The inaugural HOPE freedom music festival went off with a bang. They had an incredible line up and the people involved in the running of the festival and everyone that attended brought an amazing atmosphere to the weekend.

Home Of Personalised Education (HOPE) Sussex are an amazing organisation, formed to serve the interests of home-educating families and the independent tutors who work with them. Support what they do here https://www.hopesussex.co.uk/

More events here:
https://www.hope-hubofpivotalevents.co.uk/

Growing Project team members Chris Harry Burns (https://odysee.com/@ChrisHarryBurns:e) & YogiMan ST (https://t.me/LoveWiseFM) played at the festival.

We're looking forward to next year's festival.

Sonia, Jen and team

http://instagram.com/TheGrowingProjectUK

http://t.me/TheGrowingProject

What we've been up to: microgreens growing musings from first-time grower Sonia.

I was not particularly convinced by microgreens. They seemed like a lot of work for very little benefit however after growing them I'm now a convert.

I do peas. A lot simpler than I thought they would be to do, they're really nutritious and very tasty. More info here https://www.feastingathome.com/how-to-grow-microgreens/

What's your microgreens experience?

Sonia, Jen and team

http://instagram.com/TheGrowingProjectUK

http://t.me/TheGrowingProject

#growyourownfood #exitthesystem #keepcashalive #shoplocally #independentbusinesses

The Growing Project: Food Abundance community space - North London

After our last visit where some plants had been taken out t.me/TheGrowingProject/70?single yesterday at the garden was inspiring.

A resident who previously didn't want to engage helped clear the space and donated a table for a communal area. Although he doesn't want to grow (yet - I'm not giving up) he's agreed to monitor the plants.

We helped one resident plant potatoes, carrots and chillis. We also met two new residents who would like to plant so we'll be helping them soon.

I challenged myself to make an apple pie using the apples in the garden with the proviso that other residents will make them if I do. Two agreed.

On our first visit we were told people keep themselves to themselves, we've now got 5 residents involved in some way.

Sonia

http://instagram.com/TheGrowingProjectUK

t.me/TheGrowingProject

#growyourownfood #exitthesystem #keepcashalive #shoplocally #independentbusinesses

The Growing Project: Food Abundance community projects

Do you want to lead on a gardening project to help your community? Know of a space you could have access to to grow food? Or a disadvantaged community you want go into to help?

Do you have community project experience but only some gardening experience but keen to learn more? Do you have a lot of gardening experience but never run a community project before?

If you're London based and would like The Growing Project team"s support in getting a community growing project together, get in touch.

Either pop a message in the comments or email TheGrowingProject@protonmail.com

Sonia, Jen and team

http://instagram.com/TheGrowingProjectUK

http://t.me/TheGrowingProject

#growyourownfood #exitthesystem #keepcashalive #shoplocally #independentbusinesses

Inspiring people and projects:

It's so exciting to see all the food initiatives that groups are setting up around the country. We've just come across the very inspiring The Growing Network.

"The Growing Network (TGN) is an inclusive community network that supports all local people within your area to grow and share food freely, with no one left out.

Together, as a local community, we are learning to grow enough food to share, enough to feed ourselves and to grow all year round. With the possibility of fuel shortages leading to hyperinflation and food shortages, we are locally placed to be able to walk to the essential resources we need to live; in order to share them amongst ourselves."

Follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TGN.FB/ and if you're in the East Sussex area join them this Saturday 6th Aug.

Sonia, Jen and team

http://instagram.com/TheGrowingProjectUK

http://t.me/TheGrowingProject

The Growing Project: Food Abundance community space - North London

Our community garden project is about bringing people together and empowering them to keep the growing going themselves.

With this in mind I'm always looking for ways to get the residents engaged in activities which connect them. I promised to make an apple pie from the apples in the garden as a way to bring people down into the garden. I made a bet that if I do it other people will need to make one too. Two residents agreed to the challenge, probably thinking that I wouldn't do it.

Having never made a pie before I did enlist advice from one of The Growing Project team members but I'm pretty chuffed with what I've managed to do.

Hopefully this will give a bit of fun to and get engagement from more residents. We'll be bringing it to them later today.

Sonia

http://instagram.com/TheGrowingProjectUK

t.me/TheGrowingProject

#growyourownfood #exitthesystem #keepcashalive #shoplocally #independentbusinesses

All team members of The Growing Project are aiming to exit the system. I'm probably doing it in a more focused way so I'm documenting my journey hoping to inspire others. Mentally & spiritually I'm free but now I'm working on the physical.

---My stock-take of exiting the system up to Jul 22---

* Stopped watching TV (2020) cancelled TV licence (2021)
* Had spiritual awakening - agnostic/atheist previously (21)
* Looking after my health again to avoid the NHS as much as poss
* Using cash & independent businesses appx 80% of the time
* Basic foraging (May 22)
* learnt to grow from seeds (May 22)
* Basic survival skills (Jun 22)

---Next up---

* Advanced growing, foraging & survival skills
* Get skills to move from PAYE to self employed
* visit intentional/off grid communities

--TGP stock-take May to Jul 22--

* Created leaflet to explain food shortages & solutions
* Started outreach
* Helping a community grow food

What have you been doing to exit the system?

Sonia

t.me/TheGrowingProject