joy Lewty
Incredible Edible Garforth, Leeds
community stories
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How to get started
Ready to spin the community plate? The Toolshed has practical guides, tips from groups across the network, and everything you need to get going.
Starting
Building your Incredible Community
Starting
Growing in your street
find a group
There are Incredible Edible groups putting the community plate into practice all over the UK. Find one close to you and see what’s already growing.
start a group
If there isn’t a group near you, you can start one. It doesn’t take much – just a few people, somewhere to grow, and the willingness to begin.
