LinlithGROW is the food & gardening sub-group of Linlithgow Climate Challenge which was formed in 2008. LinlithGROW first officially met in Oct 2008 and since then our activities have included:
Aug 28th 2010: Farmers’ Market stall to promote Linlithgow’s Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight - we gave away more than 250 samples of freshly crushed apple juice (English apples as our local ones are not quite ready yet), packets of cress seeds for one of the competitions at our upcoming Harvest Feast (donated by Suttons Seeds) and loads of leaflets and information on Food & Drink Fortnight events – see photos
Aug 24th: Herbal Medicine Talk by Annette Greenfield of Greenfield Herbalists at Annet House Garden which features many traditional medicinal plants – a very pleasant and informative evening, learning both current and historic uses of plants – see photos
July 31st 2010: Our second foraging walk with Margaret Lear of Plants with Purpose, this time at Beecraigs Country Park – another informative outing, including many tastings and plants earmarked for a return visit later in the year – see our Flickr website for photos
July 2nd 2010: Soft fruit picking at Craigies, South Queensferry – delicious, fun & a great family trip - see photos
June 19th 2010: Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Children’s Gala Day – this year included an extra special decorated garden of the edible variety! – see photos and our diary
June 15th 2010: Linlithgow Marches - our annual town-wide procession – some of us enjoyed wearing compost bins & trundling veg as we paraded! – see photos
May 23rd 2010: Wild food foraging walk with Margaret Lear of Plants with Purpose at Muiravonside Country Park - 40 types of edible plant found within 10 minute’s walk (although it took us a lot longer as we were looking, tasting, taking photos & notes and asking questions as we went!) – see photos
May 17th 2010: Edible seed & seedling swap at the Linlithgow Climate Challenge AGM, with leftovers Freecycled afterwards – great for passing on seedlings you can’t squeeze in anywhere & also trying something new
March 22nd 2010: talk Beginners Guide to Fruit & Veg growing with Ann Burns, Horticultural Team Leader at Oatridge College, an inspiring talk to get you growing, plus a wee seed & seed potato swap – see photos
March 20th 2010: guided tour of Annet House garden with head gardener David Sinclair, with practical tips on on fruit, veg and herb growing
March 6th 2010: pruning and bonfire to dispose of brambles and diseased wood at the orchard – see photos
Feb 26th-27th 2010: participated in Nourish Scotland gathering at Stirling – this is a new local food network aimed to connect all those interested in this area, across Scotland
Feb 20th 2010: organised Local Food Community Consultation, with information stalls, tastings and kids activities, aiming to increase both demand for and supply of local food – see photos
Feb 2010: four eating apple trees planted at St Joseph’s Primary School with their Eco Group
Jan 23rd 2010: organised talk by Andrew Lear on apple tree pruning, plus practical training at local orchard and visit to Beecraigs overgrown orchard
Dec 5th 2009: helped plant 1400 native trees around the campsite area at Beecraigs as part of BBC Tree O’Clock world record attempt, including some fruit trees – see photos
Nov 28th 2009: promoted BBC world record tree planting attempt Tree O’Clock event via Farmers’ Market stall
Nov 21st 2009: third orchard attack, clearing saplings (and more brambles), in partnership with LADAS
Oct 24th-30th 2009: bare-root apple tree offer – order a tree and receive a free talk on tree care and pruning, plus enter a raffle to receive your tree for free.
Oct 24-25th 2009: participation in Local Food Conference at Dunbar
3rd Oct 2009: second attack on brambles, plus lots of apple picking at our orchard renovation project, in partnership with LADAS
Sept 19th 2009 – Harvest Feast, in partnership with Slow Food Linlithgow - a family-friendly celebration of local food for 200 folk, held at Bonnytoun Farm
Sept 12th 2009 – start local orchard renovation, in partnership with allotments group LADAS, clearing head height brambles
Aug 15th 2009 – local veg garden tours
July 2009 – car share trip to ‘pick your own’ at Craigies Farm, South Queensferry
May 2009 – seed & seedling swap at Linlithgow Climate Challenge AGM (with leftovers freecycled afterwards)
May 2009 – gave away nearly 500 packets of salad seeds as part of Scottish Biodiversity Week at stall at Farmers’ Market
May 2009 – local veg garden tours
Feb / March 2009 – 3 Spring Talks, in partnership with the allotments group LADAS, on food gardening & climate change, growing your own & composting and wildlife & climate change
From Feb 2009 – monthly online gardening Newsletters, with tips on what to do and when
We welcome new members, ideas for food & gardening events and help in organising them!
Volunteers: Corinne, Dave, Kirsty, Lesley & Tracy
Project Assistant, local food: Mel McEwan