Becky Mears and the New Planters

Fancy taking a walk to work, school, or shop,  and picking a few fresh, seasonal,  runner beans, peas or strawberries on the way?  Well,  if a new group of enthusiastic volunteers achieves their aim, this idyll will become a reality in 2015.  Incredible Edible Aireborough will launch their new civic venture at their ‘Instant Garden Event‘, next Sunday 19th April, at  Guiseley Farmers’ Market, with the help of The Station Pub; where the market is held.

Incredible Edible Aireborough have come together under the inspirational leadership of forager Becky Mears, after they heard a talk by the world-famous Incredible Edible Todmorden, at the Aireborough Neighbourhood Forum’s,  Aireborough Festival in February 2015.   They were so enthused by what IE Todmorden had achieved in getting a whole town growing vegetables in community spaces and having fun with it,  that they decided there and then to do the same in Aireborough .

“We want to encourage people to think about where their food comes from and be inspired to eat seasonal veggies, buy local food or grow their own” said Becky. “We want to see community land used for growing community food. We believe anyone can get involved and learn more about growing food from the very young to the old.”

Poster for Launch Event

The Guiseley Farmers Market, seemed to IE Aireborough to be an obvious place to  start growing, and The Station Pub readily agreed to support them by building planters for an edible garden in a sunny corner of their car park.  The wood for the planters was donated by Woodlands DIY of Horsforth.

Now everything is ready for the ‘Instant Garden Event‘ next Sunday, 19th April, 10am – 2pm.  IE Aireborough would like to invite as many people as can make it, especially children, to dabble in soil and plant up herbs and vegetables, so they can be harvested later in the season by anyone.  Many of the volunteers are experienced gardeners, so there will be lots of expertise available. The group will also be encouraging children to take seeds to grow at home too and decorate their own plant pot to grow them in.

All the seeds and seedlings have been donated by local people, groups and businesses; and they welcome all donations of other edible seedlings;  so if you have any to spare, please drop them off at the Station Pub, 70 Otley Rd, Guiseley.

For more details, you can email the group: indredibleaireborough@gmail.com or follow them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IEAireborough.  Most of all come down to Guiseley Farmers market on 19th April to join in the launch of this incredible new community movement and get involved. They’d love to see you.