HogCo
Home Grown - Community Owned (HogCo)
Who we are
HogCo is a Community Council of Devon (CCD) programme funded through the Big Lottery Fund's Local Food scheme.
What we do
HogCo is a 5 year programme working with rural communities across Devon to support local food projects. We help groups to join together to develop skills and seek opportunities to grow their own food.
Why we do it
Some of the main challenges facing rural communities are the prospect of ever rising fuel and food costs and the lack of community cohesion.
By working together, groups can improve their well being, community involvement and the environment. Being involved in a community garden can improve health and happiness, helps you develop new skills, make new friends and above all, it's fun!
All the groups that participate in our HogCo programme will be able to access useful information through our website, www.hogco-devonrcc.org.uk.
HogCo prioritises community food groups that involve a diverse range of people, creates partnerships and are innovative in some way. Participating groups can access a range of support including:
Advice: An experienced project worker can advise on the development of your local project, help mobilise local support and act as negotiator on your behalf - from the germ of an idea to fruition.
Training: HogCo can assess your needs and develop relevant training and/or mentoring.
Professional help: HogCo can find and fund a professional or skilled service to help your group, such as a solicitor to help draw up an occupancy license for land or a permaculture designer to help plan the plot layout.
Resources
Our resources are available to everyone and will be accessible on our website, including toolkits on Planning, Legal and Access issues, a collection of case studies and other useful information.
Networking
Register your interest and be part of a network of growing projects who can share experiences, skills and seeds!
The benefits
- Increased skills and confidence in how to grow your own food.
- A local organisation and shared assets that will continue to provide future benefits to the group and wider community.
- A supportive network of like minded people bringing people and generations together.
- Most importantly, more fresh local produce to feed your families, friends and communties. Healthy to produce and healthy to consume!
