''It's catching too with neighbours popping over to have a look and being inspired to give growing a go themselves.” Aine looks forward to the time when, as a community, they can begin to come together, share produce and have little tasting sessions in each other's gardens. It's lovely being able to lift something from your back garden and bring it into the kitchen to cook for dinner,” said Aine, one of the local growers. “My son really loves checking on the veg and watering the plants and I've enjoyed getting some tips which I've passed onto friends. Research into the local food system is also being carried out throughout the project life and the longer-term vision to create an innovation and educational climate hub for sustainable food production in St Columb's Park is at the design and consultation stage. Families were given everything they needed to grow food at home, learning from horticultural experts to begin the creation of a more sustainable food system throughout the city and district. To begin, families and households involved were encouraged to take up tools and learn the basics of food production at home. This individual activity will support a wider and more strategic project aim of building a local food movement that helps to inform and change the food system led by community involvement, academic research and multiple agency collaboration.

The initial element of the Acorn Farm Project simply aims to connect over 250 families and households to climate action by connecting their lives to the food they eat by mentoring them to grow food at home.

Acorn farms