Welcome! Please introduce yourself

Hi everyone. I'm Cat and I joined the project as I'm interested in sustainability and the impact of food production on the environment as well as the health implications of food processing that goes on in the UK (most notably in things like bread). I'd like to learn more about farming and food production to understand what's happening at the moment and the implications it might have for the future. As excited as I am to be involved, I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed going through all of the info on this site from the past year and worry that as a lay person without any kind of expertise like others in the group I'm going to struggle to make a meaningful contribution to the project. I'd love to hear from any other members who feel similarly though I don't mind being the only one asking basic questions! The main aim for me is to learn something about farming so I'm confident that will happen. Trepidation aside, I am a keen baker, cook and preserver so hopefully there will be opportunities to use these skills too in some way.

Hi Cat. Welcome and don't worry, I have no expertise in farming either, I'm just a home grower who is inquisitive about her food and wants to find out more! I’ve learnt a lot over the last year but I know it’s still a smidgen of what there is to know – so lots more to get involved in this year too :)

Hi Cat and like Wendy last year I didn't know I didn't know so much but this is a great community to find out more - really good to get more people involved in the project.

Hello! My name is Anna, and I'm super excited to get involved. I'm originally from Finland, although now I'd call myself a Londoner. I heard about the project through @matteodv and was immediately interested to join - I am also an amateur when it comes to all things agriculture, so may need to ask some pretty basic questions at times, but I have joined to learn, and be inspired. I am finishing my Master's in Sustainability and Social Innovation at the moment, and will be moving back to London in the summer (so am hoping I will be able to visit the farm sometime soon!). In terms of my professional background, I worked in advertising for almost 5 years at Anomaly London and AMV BBDO, so would be able to offer some brand and comms guidance if need be. Lovely to meet you all!

Hi everyone. I feel like I might be the one with the least relevant experience and knowledge in this. I wanted to get involved because I'm interested in food in general and fair and sustainable food in particular, and this project seemed like a good model for investigating and interrogating ideas for fair and sustainable food production. My background is in writing/editing - consumer mags mostly. The main things I think I can contribute are money and curiosity! By the way - I'm not as hairy as my profile pic. I just have very few pics of me but I'll try and dig something recent out to help ID at any meetups.

Hello hello hello all. I'm Nicola, based in East London but a country mouse at heart. My professional life is mostly doing policy, research, training and writing in the public and charity sectors. I'm also a trustee of a small recycling/ sustainability charity and of a social enterprise that uses catering, pop-ups and supper clubs to support and train homeless people. I'm an amateur grower, studying organic horticulture and volunteering on a few small community growing projects in and around Walthamstow. Part of my interest in this project - alongside general interest in sustainability, farming for wildlife and food - is to get more exposure to the realities of farming on a slightly bigger scale. Competent baker :)

Hi I am Shena......I am a campaigner for food system reform and for a move to local food security. Previously I worked with my daughter Amy Cooper (also a helper here) on engaging young children with healthy eating (The Secret Seed Society) she now runs this project. Over the last 3 years I have set up The Real Junk Food Project in Northamptonshire. My husband and I are keen vegetable gardeners, foragers, cooks and eaters. We believe there is a way to feed the planet equitably and sustainably. We have little knowledge of large scale growing so we are interested in this project, not for the bottom line but to see how we can develop the fields to produce varied and optimum food with as little negative environmental impact as possible.

Dear Shena, Nicola, Anna and Kirsten
Thank you very much for sharing your profiles. It is very useful to hear about your priorities and interests. They all align. Best Tony Allan.

Hello everyone, I am Amy. I think there is so much opportunity to improve our health and the health of the planet through the way we eat. I studied economics and systems design at LSE and 15 years ago I started to be curious in the food system, I couldn't see how it made any sense. I changed the way I ate, building urban edible environments in E.London, setting up community buying groups, broadening my diet with dry foods and learning to process gluts. Most recently, I have been really inspired by the work of 'Superhero' farmers I have met at the Oxford Real Farming Conference, who are making up their own rules and succeeding to make a good living, providing food which gives health to the consumer and the environment at a fair price. Here's me saying a bit about food for the Secret Seed Society, a project Mum (Shena Cooper) and I set up with some friends to introduce young families to the pleasures of growing, cooking and eating vegetables: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nUPqnsp8T4

Welcome @amyj @shenacooper ,@nicolahughes @kristen @annaohrling & @cliffcooper Great to hear what's drawn you to the group.