MINUTES
Present
Peter Ward, Maureen Ward, Peter Clarke, Mike Marsden(Soil Assoc), Nick Jones, Sarah Clarke, Peter Dicken
1. Apologies
Tisch Adams, Chris Cant, Lynn Barnes, Nial Wildewood, Oliver Coles,
2. Apple Day PM and Ovens
PC reported back on the Apple Day Event at Acorn Bank which was good for the juice demo but less effective at promoting PACT. Need to do something about publicity materials for display and distribution (take home info) at events including our own. Should be contributions from each group and a person at each event who is the PACT evangelist complete with note taking kit for email addresses etc.
Could group members think about possible P products in time for next month’s mtg
Suggestions so far include aprons, rolling pins and wooden breadboards all with the PACT logos on.
PD fired the AB oven on site and got a lot of interest. He used some flour that was being milled in their mill on the same site.
3. Michael Marston , Northern Regional Development Co-ordinator, Community Supported Agriculture and Organic Buying Groups, Soil Association came to see what we are about. He also talked about possible sources of funding and his work (which is part time with SA).
The following items were discussed - but not necessarily in this order
- Connecting producers + Com groups, Brampton Food Hub, Durham Local Food Network
Wide ranging discussion on various activities that might be appropriate as PACT FG activities
- Space makers- Devonshire Arcade, redevelopment. Funding, draw in other groups
Leda/ Leader - Area < Funding for Penrith mkt stalls,
Put together a job spec to employ someone (w/ funding) to co-ordinate/manage market regeneration.
Rural Development Program - funding
Whitecross Street Market, nr. Golden Lane LCF site- http://www.whitecrossstreet.co.uk/
Country Markets Organisation- http://www.country-markets.co.uk/
Penrith Town Centre Manager Yvonne Burrows (Deborah Garnett now moving to Community activities)
Eden Foyer + similar -> surplus from Morrisons, Sainsburys, Booths
Adrian Bamford is looking for projects
Cumbria Fair and Local Conference (Rheged) http://www.cumbriafairtrade.org.uk/
-> Windward Islands example - saved the livelihood of the islanders by becoming a fair trade co-op, nearly all attended meetings in large barn, real working together to solve their problem, difficulty with - Cumbrian farmers don’t like to work together
VoP and PACT working together
Lowther Gardens
Abundance Map on Google?
Penrith Treasure maps
Booklet let produced by Brunswick School
Guide to Penrith a holistic view, produce, services e.g. acupuncture, music
As an example take a look at this good guide from East London called the Quirky Shopping Guide which is produced by the borough of Tower Hamlets- Quirky Shopping Guide would need adapting and we could extend it to Eden.
4. Aims and Objectives for Food Group
General agreement that the circulated list is ok, wait for LB to add her views
5. Food Events
Ideas extracted from general discussion which need crystallising/selecting
A themed food event, banquet? Georgian, Victorian (organise with Ivan Day?)
Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
What is Penrith? schizophrenic can’t make up its mind whether to be a pleasant small market town or Any High Street, AnyWhere. EDC not much help. Maybe Vintage Penrith should be encouraged
Workshops- currently at Greystoke, maybe should be more central to PNR, maybe with appropriate space Ana (watermill) could hold Bread workshops in town with follow up ones at the mill.
6. Food Directory (PW)
PW indicated that he had been in touch with Nurture Eden offering assistance in the design and production of a Food Directory. Nurture Eden were working with Eden Tourist Information on this project and were awaiting the outcome of a grant application which would fund the project. A decision is expected in January and they will be back in touch at that stage.
7. PACT Event Display Material from Food Group
Display boards on past projects like oven building/cooking with, Apple Day, gardening, Penrith Market project Plans.
8. December Meeting 2nd December 2011 (Water Mill?)
Next meeting set for the 1st Dec at the Watermill at Little Salkeld by and share with Christmas theme
NB this has now changed to 2nd Dec
9. AOB
TIC not in a good place but like their building and don’t want to move. Perhaps Penrith could have interactive booths at supermarkets
Cycling Hub from Arragons.
Little Salkeld Mill currently buys 60 tonnes of Oats from Mornflake in Cheshire, could local farmers be organised to produce these Oats instead of moving them from Cheshire.