Forest BB

The Forest Cafe application for an allotment.

The Forest is an independent arts and events space funded by a vegetarian
cafe. It is run and staffed by volunteers. Though the primary aim of the
Forest is to put on free events funded by profits from the kitchen, we try
to source our food from local producers and suppliers, and buy many organic
and fair trade products.

As the cafe is the main way for voolunteers to join the Forest, most of use
share an interest in (alternative methods of) food production. Thus, renting
an allotment in our name would be an excellent way for a large number of
people to gain experience in growing vegetables, herbs and flowers. Among
our number we have a professional gardener, plus several others with
experience of growing food. These people would be able to pass on their
knowledge to others.

Obviously we would not use the food from the allotment in the cafe. Rather,
it would be shared out among the volunteers who had a hand in growing it,
which would be a great incentive and also provide the final lesson in food
production.

With many potential gardeners living all over Edinburgh, we don't have a
preference for any particular site. Perhaps this will help us to start work
on an allotment quicker than if we were wanting one from a certain
neighbourhood.

If we could rent an allotment, we belive it would be of benefit to many
people - those who have skills they can pass on, those who have the desire
to learn and those who will be inspired to try gardening in the future.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours

Swithun Crowe
on behalf of the Forest Cafe Environment and Gardening Working Group