This project has been inspired by other successful projects that break down food growing into easy and practical steps, making fresh, organic produce accessible to families on low incomes in Cornwall.
This is achieved through supporting 400 households to grow their own food and to compost at home. Each household is given a set of basic tools, seeds and plants and they learn how to maintain their plots through accredited training courses and local gardening clubs. Composting support is provided through advice and guidance and the provision of compost bins and through the recruitment and training of compost champions who act as mentors within their communities.
These volunteers form a network of compost mentors who are linked through the CCFC project. Volunteers are trained and supported to become local compost mentors who promote home composting in their own communities by providing advice and attending external events, as well as giving presentations about home composting to community groups and schools.
CWA provides the necessary support for volunteers through structured training sessions about composting, enabling participants to go back into their own communities and promote behavioral change, as well as being a source of advice and support to new and existing composters.
The Government’s Waste Strategy of 2007 places a greater focus on waste prevention and sets new targets to reduce the amount of household waste not re-used, recycled or composted. Targets for recycling and composting of household waste now need to be at least 40% by 2010, 45% by 2015 and 50% by 2020.
To make these targets a reality, community engagement activities, as proposed by CWA for this project, need to be undertaken within communities through local collaboration rather than directives from local and national government. Mentors act as a group of enthusiastic, fully trained volunteers and will help CWA to raise awareness about the importance of home composting to meet waste minimisation targets.
All volunteers are recruited by CWA from the targeted communities and are not be expected to be experienced gardeners or even current composters.
30 mentors will be recruited from each targeted area and CWA expects that participants will have a range of backgrounds. CWA supports those with additional needs and encourages the personal development of all volunteers.
