A brilliant first month for our FareShare project.

FareShare North West, our sister charity who aims to reduce food poverty and stop good, usable food needlessly going to landfill, began a new project in December 2011.

The aim of the pilot scheme was to reduce the amount of food waste on the New Smithfield Market (where Emerge and FareShareNW are based). FareShare took any food that would be going to waste from the market traders, sorted it and then redistributed the usable produce to it’s Community Food Members.

The Community Food Members (CFMs) are the beneficiaries of the project and consist of many charitable and not-for-profit organisations in and around Manchester.

And the project has already shown some fantastic results! In the first month FareShareNW sorted and redistributed over two and a quarter tonnes of food to it’s CFMs saving a massive 9.6 tonnes of carbon by stopping it going to landfill.

We’re all amazed and thrilled by the first month of the project. Here’s to many more sucesful months!!

Check out the full article here

Ed

Low carbon Preserving

One of the two large trees on the allotment

Every September/October I have the enviable task of processing and distributing kilos of apples from two substantial trees on our allotment.  We took the plot on in 2005 and the trees were the main reason for taking that plot.

This year has been a bumper harvest and the scale of the challenge is hard to describe.  One of the trees fruits every other year and 2011 is a fruiting year.  It is laden with juicy eating apples.  Too many for one house so we do our best to pick and distribute to anyone we can.  A wheelbarrow full of these apples made its way to FareShare a couple of weeks ago. Last Saturday at Apple Day on Seymour Grove Allotments kilos of our fallers were collected, the bruised bits cut off (composted of course) and the remainder processed into fresh apple juice.  Today I’ll be taking some to St Bride’s Church for distribution to people who are destitute.

A new method of preserving some of this fruit (for me) is dehydration.  I attended a workshop in early September organised by Old Trafford Amateur Gardeners’ Society which was about low carbon preserving, including using a dehydrator.  So, I have borrowed the machine and processed 7 kilos of apples into rings for drying.  Once they are done I can keep them in jars (or any air tight container) for months and enjoy locally grown fruit when our apple season is finished. Less energy is used this way than freezing the food.

A small amount of compostable waste for the worms

Aside from the pleasure of eating our own fruit in the winter and spring this is a good way to use fruit that is blemished. Its very easy to cut any marks off the skin and dry the fruit. Most of the 7 kilos of apples I processed today wouldn’t win a beauty contest, and supermarkets wouldn’t stock them, but they taste wonderful. I’m left with a very small amount of waste (mainly apple cores) to compost and 9 trays of apple rings in the dehydrator.

Debbie Ellen
Abundance Manchester
Abundance Trafford

Hurry, It’s Curry Week!!

FareShare volunteers cooked up a treat in celebration of National Curry Week                         (10-17th October) at the Just Life Centre in Openshaw.

Lucy and Nicola- cooking up a storm!!

Nicola, Lucy Andrea and used vegetables and curry paste supplied to FareShare to make 5 huge pans of korma and balti curry which will be delivered out by FareShare to our 50+ beneficiary organisations in and around Manchester.

 

A big thank you goes out to the Just Life team who provided the safe, clean catering facilities at their Community Centre for the FareShare cooking mission! Centre Manager Matt Lloyd said “We were delighted to lend our kitchen to FareShare knowing that people in need, including our own beneficiaries, would benefit from a delicious curry cooked by experts!”

If you would like to find out more about FareShare, get involved in future cookery sessions or other volunteering opportunities or simply give a donation please contact Seb or Vanessa on 0161 223 8200 or email.

Nicola and Andrea in the thick of it.

FareShare Guest Blog: The Zipslide Jump (of my life)!!!!

And so the day begins!!! The most anticipated event in FareShare North West, the Zipslide day is finally here!

Well I would say bright and early, but Manchester had its typical rain on my outward journey there. It wouldn’t be Manchester without this, right? Just a small trip on the tram and arriving to meet the rest of the FareShareNW Team with our event tents and the zipslide being setup all safely. All ready to go? Bring it on!

Then a glimpse of the zipslide…

I must say, to me, the zipslide wire didn’t seem to be that high than what I had imagined. But either way, I know, to many, it will still pose as a huge thrill yet a challenge to test one’s fear of heights all for the good cause – Fundraising and raising awareness of minimising food wastage and helping those in need.

Participants slowly appeared to take on the challenge and see-through their efforts with much enthusiasm. I must say, it turned out to be quite an impressive number! Passers-by got attracted by all the activities, the food and the whole event, which helped to gain a few more participants to zipslide all for the good cause! Such great news!!

Throughout helping out the event at the FareShare tent and the food stall, I have been constantly debating whether to do a zipslide myself. >_< I’ve never faced any outdoor activity challenge such as this, but then again I used to love going on intensive funfare rides, what could be different? However, I’ve never really had my fear of heights tested. Do I go for it? 

Or will I coward out of it?? The angels and demons, so to say, were constantly going through my mind!!!In the end, I found some good volunteering buddies to brave it all together. Ahh! Definitely helped me calm down my nerves and turn them into excitement. And so the walk to the Imperial War Museum starts…

Everything set and harnessed up, I was ready!! It really felt like cross between a mission impossible moment and going on a space mission!

