A market gardening project in a London borough which aims to combine community growing with large scale food production to create 1,200 jobs and generate income is set to be launched.
Ultimately, the initiative aims to establish Enfield Council as a major supplier of fresh food in London and dramatically increase the amount of communal land that is being used to grow produce.
Becoming a food supplier would create jobs and bring revenue into the council, enabling it to 'minimise the impact of ongoing budget reductions, protect front line services and create opportunities, training and wealth for residents.'
The Garden Enfield project also aims to provide sustainable fruit and vegetables across the borough, and to reduce the distance food consumed in Enfield travels.
Enfield Council’s cabinet member for business and regeneration, Cllr Del Goddard, said: “These ambitious but feasible plans, when realised would put Enfield at the forefront of food production in London. This scheme is good for the environment, reduces the distance our food has to travel between the field and our plates and will help to create hundreds of jobs.
“It also gives our schools, residents and businesses the opportunity to grow their own fruit and vegetables so our borough is more self-sufficient and far less dependent on imported food than it is at present.”
To date, the project has established three acres of land set for vegetable growing at Forty Hall Farm, helped 10 schools start growing their own vegetables for school dinners, with another 15 due to join the scheme later this year, and launched a Vegetable Box Scheme serving 30 customers a week.
The plans will be officially unveiled on 5 March at a conference taking place at City Hall from 4pm.
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