Last year I set up 'Otley Home Grown' and its quickly got itself known and established in the town (we get invited to local events, etc). Initially it involved posting hundreds of leaflets through letterboxes and posters in local shops (we still do this).
There is more about us here:
http://www.vegplantsonline.com/home_grownWe now have 50+ members and at our monthly meetings we have a regular 25+ each time. We have organised:
Bulk buying of seeds, mushroom compost, seed trays, garlic, etc.
Sow-Ins - in the group and a larger 'Big Otley Sow-In' to encourage more people to sow and grow their own
A couple of sub-groups into chutney/jam making and home brewing
Guest speakers at our monthly meetings
Visits to local food producers
Workshops (beginners veg growing and backyard chicken keeping)
Stalls at the local shows
Cooking demos in our meetings
monthly newsletter
website
quiz & mini-market at the meeting
plant trials (for all year round salads on a windowsill)
End of year social - bring a dish banquet (home grown/made/brewed of course) - this was a real success.
A couple of months ago we got the opportunity to use a half-acre field with fruit trees and bushes already established. Also it has 2 huge raised beds that we have divided up amongst those who have little or no garden (lots of terraced houses in Otley and a 2 year waiting list for allotments).
One thing I have learned is that its really important not to do too much yourself!
I was of the habit of thinking of something and just doing it and found that soon I was the only one doing just about everything. I think i had put people off somehow despite repeatedly asking for people to join in and come up with suggestions for what to do.
In the end I had to say to everyone - I can't do this all and if no-one else can join in then some things will have to stop.
This seemed to get people's attention and now we have different people looking after:
money
seeds
mini-market
the quiz
publicity
It's amazing just how busy people already are - this has sometimes made it hard to get a group of interested people in the same room at the same time to plan different activities - we have twice failed to apply for a local community development grant as we just could not get enough of us together to fill in the forms
So its often not the case that people aren't interested its just that they can't make all the meetings/events - sometimes people don't show for 3 months but come back when they can.
Each month it seems to feel more like a group as we slowly get to know each other - but it has taken over a year! Have to say that its great working together with people (who I would have never met otherwise) and there is a good collective feel to the events and meetings now.
I still have to sometimes stop myself jumping in with new initiatives though - I guess I am just too impulsive
But it has and is great fun and I look forward to each meeting (the next is monday September 6th).
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