 At the top of the lift, the doors open… a bridge to our set-off point, the feeling is just like in the films! Then the open space, where we’d be jumping out this building, is before us. One by one, waiting to jump. One by one… the nerves makes us realise how real this is happening!!! Not wanting to be the last, nor the first. Mixed feelings still!

My turn. YIKES!!!!!! All hooked up and ready. No time to look down. No time to breathe, no time to think, no time to jump!!!!  Just clipped on and “hanging” then the guy doing the safety checks lets go!!! Then I’m off!!!!! .. I didn’t have the chance to think and prepare myself… haha I guess it’s thanks to being short?

Love it!!!! Yet so scared!!! The rain pouring and hitting against my face!!!!! All adding to the lovely zipslide experience. The speed and the jump downwards definitely went too quick, then sudden moment you hit the brakes… This is when you remember to return back to reality.  A safe landing thankfully!

What a day!

I hope more events like this will come again and to see more volunteers to join in such unique experiences. I am thoroughly anticipating the next FareShareNW event to come, for the sheer fun and experience of making a difference to help for what we stand for and making new friends. Well done FareShare!

Jenny

The Zip Slide Challenge!

FareShare North West went bananas last Saturday, taking a leap to help end food poverty in the North West

What a day!!!

Over 100 people in a variety of costumes leapt off the Imperial War Museum North for fun and to support those in need. From the 30 metre high tower at the museum many brave (and some very scared!) individuals launched themselves 250m across the Ship Canal back onto solid ground outside the Salford Lowry.

Despite Manchester’s attempts to spoil our fun with some occasional and distinctly heavy rain showers, some adventurous folks even zipped twice!

And we did indeed go bananas!!

Lucy Danger – the CEO of EMERGE was first to leap and Nicola Milner—EMERGE volunteering co-ordinator and volunteers/colleagues sported banana outfits in keeping with the theme ‘no good food should go to waste’.

Why bananas?

Because they’re a really great example of a nutritious, healthy food! Sadly, when they go brown they often get wasted when they could be easily made into a smoothie or a nutritious loaf!

Our “Love Food Hate Waste” themed cookery demonstrations by Robert Owen Brown (Head Chef,  Mark Addy) – Tripe, Bone Marrow and Black Pudding and Wood Pigeon, Dave Lythall (Head Chef, Lime) – Sea Bass on Potato  and Black Pudding and Cracking Good Food – Risotto and Curry, a local charity promoting healthy sustainable eating.

So why did we do it?

As FareShareNW Director Lucy Danger explains:

“Diverting edible food from landfill and helping to alleviate food poverty is a no-brainer! We’ve run the Zip Slide Challenge to give people an opportunity to have fun whilst helping us to do more to help those in food poverty locally.”

Many members of the public, organisations and businesses signed up to Zip, including Manchester’s famous pub-restaurant The Mark Addy and Lime on Salford Quays. They support us because they believe that FareShareNW is a great charity, addressing two of the UK’s most urgent issues: waste and food poverty.

Robert Owen Brown, Head Chef of The Mark Addy said:

“It’s nonsensical. But the fact is, perfectly good food ends up going in the bin when it doesn’t needs to and something needs to be done about it.”

“Being a chef you’re on the front line of food wastage.” Rob explains, “We’ve all been guilty of it, but by supporting FareShare and raising awareness of what this fantastic charity does, I’m just doing my little bit – everyone should!”

Organisations such asCornerstones providing hot meals to people on very low incomes in Moss Side, Mustard Tree who operate a soup run for the homeless and the George House Trust who help refugees, are typical beneficiaries of FareShareNW; other examples include hostels, school breakfast and after school clubs in deprived areas, day centres for the sick, elderly and infirm, organisations helping the vulnerable and those in poverty.

The zip slide has been a great help to supporting FareShareNW and in turn those that it supports. Since 2008, FareshareNW has redistributed over 650 tonnes of food which is enough food for 1.5 million meals to those in need in our region.

A HUGE thank you to everyone involved from the organisers, Zip Slide UK, the chefs, the Manchester School of Samba and finally THE ZIPPERS THEMSELVES!!!

For more photos of the day, click here

Ed

Thank you!!

Thank you!!!

Just a quick message from everyone at FareShare North West to say, THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!!

It was a fantastic day, the weather (for the most part) stayed fine! Everyone here thought it was a blast, we were blown away by the tremendous support from all the zippers, chefs doing the food demos and the Manchester School of Samba!

If you have any photos, we’d love to have them! Email them through or send through a link if they’re online somewhere!

We have certificates for anyone wanting one! Email us with your address and one will be zooming it’s way to you asap!

OR! Fancy a souvinir mug? Only £6.50 and you can re-live the terror/excitement everytime you have a brew!!

Once again, thank you so so much!! 
Watch out on the website for events coming soon, as well as lots of new blog reports about FareShare NW and EMERGE Recycling.

