Incredible Edible Huddersfield wants everyone to grow vegetables

Apr 22 2009 by Hilarie Stelfox, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE FUTURE for our planet may look bleak, says Norah Hamill, one of the driving forces behind a project to encourage people to grow their own food, but it could be “incredible.”

She’s one of the founders of a newly-formed group, inspired by a similar project in Todmorden, that wants Huddersfield residents to start planting fruit and vegetables in their gardens, schools, roadside verges and communal flower beds. Everywhere, in fact.

It is, quite literally, a grass-roots movement. But one that Norah (inset) is so passionate about that she is prepared to work voluntarily and unpaid.

She has great hopes for Incredible Edible Huddersfield and after just five months she and a group of other volunteers have made contact with Kirklees departments, local schools, businesses and community groups. Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman has pledged his support although Norah is keen to point out that the movement transcends political parties.

“As a country we are no longer self sufficient. Incredible Edible is about how to take action on growing local food. With further economic deprivation forecast we want to help everyone believe they can do something,” said Norah, who lives in the Holme Valley.

Changing the way we view food production is the key to the success of such a project. Worries about climate change, financial recession and our dependency on shrinking oil reserves mean that communities need to find ways to be more self sufficient.

Norah says it’s important that residents are reconnected to the way food is grown. Education is an important part of Incredible Edible Huddersfield.

“We are already working with Holmfirth High School on a Permaculture Design Course and with Colne Valley High School. Christ Church Primary School in Deighton has taken the initiative and developed its own vegetable garden.

“We have also been talking to Barry Sheerman (chairman of the Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families),” explained Norah, who is a single mum with two teenage children.

Originally from Northern Ireland, where she was involved in inner city community projects, Norah, who has a degree in media and politics, joined the Incredible Edible Todmorden project when she lived in the town. She was a friend of Pam Warhurst, one of the project leaders, and is still involved in publicity work for the group.