We were delighted to learn more about setting up and running food coops during a trip to Belsize Park on 22nd July. Incredible Edible Lambeth joined Healthy Living Platform, Black Prince Trust, Myatt’s Fields Park Project, Shamha Vibrations, Angell Delight and Eyes of the Many/Brixton Farm at Cooperation Town London hub for a delicious lunch, a tour and knowledge exchange.
Cooperation Town Hub is Cooperation Town’s community and logistics space in Gospel Oak, north London. The hub receives around 2 tonnes of food every week, which are shared amongst twelve local community food co-ops in their movement. Five co-ops use it as their regular organising and meeting space, with seven other Camden co-ops using it as a distribution hub.
We saw the Hub’s beautiful garden where volunteers and staff grow a variety of veg and fruit not easily available in the shops. During a tour of the building we met residents who run their own food coop and watched as they prepared boxes for the week. We also saw a large store room where food can be held -for example large barrels of olive and avocado oil which had been donated – too big for individuals but great for the Coop to split and share.
Thanks to Shiri from Coop Town London for a fascinating explanation about coops – she explained that one of the main benefits is that they build people’s capacity to organise and provide for themselves, and they build community capacity.
Carla from Healthy Living Platform said: “From an HLP perspective this could offer support and resources to smaller, organised groups wanting to do more – and as an alternative to pantries requiring less support and resources like admin, governance and volunteers”.
Thanks to Lambeth Food Partnership for funding the development of Food Five Ways and to Myatt’s Fields Forum for funding the trips.
