Group 1 & 2 overlap
There must be some overlap between online market hubs and a producers' retail co-operative. Should we perhaps ask for some time next week to join and compare notes? Any ideas here in the meantime?
Peter Moffatt.
Overlap between groups
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Jon Palmer
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2021 2:41 pm
Hi Peter,
We were of the same mind - so let's do it. Our idea has pretty much reached the point where we can't do much more without putting it out for wider consultation (to know who might practically want to get involved). So let's request a sharing in session 1 - as that may inform further discussion in our groups in session 2.
Best wishes,
Jon
We were of the same mind - so let's do it. Our idea has pretty much reached the point where we can't do much more without putting it out for wider consultation (to know who might practically want to get involved). So let's request a sharing in session 1 - as that may inform further discussion in our groups in session 2.
Best wishes,
Jon
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Anna Patfield
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2021 2:46 pm
- Location: Sutherland
- Organisation: Planet Sutherland
- Contact:
There is an overlap between all groups & I'd suggest that it's crucial to develop a food network out of this conference and keep it going...
farms/crofts(and CSA) + community growing + greenhouses/polytunnels + schools + food waste/circular + food hub + food coop + highland food + restaurants ...
farms/crofts(and CSA) + community growing + greenhouses/polytunnels + schools + food waste/circular + food hub + food coop + highland food + restaurants ...
Anna, I agree with what you say, and that's very much on our agenda. And I also agree with Peter and Jon that it would be useful for their individual groups to explore shared ground before we get into thoughts of an umbrella group. Let's see how far we can get during the conference with existing structures.
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Donna Gillies
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2021 3:07 pm
I found this video from the trello board extremely inspiring - not just for what it tells us specifically about the Liege (sp?) food shops/co-ops, but some of the things he said about which are relevant across the board: and one is that we need to be simple and take it in steps, but that bigger things follow from those steps. I hope everyone has the time to watch it.
One of the things he said was about staying focused. And I think that, if we stay focussed on delivering food, and each group focusses on their remit, that will create the food network.
If we as a group, start a 'shop' (for lack of a better word for now, esp as we're still discussing constitutional form), then we will need producers to fill it. Farmers like myself are not the only producers, so would be the glass house and community growing groups, etc. So we would naturally be creating a network. But that network is still feeding into the 'shop', so we aren't getting distracted, we're getting stronger - we're literally getting supplies for the shop. We also need a network of consumers. Not just individual consumers: we have restaurants and schools groups in this conference as well. And we need to advertise this idea. So the branding group comes in. As does the digital group - as noted, there is overlap with that group from the get-go. Not just to advertise, but to sell online, for those who can't get to the bricks and mortar shop. We'll need delivery - to the shop from the producers when they can't deliver, and to the consumers who bought from the 'shop' online. We'll need to influence policy, to allow this all to happen across the Highlands. We need employees who are trained, and invested in the idea/social drive behind the shop - the video is especially interesting about how the French project does that. There are people in the conference who can train those employees... and with retail experience to manage the business we seem to be creating.
We will have created the food network Anna references. In fact, I think this conference already has - we just need to keep the momentum going, and give it structure that will enable that momentum. For that, we need an umbrella group (will the HGFC be that?) especially to make sure all the links between the working groups stay strong, and that the groups keep communicating and feeding into each other. But all along, we are simply focussing on delivering food, in a sustainable way, which gives higher value to the producers for their produce, and benefits the consumers buying the food, and the communities participating int project, economically, socially, and health wise.
It sounds like we're creating a monster. But we're not, we're just creating a shop. Which, of course, is not just a shop.
Sorry if this is too long: that's what my brain does, when I get up too early, and drink too much coffee.
One of the things he said was about staying focused. And I think that, if we stay focussed on delivering food, and each group focusses on their remit, that will create the food network.
If we as a group, start a 'shop' (for lack of a better word for now, esp as we're still discussing constitutional form), then we will need producers to fill it. Farmers like myself are not the only producers, so would be the glass house and community growing groups, etc. So we would naturally be creating a network. But that network is still feeding into the 'shop', so we aren't getting distracted, we're getting stronger - we're literally getting supplies for the shop. We also need a network of consumers. Not just individual consumers: we have restaurants and schools groups in this conference as well. And we need to advertise this idea. So the branding group comes in. As does the digital group - as noted, there is overlap with that group from the get-go. Not just to advertise, but to sell online, for those who can't get to the bricks and mortar shop. We'll need delivery - to the shop from the producers when they can't deliver, and to the consumers who bought from the 'shop' online. We'll need to influence policy, to allow this all to happen across the Highlands. We need employees who are trained, and invested in the idea/social drive behind the shop - the video is especially interesting about how the French project does that. There are people in the conference who can train those employees... and with retail experience to manage the business we seem to be creating.
We will have created the food network Anna references. In fact, I think this conference already has - we just need to keep the momentum going, and give it structure that will enable that momentum. For that, we need an umbrella group (will the HGFC be that?) especially to make sure all the links between the working groups stay strong, and that the groups keep communicating and feeding into each other. But all along, we are simply focussing on delivering food, in a sustainable way, which gives higher value to the producers for their produce, and benefits the consumers buying the food, and the communities participating int project, economically, socially, and health wise.
It sounds like we're creating a monster. But we're not, we're just creating a shop. Which, of course, is not just a shop.
Sorry if this is too long: that's what my brain does, when I get up too early, and drink too much coffee.