Grow It, Cook It
What is it?
Grow It, Cook It draws together Organiclea’s work supporting people to grow and cook seasonal, plant-based and organic food. This includes sharing cooking skills; understanding more about how our diet choices affect the world around us; and maximising what we do with our kitchen onsite at our farm in Chingford. We want to support more people to make the most of ingredients that help to reduce the impacts of climate change, support biodiversity – and taste truly delicious too.
OrganicLea’s kitchen is a space of skill sharing and learning, and a true hive of activity where up to 150 plant-based meals are made per week. Rather than using the products of the industrial agriculture that is destroying ecosystems and generating climate breakdown, all of our meals and classes work with ingredients from UK organic farms including our own. As we grow, cook and eat this seasonal and organic food, we are creating a more sustainable food system. We know the potential that this produce, when paired with cooking skills and great recipes, has to inspire long-term diet change and hope you will join us in celebrating the power of plant-based, seasonal food.
What can I take part in?
We have a range of activities focused around plant-based cooking:
- Volunteering alongside our Kitchen Leads to gain skills in plant-based cooking, with an option to gain an AQA qualification in Planning, Cooking and Sharing Meals with a Group. We have volunteering places available throughout the year.
- Cookery workshops, some delivered in partnership with other organisations and some run at OrganicLea. The first run of these will start on 24 January 2025.
- English for Action: learning English through conversation while cooking, focused on vocabulary for impactful use in daily life. Participants spend some time in the classroom followed by cooking together in the kitchen. The next run of classes starts on 24 January 2025.
- Resources about plant-based cooking including recipes, how to cook in community quantities and how to improve the climate and biodiversity impacts of your diet. We plan to share these here on our website and via our social media channels.
How can I find out more?
For any of these opportunities, contact growitcookit@organiclea.org.uk
Grow It, Cook It is funded by City Bridge Foundation – London’s biggest independent charity funder. We are proud to work with City Bridge Foundation, which bridges London and connects communities through grant funding and progressive partnerships and alliances.
