Last week we had the pleasure of visiting Farm Urban, a sustainable food growing project based in Liverpool.
We first heard about Farm Urban when Neil Meekin, their brilliant Innovation Consultant, reached out asking to do an interview with us, as part of a research project focusing on the community food sector in Southwark and Lambeth.
When the research project concluded, Neil and Farm Urban cofounder Paul Myers came down to London to share their findings, build connections with Southwark and Lambeth, and tell us more about their work. Farm Urban was founded in 2013 to tackle inefficient and unsustainable food system, by finding sustainable ways of producing food. Today, they use hydroponic vertical farming to bring sustainable, local, and healthy food to Liverpool and beyond.
To continue building connections between food systems work in Liverpool and Southeast London, community leaders from Southwark and Lambeth were then invited up to Liverpool for an experience day.
Our group, made up of community gardeners, educators, and sustainable caterers from the two London boroughs, were the second cohort to go and see the farm in person.
The day began with a tour around the space, a chance to see the hydroponics system in action! The process involves growing plants vertically, using nutrient rich water instead of soil, in an artificial environment where light and temperature are controlled. It’s a more efficient technique that uses a lot less water and land, allows plants to grow faster and all year round, and avoids the use of pesticides.
We then had a go at planting kale and pak choi seeds into rockwool (the material used in place of soil). We also harvested some fully grown lettuces. Next it was time for lunch, a delicious spread from a nearby deli, complimented by our freshly picked lettuce!
After lunch, we learnt more about Farm Urban’s social impact. They have found ways to involve communities in the growing process, ensuring people feel more connected to the food they eat. Their Greens For Good veg boxes come with ‘living’ lettuces that people can grow in their homes. As well as to paying customers, they give out these boxes to foodbanks and vulnerable households across Liverpool. Farm Urban also run a STEM education programme teaching students about sustainable food growing systems and their importance.
After doing one of their educational activities building our own aquaponics system, Neil wrapped up the day with a powerful emergence workshop. This helped us to collectively reflect on Southwark’s and Lambeth’s food systems, and our shared challenges and opportunities.
We left feeling really inspired by Farm Urban’s holistic approach to the food system in Liverpool and beyond, and enthused by the connections we’d built with our fellow Southwark and Lambeth cohort.
Thank you very much to Neil Meekin for the invite and to the whole team at Farm Urban for having us.
