This article which appeared in the Brighton Argus Soapbox was in reply to one about Moulsecoomb being a food desert
So apparently Moulsecoomb is a food desert?
It’s true that if pop to the local shops you’re unlikely to find fresh baked bread or some decent fruit and vegetables. But does that make Moulsecoomb the Sahara?
Well I think Moulsecoomb is leading in the way in the City in producing fruit and vegetables.
A new orchard has just been planted at the Keep. What better to compliment the new historical records centre than an old fashioned orchard of Sussex fruit trees?
Nearby the vegetable beds at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy are full of autumn onions, garlic and broad beans and 50 raspberry plants have just gone in.
There are plans for an orchard behind St.Andrews Church and an edible pub garden at the Bevendean, with more Sussex fruit trees being planted in next year as well as vegetable beds being built. The café will serve up decent food people can afford, have a community kitchen and why not the odd farmers market?
St.Georges Hall run a popular lunch club and are trying to revive the fruit and veg co-op, while across the Lewes Road Moulsecoomb Forest Garden Project teach children and adults how to grow veg.
But the jewel in the crown must be Moulsecoomb Primary. Their awardwinning school grounds have an orchard, vegetable beds, a World War II and World Garden, chickens whose eggs are used in the breakfast club and cooking lessons. Right now an old tarmac playground is being transformed into an outdoor cooking area with herb, veg beds and fruit garden and maybe even the odd bee hive.
What Moulsecoomb has is land. So food desert?
I don’t think so.
Putting compost on the leeks at Moulsecoomb Primary School
Picking French beans in the polytunnel at Moulsecoomb Forest Garden
Sorting out the Moulsecoomb Primary compost bins full of well rotted chicken poo and leaves