Blasda Launches

[ Blasda is gaelic for tasty, delicious, appetising, sweet. From blas (“taste, flavour”). As in “That vindaloo’s blasda!” Blasda is the festival where the local food movement across Scotland to come together and celebrate our growing strength. ]

http://www.blasda.org.uk

Join Blasda in celebrating local Scottish food in September

With events including mass lunches, pot luck picnics and public feasts plus ceilidhs, talks and food films across Scotland there really will be something for everyone! For your local Blasda event check out the interactive map at www.blasda.org.uk

The Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) is sponsoring Blasda 2012 and Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said:

“The Climate Challenge Fund, which is administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful, is very pleased to sponsor Blasda 2012. This very worthwhile venture will not only help celebrate Scottish food culture but also highlight how CCF grants support community food groups who want to reduce their carbon footprint. We see the CCF as being instrumental in supporting initiatives such as this and we hope this will encourage other groups to work in this sustainable way.”

There is still significant funding available and groups interested in applying can find more information at http://ccf.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/ To be eligible for CCF grants, projects must be community-led, aim to achieve a realistic and measureable carbon reduction and leave a sustainable legacy.

Most Blasda events take place between 1st and 16th September, but check details for your local event at www.blasda.org.uk

Glasgow Blasda Saturday 15 September, The Briggait
 141 Bridgegate
 Glasgow 
G1 5HZ
Email: glasgowlocalfood2012@gmail.com

http://www.glasgowlocavore.org/Blasda.htm

2pm-5.30pm: A free afternoon of practical workshops, community garden stalls, food mapping activities, photography exhibitions and skills sharing to help celebrate and strengthen the flourishing local food movement in Glasgow.

6pm-10pm: A three course local food feast followed by a Ceilidh.

Tickets £5, available from: http://www.glasgowlocavore.org/Blasda.htm

Edinburgh Blasda
2-7 pm Sunday 16 September, Out of the Blue, Dalmeny Street, Leith

Workshops
MAPPING LOCAL FOOD EDINBURGH 3.00-4.00
Ally Tibbitt from Greener Leith will hold a ‘local food audit’ looking at what’s available across Edinburgh and mapping allotments, local food projects, cafes, community growing schemes, local food shops. Come along, bring your local knowledge (and your laptop) and fill in the gaps.

GROWING SPACES EDINBURGH: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE 4.00 – 5.00
Greig Robertson (Edinburgh Communty Backgreens Association, Edible Estates) on who’s growing what and where. Talk followed by tour of nearby Sunshine on Leith community garden.

SCOTTISH CHEESEBOARD 5.00 – 6.00 pm
Phoebe Weller (Roving Fromagerie) on the proliferation of quality artisan cheese-making and traditions they’re drawing on. Come along for a taste of the best cheese in Scotland.

STALLS / EXHIBITORS 2.00 – 7.00 pm
Breadshare with the Seed Truck pedal-powered mill bike (Fergus), Community Gardens (Sunshine on Leith, Redbraes Strawberry Field, Lochend Secret Garden and various), Changeworks, Zapatista Coffee, Mcleods Organics, Foragable teas and infusions (Anna Canning), Leith Open Space ‘World Kitchen’ (Fay Young), Fife Diet’s Smoothie Bike with fruit from Edinburgh community garden projects with Diane Burn.

Reception (sponsored by William Bros) 6.00 – 7.00

The acclaimed Centotre and the Scottish Cafe (http://www.centotre.com/thescottishcafe/) will be featuring a full Scottish menu as part of the Blasda celebrations.

For a full listing of events go to the website at: http://www.blasda.org.uk/

@glasgowlocavore
@rovingfromage