The Pod - Food Union - Print version

What is Food Union?

Food Union was founded in 2014 and is one of the Pod’s citywide social activism programs that exists to create conversation and action around food. In Coventry alone 60,000 people live below the bread line, while in the UK we throw away 7 million tonnes of food every year. Something has to change. Food Union is here to search for solutions which build and strengthen communities. Join us in realising this vision of a healthier community, united by the common language of food.

The Food Union Allotment is located at Sherbourne Valley Allotments off Four Pounds Avenue and is open to its members three days a week for working sessions where we maintain our site, cultivate new ideas and connect with like-minded people who share a common love of gardening and the outdoors. We aim not only to build a sustainable vegetable garden that encourages growth of food and biodiversity but to also share skills that our members can take home and emulate. Whether you are an experienced cultivator, a retired allotmenteer, a novice gardener, or just curious about growing food and gaining some new insights we would love you to join our community.

Apply to become a member of Food Union [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Food_Union_member]

Who is Food Union?

In 2018 we were excited to appoint Marc Hammond as our Food Union Coordinator. Marc follows in the footsteps of the founding Coordinator Chris Maughan and has been involved in horticulture for over 20 years, beginning as a landscape gardener and keen home gardener while further developing his skills working at Ryton Organic Gardens. Among other roles Marc was field operations manager, growing crops for the restaurant and organic shops and later, Head Gardener in charge of the 10 acre public growing space. He works with us on Tuesdays and Fridays mainly based at the growing site, alongside Food Union he runs his own organic gardening business.

In January 2019 we recruited Greg, our full time Food Union Cultivator. He brings with him years of experience maintaining his own personal allotment and was brought on while also studying for a qualification in Environmental Conservation. His training helps us maintain our growing spaces while keeping abreast of new sustainable research and practices. In 2021 Greg also led our Green Futures program, working with artists and growers on a variety of environmentally focused projects that celebrate Coventry Cities Food Growing heritage.

Gatherings at CV5

Our Food Union allotment is open to our members every Monday (10am-12pm) and Tuesday (2pm - 4pm) for our weekly working session where we maintain the allotment as well as discuss and share knowledge about gardening. In doing so we hope to create a city-wide community garden with a focus on nurturing and exchanging creativity, skills and assets. No experience in gardening is necessary to attend growing sessions but all newcomers will need to fill out a short membership application form [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Food_Union_member] and be given an introductory tour of the garden.

Tuesday mornings (10am-11am) we open the gates for our 'Toddlers Bring Your Adults' session which is a children-led garden session for under 5's. You need to book in advance for these sessions so we can prepare for numbers and you can do so by getting in touch at greg.muldoon@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:greg.muldoon@coventry.gov.uk]

We also host events, gatherings and working parties at least once a month on our site. These events are open to everyone and are an opportunity for anyone who is interested in the work we do to visit the site, get involved and hopefully join Food Union and continue growing with us. Food is provided by The Pod Cafe and based on the theme of the gathering you can usually expect a musical treat or performance piece as we gather around our bonfire to relax after an afternoon's work. We play host to some fantastically talented performers on our site and previous artists to join us include Nina Harries [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFl1oaY_YhA], Sam Lee [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBmVRZE1lRo], Jon Wilks [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_st-3UlN8s], The Green Man [http://www.songandstory.co.uk/wildman.html?fbclid=IwAR3VLh6ehQ8hYhm57FZ9eC7FP31FJ0qzRPQqnnc63tcwbwfS29jGEWEflJw], Lucy Farrell [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lIX8bUF4II] and Veronika Rauchfussova .

The Pod Cafe

Tuesday - Thursday 12-3pm at The Pod Cafe – 31 Far Gosford Street

Food Union is one of The Pod's social activism programmes and all the produce grown on our site makes up 70% of what The Pod serves in the cafe with the other 30% sourced from local Coventry businesses. Found at 31 Far Gosford Street, The Pod Café offers affordable, healthy and delicious food cooked seasonally whilst also including food from a wide range of different cuisines. They cook their food from whole ingredients and it is all vegan and plant-based as they aim to cater for everyone. A 3 course meal costs just £9 or £7.50 if you are an active member of Food Union [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Food_Union_member] or Time Union [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/238/the_pod/3211/the_pod_-_time_union].

They also run regular supper clubs collaborating with musicians and artists so keep an eye out for events and any changes in opening times which will be displayed on their Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/thepodcoventry/] and Instagram page [https://www.instagram.com/the_pod_cafe/].

Green Foundations

'The most effective change-makers in society are literally planting seeds - through the revolutionary act of gardening, they’re rebuilding their communities while growing their independence.'

