City Farm Open Day

Yesterday a few volunteers from our group went along to do a stall at Balsall Heath City Farm for their open day. As a local to the area I knew of the farm's existence, but rather shamefully had never actually been to it to find out what goes on, so was looking forward to it on two fronts - as a chance to talk to people about our campaigns, but also to see what they do.
I wasn't disappointed on either front. We had a really nice time talking to kids about what we were doing while dressed as a chicken or cow and engaging with people who wouldn't normally know about Friends of the Earth. We got some postcards signed too, but didn't go for the hard sell as it was just great to find out about people's opinions and inform them about the broken food chain.
The whole place had a really nice vibe to it and the people who work there do a wonderful job at engaging kids with nature and animals. They were making things from waste, colouring pictures for competitions in which everyone was a winner and got a prize, recycling everything and selling home-made food. The city farm also works with offenders, as I understand, teaching them about farming and food production in planet-friendly ways and is a great intiative. Every part of Birmingham, especially inner-city areas, should have somewhere like this in my opinion.

MEP Candidates in for a Grilling

On Thursday 14th May, you have the chance to grill your MEP candidates on issues of global poverty, economic justice and climate change.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth and Jubilee Debt Campaign (Birmingham) are co-hosting a "Development and the Environment" hustings of candidates for the upcoming European elections in June.

It's happening at the Birmingham Council Chamber, Victoria Square, starting at 7:30pm and the confirmed candidates are:

Anthea MacIntyre (Conservative)

Felicity Norman (Green)

Anthony Painter (Labour)

Liz Lynne MEP (Lib Dem)

Dave Nellist (No2EU)

Nicole Sinclaire (UKIP)

For more information contact

tim.atkinson@foe.co.uk

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or 0121 643 7456