CropDrop is coordinating the redistribution of fruit and vegetables from bountiful allotments and growers. Volunteer drivers transport this untapped resource to charity projects that provide food, alleviating food poverty across Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES).
We link allotments and food projects within the same area to help strengthen communities and minimise the food miles of the allotment produce.
An overview summary of 2020 is now available.
On an agreed day allotment holders leave their donations in an arranged collection box on-site, protected from the weather and potential hungry animals (usually in a box, behind a shed in the shade).
A volunteer driver picks up the fruit and vegetables and transports them to a charity project. In some cases, the volunteer drivers have come forward from the allotment growers or the charity projects themselves.
Charity projects offering food parcels distribute to their recipients soon after.
A very special kale drop occurred in September 2020 and a map is available showing the distribution of 30kg of market garden kale to nine food charity projects across B&NES.
You can also view a webinar the team presented in October 2020 hosted by Feeding Britain, detailing the successes and challenges overcome during the first three months of the project.
We have produced some supporting documents including a project summary and the steps we would recommend if you wanted to start some CropDrop action in your location.
A selection of photos from the first growing season in 2020. Select a photo to view as a gallery.
CropDrop is coordinated by a team of volunteers.
Bath FoodCycle, Bread for Breakfast, Vegmead, Sustainable Food Partnership, B&NES Food Finder
Organiser of Taste of Timsbury food and drink festival & community legacy events, volunteer for British Hen Welfare Trust
Bath FoodCycle, FoodCycle Exeter, Riverford Organic Farmers Sales & elected staff council rep., plus other volunteering experiences across the SW food network
Bath FoodCycle, Bread for Breakfast, Keynsham Community Fridge, Sustainable Food Partnership, Contributor Webb Trust report "What makes a good society", Volunteer Centre Chair and London 2012 Gamesmaker
And supported by our founders and advisers.
Bath Organic Group, Transition Bath, guerrilla gardening, food preserving and fermenting, anything 'green'
The interactive map below shows a visualisation of locations of food surplus suppliers and organisations who collect it as a result of the project.
We have a number of recipes that we'd like to share which will hopefully spark inspiration.
Kale makes a fantastic healthy low-fat, low-cal snack – a great alternative to crisps. Sprinkle with whatever spices you fancy – salt or a mild chilli powder would both work well.
Try out this new healthy and nutritious spiced pumpkin soup, perfect to use after Halloween so there is no wastage of pumpkin.
Homemade toasted seeds are a great way to use any large, plump seeds that come from your squash and they are packed full of vitamins and minerals.
If you'd like to find out more about volunteering or would like to get your allotment site or organisation involved, please use the contact form below.
If you are an organisation or charity in B&NES and are interested in receiving fresh produce, please fill out this thrilling survey.
If you'd rather not use the contact form and email us directly, please get in touch with us at: hello@cropdrop.org.uk
