Streetlife

Hi James

Where about are you exactly?

There are plans to set up a co-operative food shop in Colliers Wood - see http://colliers-food.wikispaces.com/About+Colliers+Food

But they are still in the planning stages with this.

I'm involved with a fruit picking and sharing project - Abundance  Wimbledon, but we don't sell fruit, just pass it on for free. I know one or two local producers of jams and chutneys etc. but as far as I know these are not sold through shops.

Hi Joyce, I'm in between Colliers Wood and Wimbledon.

Thanks for the link, I've emailed the food co op, I'd love to join that.

Abundance Wimbledon sounds good, I have a pear tree which produces absolutely tons of pears which usually go to waste, somewhere for that to go would be great.

Is there a website or mailing lists for that?

Thanks!

Excellent. You are right in our area.
We'd love to pick your pear tree - and then the fruit gets shared out or passed on to charities providing food for elderly people or the homeless. Just email abundancewimbledon@gmail.com and ask to join the Abundance email network. Also have a look at the website - abundancewimbledon.com. Hope to hear from you soon.

I think adundance wimbledon sounds fantastic - does anyone know if there is a similar project in the Clapham/Battersea etc area?

Hi James
Tooting Foodival is an annual celebration of food produced locally. Producers and growers share their produce with the community and have a get together in Tooting that is open to all and a fantastic free event. This year's Foodival is the weekend 22/23rd September. To get involved visit Transition Town Tooting  http://www.tootingfoodival.blogspot.co.uk/
Also, a local group, called Friends of Streatham Cemetery, have started community beekeeping this year. There may not be enough honey to be sold this Autumn but for a taster watch this space. Visit  http://www.friendsofstreathamcemetery.co.uk 
Also, go see Dean City Farm. They are free to visit (and not just a day out for children!). They grow veg and herbs and they sell fresh eggs from their hens. Maybe they are just waiting to be asked by customers for other food products like sausages or mushrooms. They are a working farm after all.
Let me know how you get on. Good luck!

There is a great traditional local butcher by the Wimbledon Park tube station. I know people come from quite far to buy meat there. I am a vegetarian, so don't really know where the meat comes from, but my meat eater husband swears by it for a treat! I do buy eggs from them.

Hi arwd

I would just look at the Abundance London website - it has a list of Abundance groups and see if you have a local one. If not, contact your nearest Transition Town group - look at the Transition Network website to find this. Lots of Transition groups have fruit picking projects. Or there is London Orchards - but I don't know if they operate around Clapham/Battersea.

Hi Joyce - that is very interesting - I will have a look into that.

this all sounds great - i live in Tooting Bec  and my apple tree always has lots of fruit on it so maybe i can contribute too.

For wonderful meat, try Chadwick's butchers in Balham - their meat is organic and sourced within 30 miles but i'm not sure if this is local enough......

Hi Sarah

Sadly, Tooting Bec is out of our area - we are very locally based in Wimbledon. But get in touch with Transition Town Tooting. They might be able to do something with your apples. They have a fantastic 'Foodival' event coming up in September!

there is a really nice small farmers market in Clapham South

http://www.abbevillefarmersmarket.co.uk/ 

We go to Abbeville for our sausages, meat for special occasions and every Saturday to the one in a school off Balham High Road which is fantastic with amongst other excellent suppliers has a fish monger who travels from the North and his fish is so fresh and absolutely delicious, good range as well.

I make and sell my own herbal teas. Does that count?

wow!  that sounds wonderful, Jo - i had no idea that there was someone so exotic in Tooting!

Hi Sarah, never thought of it being exotic. :-) Herbs are my passion and unfortunately I found a lot of herbal teas out there a bit bland or not very tasty so I decided to create my own.

so do you grow any unusual herbs or any herbs that haven't been grown for many years?

I grow some myself and the rest I sadly have to buy in as I can't possibly grow enough to run a business. Yes, I grow some rather unusual herbs such as Pineapple Sage or Banana Mint, for example.

they sound wonderful!

I tend to leave those for my herbal tea making workshop participants so that they can try something very unusual.

Hi Jo and Sarah B
I'm in contact witht he people organising FOODIVAL - 23rd Sept- they have a website/blog with what happened there last year.

http://www.transitiontowntooting.org/

 They will be calling for all types of locally grown and made food very soon  - collection is on Saturday 22nd Sept at 222 Tooting High St - pls check with Giles

Please speak to Giles about what you'd like to bring and you can have a wonderful experience buying other local stuff with your TOOTING £!! in Tooting Market

giles@thinkingworks.co.uk
PS they'll welcome any help ....and the atmosphere is very positive
bring and tell all your friends

Thanks Joyce ))
regards Suzanne

I have to let you all know how lovely Jo S's teas are - the one with orange & hibiscus is a great pick-me-up!