On Friday 27th March over sixty people of all ages from across the Borough representing more than two dozen local food-growing projects and organisationslaunched a new network to bring together all those who are involved with food-growing projects, and to help those who wish to join this increasingly popular, satisfying and, in today's uncertain world, necessary activity. The celebration followed on from the Tottenham Food Coop (last Friday and Saturday of each month) and the weekly Community Kitchen cook-in (run by environmental charity Back2Earth). It began with twenty people planting the first fruit tree in what will soon be a community garden linking the Broadwater Farm Community Centre with the exciting developments in the neighbouring Lordship Rec

Environmental landscape architect Katrin Bohn presented a wider vision for urban agriculture, based on the book by her and Andre Viljoen: Continuous Productive Urban Landscapes. She showed fascinating slides including some from Cuba and Middlesbrough. She was pleased to see the people of Haringey poised to bring to reality the ideas which she and her colleagues have imagined for ten years.

Representatives of over two dozen local groups then listened to descriptions of just a few of the many initiatives already happening and about to begin in Haringey.

Leyla Laksari talked movingly about Living Under One Sun, explaining how this food-growing project on the Tottenham marshes has expanded and diversified, involving the local multicultural community and working in partnership with public, voluntary and private organisations. Kathryn Lwin Brookes of Archway Herbal introduced the River of Flowers, a project to save wildflowers and preserve biodiversity across north London's inhospitable urban landscape, which threatens the survival of bees and other essential pollinators. Kate Allardyce described her work as co-ordinator of the "healthy schools" project involving 60 schools and their gardens across Haringey. Anne Gray talked about the Tottenham Food Coop and its potential as a market for locally grown and organic produce. Helen Steel representing the Haringey Allotments Forum, the network for the borough's 25 allotment sites of 1,800 food growers, pointed out that the hunger for land was so great that Haringey needed to almost double the number of allotments to meet the demand. In the mean time, community food garden areas in the grounds of housing estates, under-used areas in parks and "forgotten corners" are one answer: Ibi Campbell from the Tiverton Estate food project, related how she and her neighbours negotiated the bureaucracy involved in starting up such a project, including consulting and fundraising. Another newly launched initiative is the Friends of Tottenham Marshes Community Permaculture Garden, which will run courses and welcome volunteers, like Naturewise in the west of Haringey (Plot 21 and the Forest garden).

Later, Councillor Bob Hare described the work of CHADAHS, the long-established Central Hornsey and District Allotments and Horticultural Society. Staff from the recently rescued and renamed Wolves Lane Horticultural Centre brought small plants, and said the site wants to play an important and central role in all of Haringey's horticultural and food-growing activities. Martin Burrows, of the Back To Earth projects, told of exciting plans for a new City Farm and environmental centre in Lordship Rec, and of the third annual Tottenham Horticultural Show planned for the community festival there on September 12th. Dave Morris explained that the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations have agreed to encourage local residents groups to support the new network, and help each other to grow more food in their neighbourhoods.

Finally, Judith Hanna, organiser of the recent highly successful Seedswap Sunday at Bruce Castle, outlined the aims and objectives of Growing in Haringey, its constitution, how it will operate, and its relationship with other organisations. Skilled growers and teachers are already getting on with the practicalities, and residents are finding new sites in many neighbourhoods.

Large maps of Haringey were coloured in and events calendars created, while participants enjoyed tasty snacks made by members of the Sustainable Haringey food group, food coop apples, fair trade tea and coffee, and healthy juices, and swapped used gardening and cookery books.

To join in, check out the Food section of www.sustainableharingey.org.uk Web-site or sustainable-haringey-food-group.wikispaces.com or send an email to growinginharingey@blueyonder.co.uk.