Landworkers' Alliance South West Network Meeting

We invite you to join the first South West Network Meeting of the Landworkers’ Alliance on Monday 26th January, at West Town Farm, Ide in Devon. This year our members have been active, organising seed saving events, campaigning against TTIP and lobbying DEFRA to implement the CAP in a way that is more supportive of small-scale, ecological farmers. Maybe you have already joined, or attended our action outside DEFRA in April, or have seen our film "Food Sovereignty Football" (www.landworkersalliance.org.uk). We've also met socially at farm walks and ceilidhs, and our AGM in Manchester in November. Now we want to ensure our members throughout the UK have access to LWA events, by establishing regional branches. This gathering is the first step towards setting up a South West branch of the LWA, and by attending on the 26th you can help shape its future. We will also be telling you about some new research we are undertaking on the productivity of small-scale, agroecological farmers. Come and find out more about the Landworkers' Alliance, meet other farmers, growers, woodland workers and land-based crafts people from the region, look around West Town Farm and enjoy a bowl of soup.

Programme

12.30 Lunch (Soup and bread)

1.30 Presentation about the Landworkers' Alliance and Productivity Survey

2.00 Questions about LWA and Productivity Survey

2.30-3.30 Tour of West Town Farm

3.30-4.30 Initial discussion about what people would like from an LWA South West Network

4.30 Tea and networking time

What kind of activities would you value from a South West branch of the LWA? Monthly farm visits/social occasions, seed sharing opportunities, people to organise/travel to campaigning actions with? It may be that it makes sense to join with other organisations, such as the CSA Network or Organic Growers Alliance, for setting up regional networks. It's all up for discussion, so please come along and put your views about what would make a useful and supportive network.