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Middlesbrough sows the seeds of urban farming

Middlesbrough will be going wild in an unusual way thanks to a new initiative that kicks off this week. Urban Farming is part of Designs of the Time 2007 (DOTT 07), a year of community projects, events and exhibitions in North East England that explore what life in a sustainable region could be like and how design can help achieve this.

The Urban Farming team has already lined up support from many sections across the local community with at least 1,000 people are expected to participate in the planting. Crops planted this week will be cultivated throughout the summer and will be harvested and cooked for a ‘Meal for Middlesbrough’ in September. The town’s new urban farmers will be responsible for supplying produce for the public meal. Middlesbrough Council is supporting the project by turning over some of its town centre planters and land-holdings for growing fruit and vegetables.

David Barrie, project director, said: “Food transport generates millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions that harm Middlesbrough and the rest of the planet. The Dott 07 Urban Farming project uses design principals to develop ways of combating these unsustainable trends and pioneering local food production as one answer to the economic and environmental future of our towns and cities. “The project has captured the imagination of hundreds of people in Middlesbrough. They have decided that they want to design a way to combat climate change and lead a healthier, more environmentally friendly life.”

For more information on the initiative call 0191 245 4681 or visit www.dott07.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .