Incredible Edible Todmorden

Todmorden in Yorkshire, England, has taken community gardening to a new level. Every patch of once unused land and space in the town of about 15,000 is now used for vegetable gardens, with crops available for the picking by passersby; schools teach horticulture; families share recipes and meals. It’s “the beginning of a survival strategy for towns and neighbourhoods in the 21st century,” writes Julian Dobson for Ecologist. “It shows how we can bring together the huge global issues of resource constraints and environmental change with the quest for local empowerment and responsibility and a recreation of community.” Dobson points out that the community selected an identity and started planning. The gardens united one community, attracted tourists, and the practice has spread to other countries. “By growing and sharing their own food, people are beginning to prise themselves away from global supply chains and build a degree of resilience, cushioning the impact of shortages or price rises.” – YaleGlobal