British town grows all of its own vegetables; 
witnesses improved civic life and reduced 
crime as a result
by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
15 Dec 2011
(NaturalNews) When the small British mill town
of Todmorden, tucked in between Yorkshire and
Lancashire, first began installing fruit and vegetable
gardens all around the area as part of the Incredible
Edible program, it likely had no idea that the novel,
yet simple, concept would make the town a foremost
inspirational and self-sustaining model of the future.
Fresh herbs, succulent greens, and tasty fruits can be
found growing near civic buildings, college campuses,
supermarket parking lots, and various other places.
Small garden plots, raised planting beds, and even
small soil strips in these areas can be found brimming
with fresh produce, all of which are free to anyone who
want it, and at any time.
It is all part of a program called Incredible Edible,
which was founded by Mary Clear, a local grandmother
of ten, and Pam Warhurst, former owner of a local
restaurant in town known as Bear Cafe. The duo had a
shared goal of making Todmorden the first town in the
UK to become completely self-sufficient in food and….

their endeavors have been successful, at least as far as

keeping up with demand for produce from locals who
want it.
The program so far utilizes 70 large planting beds
located all around the town to plant raspberries, apricots,
apples, blackcurrants, redcurrants, strawberries, beans,
peas, cherries, mint, rosemary, thyme, fennel, potatoes,
kale, carrots, lettuce, onions, vegetables, and herbs.
Not only did locals quickly catch on and begin taking
the produce, but they also generally respect the system
and do not take advantage of it.
“If you take a grass verge that was used as a litter bin
and a dog toilet and turn it into a place full of herbs
and fruit trees, people won’t vandalize it. I think we
are hard-wired not to damage food,” said Warhurst,
concerning the notion that offering free fruit and
vegetables might lead to abuse or other crimes. She
noted, in fact, that quite the opposite has occurred, the
Incredible Edible program has improved community
relations, and reduced crime by an incrementally
higher amount every single year since it first started.
The program has been so successful, in fact, that many
other communities both in the UK and abroad are now
interested in starting their own public garden programs
as well. Besides improving the sense of community
and reducing crime, Incredible Edible has renewed a
new sense of appreciation for food and how it is grown,
as well as renewed interest in actually growing it
among the next generation, which is the envy of many
progressive communities around the world

http://phoenixmaterials.org/pdf/120111.pdf

Todmorden turns into a giant vegetable patch

Paul Wilkinson on a daring local plan to be self-sufficient.