Follow @EMERGERecycling

Zip Slidin’ Away!!

Zip sliding ain’t just zip sliding, oh no!

 

Did you know that we’ll also be hosting some cooking demonstrations from some of Manchester’s finest chefs? Of course you did!!

I can hear you asking, “but just who are these magnificent people?!“

Well, you need wait no more!!

• From 11am till midday Robert Owen Brown, head chef of the Mark Addy, will not be showing how to make fantastic meals with cheaper cuts of meat – one of Rob’s specialties! It certainly won’t be “offal”!
• We also have a small part of the delightful Manchester School of Samba playing between 12 and half past.
• THEN! Kim and Kath from Cracking Good Food will be serving up some veggie delights of Vegetable Jalfreezi, Squash Risotto and Wild Mushroom Risotto between 12.30 and 2pm.
• The Manchester School of Samba make another appearance, giving you some fun Brazilian beats while you tuck in to the food!
• From 2.30pm Dave Lythall from Lime restaurant will be going a bit fishy with some Sea Bass.

Many thanks to Nick from the “Have A Banana” Stall on Oxford Road – we’ll be handing out free bananas!!

All demonstrations will be along the theme of Love Food Hate Waste, how to cook simple, delicious meals from fresh ingredients…  there will be tasters for the public!

See you there!

Ed

FareShare Blog- Sainsbury’s Food Drive

FareShare NW volunteers sort through the many donated items

Feeding those in need gets a helping hand from Sainsbury’s.
The event, the first of its kind, was called “help feed those in need” and was hailed a “resounding success” by FareShare NW manager Seb Serayet, speaking from his New Smithfield Market base today.
The food, which ranged from pasta packs to tinned beans and soups, is now being trayed up as “Sainsbury’s Specials” and is being offered to FareShare NW’s fifty-plus client beneficiary groups. 
These groups help the homeless, poor and unemployed across Greater Manchester.


Volunteers staffed a shopping trolley at the exit of the store over Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 8-10th) alongside Sainsbury colleagues. Shoppers gave generously. Items donated include usually scarce commodities like tea, coffee and sugar.


Nineteen national FareShare depots took part in the event. The most successful Sainsbury’s/FareShare partnership should be known next week.


Keith – FareShare NW volunteer

FareShare North West goes bananas

FareShare North West Zip Slide

Gone bananas? Take a leap to help end food poverty in the North West Last few places only £50!

 

On Saturday 16th July FareShare NW and 100+ friends are leaping off the Imperial War Museum North for fun and to support those in need! From 10 – 5pm The Zip Slide from 30m high tower at the Imperial War Museum will go 250m across the Ship Canal and Salford Quays landing at the Lowry.

The Zip Slide Challenge is open to anyone wishing to take part and 100 more people are needed to help raise funds to help combat food poverty locally; time slots are being allocated on registration. Monies raised will directly help FareShare NW to divert in-date surplus food donated by the food industry to assist the poorest communities. The last remaining Zip Slide places are only £50 each (or raise this in sponsorship). For more info/register as soon as possible via our website: www.emergemanchester.co.uk or just turn up and pay on the day! (If you want a specific time slot, better to book in advance).

There will also be ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ themed cookery demonstrations by Robert Owen Brown (Head Chef, Mark Addy), Dave Lythall (Head Chef, Lime) and Cracking Good Food, a local charity promoting healthy sustainable eating. And don’t miss out on your free banana – awarded to all Zip Slide Challenge Heroes! J

FareShare NW Director Lucy Danger commented: “Diverting edible food from landfill and helping to alleviate food poverty is a no-brainer! We’re running this exciting Zip Slide Challenge to give 200 people an opportunity to have fun whilst helping us to do more to help those in food poverty locally.”
Many members of the public, organisations and businesses have already signed up for the Zip Slide, including Manchester’s famous pub-restaurant The Mark Addy and Lime on Salford Quays. They believe that FareShare is a great charity, addressing two of the UK’s most urgent issues: waste and food poverty.
Rob Owen Brown, Head Chef of The Mark Addy said: “It’s nonsensical. But the fact is, perfectly good food ends up going in the bin when it doesn’t need to and something needs to be done about it.”

“Being a chef you’re on the front line of food wastage.” Rob explains, “We’ve all been guilty of it, but by supporting FareShare and raising awareness of what this fantastic charity does, I’m just doing my little bit – everyone should!”

All companies taking part will be promoted via FareShare North West’s dedicated ‘thank you’ web page.

This Zip Slide Challenge is to raise funds for FareShare North West, a charitable scheme redistributing surplus in-date food to people in food poverty in the North West region. Many communities in the North West have high levels of unemployment and low-income households. Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool have the highest number of children living in poverty in the UK. Organisations such as Cornerstones providing hot meals to people on very low incomes in Moss Side, Mustard Tree who operate a soup run for the homeless and the George House Trust who help refugees, are typical beneficiaries of FareShare; other examples include hostels, school breakfast and after school clubs in deprived areas, day centres for the sick, elderly and infirm, organisations helping the vulnerable and those in poverty.