Didsbury Dinners – Community Cooking | AFSL

A not-for-profit community interest company making it easy to save money and eat green in Didsbury, Burnage, Old Moat and Chorlton.

Location: Didsbury and surrounds,

Duration: October 2010 – present

New AfSL Local Project Manager, Amanda Woodvine, was in search of a sustainable project to run in her Didsbury community. Drawing on her nutrition studies and editorial experience, AfSL Co-ordinator Erika Nagae, supported Amanda with her idea to create a Low-Carbon Community Cookbook.

Amanda got out and about in the community, collecting favourite recipes, researching local food suppliers and seeking funding. Six months later, with free graphic design skills of Lynne Kincaid, a modern and vibrant 80 page cookbook was produced. Warmly received, the book’s profits have been invested in further projects.

Putting the book’s ideas into practice was Amanda’s mission. In autumn 2011, she set up a local eco-cookery course. Twelve people had a fun and tasty 4 weeks learning new skills for free at West Didsbury Sure Start Centre, assisted by Cracking Good Food. After completing the course, all of the budding chefs rated their skills as either very good or excellent. One participant, Mario, noticed a definite improvement in his cookery skills. Mario said: “The course has made me more aware of environmental issues, and the importance of eating healthy foods rather than ready-meals. I will now cook more vegetarian foods at home. I’d recommend the course to everyone I know!” Fuelled by success, Didsbury Dinners has now recruited 12 volunteer community cookery champions who will teach sustainable cookery to over 100 people in Greater in 2013, making use of produce grown in Didsbury Dinners’ new community food gardens.

A further celebration of Didsbury Dinners work, called the Didsbury Food Trail, took place from 22 to 23 September 2012. A programme of open days, sustainable cookery demonstrations, talks and music took place at seven sites throughout the area (see Didsbury Dinners website for more details). The Food Trail will be repeated in September 2013.

Partner organizations & Funders:

• City Council

• Ecotricity

• Unicorn Grocery

• Didsbury Civic Society

• Didsbury Greening and Growing Project

• Cracking Good Food

• Montrose Properties

Volunteering Opportunities:

To help with cookery courses, Didsbury Food Trail, or to join the advisory panel, email: [email protected]

Contact Name(s):

Amanda Woodvine (Cookbook, community cooking and Didsbury Food Trail)