Councillors to discuss plots for vegetables

A scheme was announced last summer to create York's first public vegetable patch to give passers-by access to a free supply of fresh food.

Councillors in York will meet next week to discuss a timetable for establishing as many as six such patches.

Voluntary and community groups will be urged to help run the plots of land under the Edible York project. One of the most ambitious elements is aiming to use the experience of veteran gardeners to help young families and novice horticulturists develop their own skills.

The leader of York Council's Green group, Councillor Andy D'Agorne, has been leading the campaign to introduce more public vegetable patches. He admitted that the advent of supermarket shopping and convenience foods has meant that there had been a gradual erosion of gardening skills.

Coun D'Agorne, who is a member of the Edible York ad hoc scrutiny group which meet for the first time next Tuesday, said: "The project will help promote sustainability and local food production. At a time when the cost of oil is rising and transporting food is becoming increasingly expensive, we want to do all we can to ensure more resilience at a local level."

A community organisation, Edible York, linked up with the council last July to transform an under-used plot of land on Paragon Street by planting vegetables. The Paragon Street bed has provided passers-by with salads, kale, squash, courgettes, beans and fresh herbs.

It is hoped that the initiative will follow on from the success of trailblazing projects such as the Incredible Edible Todmorden scheme, which has established plots where the public can pick their own fruit and vegetables.