SPRING into gardening and join others learning how to grow their own fruit and vegetables in the Colne Valley.

That’s the plea from Edibles, a project based in West Slaithwaite, which has been set up to promote local food growing and healthy eating.

Rosie Lonnon and her partner Steve Smith run a range of gardening courses with their friend Pip Lane from Paddock Farm.

Mother-of-two Rosie said: “It couldn’t be easier.

“Starting in April we have a monthly two-hour course on a Sunday morning that will get people growing most of the vegetables you normally have to buy from the shops.”

Rosie told It’s Our World the course is very relaxed, fun and hands-on and seeds and young plants are provided to participants to take home.

She said: “Growing your own is a real pleasure and you’ll be picking fresh food from the garden from June onwards.

“The taste is so much better and you save a lot of money as you harvest lettuce, tomatoes, beans, courgettes, potatoes, onions, herbs and more all summer long.

“Each session we look at different vegetables and techniques so people can learn the things they need to be doing at different times of the year.”

As well as the Grow Your Own course, Edibles offers a range of other food and growing-related courses.

The trio also harvest fruit and vegetables to provide to the local shops and have a nursery of fruit trees and bushes.

Steve said: “Not much fruit and veg is grown in the valley, but there is a huge demand for it.

“Every lettuce, tomato and carrot we can produce here means that there is one less having to be transported to the Colne Valley from far away using up valuable fuel and resources.

“Given the price of fuel and the contribution it is making to climate change, the shorter the distance between producer and retailer the better.

“Edibles’ vegetables have a near-zero carbon food print, are much fresher when they reach the shop and taste a lot better.”

All three members of Edibles have recently completed a Permaculture design course which has taught them how to produce food by working with the natural ecology of their local environment.

Rosie said: “I’ve always been a gardener. I remember as a kid my dad used to grow geraniums and I remember asking him to dig a patch in the lawn so I could plant some spinach.

“It was always veg rather than flowers – I love food and tasting and cooking it.

“I’m always making jams and chutneys. I suppose it comes from being a bit greedy, but I also love being outdoors.

“It’s a great thing to do and I think it’s important to get away from the chaos of modern life and get back to basics sometimes.”

Find out more about the Grow Your Own courses which begin on April 10 by calling Rosie on 07722 557701 or visit www.edibles.org.uk