Bristol Vegan Fayre + Monty Don
Hot on the heels of National Vegetarian Week comes the highlight of the vegan calendar - Bristol Vegan Fayre. Taking place on Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June, the event is in now in its sixth year with a jam packed schedule of events throughout the weekend.
The lineup is full of interesting things to do and see from talks on raw food, cookery demonstrations, music (Aswad and Bad Manners are headlining), bars and 160 stalls. There’s even a Healing Zone and a Victorian Circus! Money will be collected for Vegfam, a charity who fund ethically sound plant-food projects overseas.
Meanwhile just over the Bristol Channel gardening broadcaster and writer, Monty Don, is recovering from a minor stroke at home in Herefordshire. He’s feeling much better already by all accounts, and spoke at the Hay Festival this week on the importance of everyone doing their bit: “Everyone should be growing something edible, even if you have to do it in a pot on a window sill and it’s one basil plant”.
As the new president of the Soil Association, Don is also intent on encouraging people to use seasonal local produce, a subject we’ve been discussing recently here and here. The backlash on vacuum packed fruit and veg is in full flow and looks set to stay with more people discovering the pleasure and satisfaction of providing for themselves - even if it is only a basil plant on the windowsill.
If you live in Greater London Food Up Front could help you get started - read our recent post here. Or are you already on your way? We’d love to hear about your gardening exploits - leave your comments below!
Photo credit: be vegan by John C Abell (CC License)
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
After the enthusiasm of staff and customers alike after a recent visit to The Balloon Tree Farm in Yorkshire, finally i’m ‘growing my own’. I’ve started off small: herbs and strawberry’s as any ‘idiot’ can grow these! I’m hoping i’ll be well on my way to the Good Life status soon, and feel inspired by Mr Don’s urgency for everyone to ‘do their bit’.
I may not be naturally green fingered, but this blog posting has inspired generate my own greener culture and tasty flavours at home. Even if, for now, this is only in a window box.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I feel honoured to be associated with the Vegan group. The Bristol Vegan group chose plantation Caribbean Restaurant as a venue for thier dinners.
I wish them well with their endeavours for their good work that the vegan society is doing for the greater good of our society.