We Are Avon is an emerging web of active producers, farms, organizations and diverse communities collaborating to build better local food systems for all.
This is a grassroots movement to provide healthy and affordable food resilience for this region whilst also regenerating the communities, lands and waters of the Avon catchment area.
Anchoring food and land as powerful frames for reconnecting people to place, this project aims to re-identify humans as regenerators and solutionists to the climate and nature crisis we collectively face.
This is an interesting project that ticks a number of our boxes. What really grabbed our attention was a) the desire to decentralise and localise food production in the Avon region - something that's very dear to our hearts - and b) the desire to clean up the waters of the Avon and her tributaries. On that basis alone, we've given this project an entry in The Directory.
We said this project ticked a number of our boxes but, not all of them. However, from what we can gather, they're serious about getting things done and providing solutions. Granted, it will be far from a full system change but, it's an important step in the right direction. In a political and social climate that's riven with division and outrage, rather than getting sucked into that vortex, we want to promote initiatives that are going to start making a difference in the here and now. That's why we're not applying rigid purity tests to projects that overall, are heading in a positive direction.
We Are Avon are holding a launch event in Bath on Saturday 21 September. As this project ticks a number of our boxes, it would be rude of us to not turn up! We're hoping to be doing some networking, hand out a few copies of the At the Grassroots paper, and talk about what we're trying to achieve with The Directory. With our practical, getting stuff done hats on, we're also planning to talk about what we're trying to achieve with the community vegetable plot in Keynsham Memorial Park that we're involved with.
We are coming together to celebrate the river and this valley. And to see what we can do together to restore the waters and lands around us. This is also a launch event for a new bioregional regeneration movement called We Are Avon, an opportunity to find out what is already happening in the area and how to get involved. ( weareavon.com for more info)
We have some fantastic live music, DJs, talks and entertainment lined up for the day, as well as delicious food from Janifa's Kitchen, Kush Ramen and Bath Community Kitchen - serving you up delicious healthy food from the valley! Music from Marcus Rees, Stan Elliot & Band and DJ Embo will keep us grooving through the day. Middle Ground Growers and other local business stalls will add to the Avon food market, celebrate the food of this place, grown with love whilst regenerating the valley! Some makers and local craftspeople will also have their work available to inspire from local clay pottery to river inspired artwork!
Dan Burgess & team from the Spaceship Earth podcast will be hosting a panel session with speakers Paul Powseland, Hamish Evans and Eva Perrin (from Save Our Avon), to inspire action and share what work is already being done, and how we can regenerate our lands and waters together.
Electric Bear Brewery are kindly providing their awesome space for this event, at their independent brewery on the edge of Bath - next to the River Avon herself, and serving arguably the best beer in town! We hope you can come and support the launch of this solutions-oriented movement, and meanwhile get a taste of the best local food, drink and music!
Line-up
2pm - Opening
Local food market, crafts, activities and delicious street food stalls (ongoing throughout the event)
3pm
Launch talk to outline We Are Avon and how to get involved, and open mic session for any local groups, people or aligned projects to weave into the work
4pm
Live music from Marcus Rees
5pm
Panel discussion with Paul Powseland, Eva Perrin and Hamish Evans
6.30pm
Live Music from Stan Elliot and band
7.30pm
DJ Dan Burgess | DJ Embo
10pm – Closing
Resources
In The Directory there’s a list of all the grassroots community projects across Bath, Bristol and the surrounding settlements that we’re currently aware of who, each in their own way, are doing their best to make the world a better place to live in. These include a fair number of food growing projects and also, resources on how to organise your own project.
The Directory is a work in progress that is constantly being added to. Any help in doing this or suggestions as to how we can improve The Directory will be greatly appreciated:) Each of these projects has a different story and background we can all learn from. One of the aims of setting up At the Grassroots is to encourage these groups to talk to each other to exchange experiences, ideas and skills with the hope that what emerges is considerably greater than the sum of its parts.
I can't be there, sadly. There's so much happening on the solstice weekend! But I've joined the mailing list. I also know Meg Trump (no relation!), who symbolically married the Avon last year: https://gingerandnuts.com/woman-marries-river-avon/ I'm not sure if she's part of this initiative - I'll have to ask!