 Green Foundations is a program linked to The Pod's core work of secondary mental health. To access this opportunity, you need to be supported by secondary mental health services and referred by your Care Coordinator/key worker.

Purpose of role

The rhythm of each session will respond to the growing seasons and weather but over 24 weeks, with a few sessions each week, and under the guide of the Food Union Coordinator the Green Foundations cultivator will:

• Co-Grow produce that aims to meet organic principles following a range of environmentally friendly practices.
• Ensure a healthy and sustainable growing space that promotes food and habitation for a wide range of biodiversity. 
• Co-create and curate a space for the local community [Food Union Members] to gather, work and share knowledge on a range of topics related to sustainable food growing. 
• Supply fresh produce to The Pod Café.

 Practical things that the cultivator mentee will get involved in:

• digging, planting, weeding, general upkeep 
• harvesting for the Café and delivering the produce 
• pruning shrubs, tree-bases 
• raising plants from seeds and cuttings 
• propagating the nursery work 
• checking the health of plants  
• helping to maintain high levels of presentation of the garden and grounds. 
• cleaning and maintaining tools and equipment to include tools in our tool bank.
• Sharing and learning knowledge  
• Helping with and influencing planned developments
• Visiting other sites
• Learning about risk assessments 
• Being a friendly face to Food Union members and visitors  
• Promoting the benefits of membership. 

Who this pathway would suit

Citizens with:

• a keen interest in plants, nature, and the community  
• a keen interest in organic growing principles 
• an enjoyment of working/being outdoors 
• a love for practical skills 
• an interest in working as part of a team. 
• A readiness to be/work outdoors in all weather conditions. 

What The POD and Food Union commit to:

• Providing a site induction and devising a schedule with you – what do you want to get from this?  
• Offering one-to-one mentorship from the Food Union Coordinator
• Offering a check-in with the Development Worker at least once a fortnight.
• Development worker will liaise with Care Coordinators as/if required and call MDT meetings.
• Review at the 12-week mark, or sooner if required.
• Co-plan the next steps with the Development Worker and Food Union Coordinator.

Benefits of being a Green Foundations Cultivator

Cultivators will quickly become part of the Food Union community and will be able to join regular gatherings [at the allotment or The Pod Café] so meet like-minded people. The Pod can also provide footwear and waterproofs. Food Union Cultivators will be supported by a qualified horticulturalist/environmentalist. To access this opportunity, you need to be supported by secondary mental health services and referred by your Care Coordinator/key worker.  See more details about The Pod's referral pathway [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/pod-1/pod/2]and find a link to the referral form. [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/pod-1/pod/2] 

‘A garden is a grand teacher, it teaches patience and careful watchfulness, it teaches industry and thrift, above all it teaches entire trust’.

City Wide Tool Bank

As an outcome of our work with Green Futures and part of our continued mission to make food growing available to all we're excited to announce our City Wide Tool Bank.

Available to individuals or groups developing a green space, our bank has a variety of hand and power tools that can assist in developing, managing and maintaining your site. Members of Food Union get free access to our bank which also includes a variety of literature to help get your garden started. To enquire about rentals please contact greg.muldoon@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:greg.muldoon@coventry.gov.uk].

Mandatory training from our Food Union Coordinators will be needed for certain tools.

Examples of the tools in our bank include;

• Forks
• Spades
• Hoes
• Rakes
• Hedge Trimmers
• Strimmer

And more.

What our participants think

‘I went foraging with the Food Union and it was a fascinating and unexpected experience. A very diverse group got together and spent two hours engaging with the surrounding space and strengthening its relationship with nature and its products. Definitely changed the way in which I look at what surrounds me.’

“I knew the garden of food union by Facebook and i have been involved in some of the activities during the weekends and some week days. I find this project as a wonderful way of sharing the passion of being in contact with the nature and community in addition to the promotion of a more ecological way of living by growing your own food and taking care of it. Every time i have been there the atmosphere was wonderful, with nice and open minded people so it is a fantastic way of involving the members of the community in a common activity, most of people are pleased to help with some work, enjoy the natural vegetables, listen to some music and spend time together!  The last activity was particularly amazing with wonderful music and charming atmosphere!”

“I have been involved from the beginning. I thought I would get in that because I like the idea of it. Growing stuff and sense of community. I had a chance to join a similar project previously but it wasn’t the right format at the time. It was quite rigid. This one offered the right format for me. It was relaxed and I know that I am trusted. I feel like I have been able to come out of my shell more. It’s a bit of an escape for me. Chris is very approachable, engaging and social. He gives a lot of time to people. He teaches me stuff. He has a lot of knowledge.”