MM08 - Middlesbrough Meal 08

Middlesbrough Meal 08 (MM08) is to be held on the Centre Square in front of mima.It is our hope that it will be bigger and better again and we are this year asking for people to consider joining in the following activities on the day:

• The Best Jam and Marmalade Competition
• The Biggest Marrow Competition
• The Largest Vegetable Competition (which is not a marrow)
• The Best Tomatoes/ Carrots/Onions/ Swedes/ Sprouts
• The Weirdest Looking Vegetable
• The Best Farmhouse Style Cake (we will leave this to your own imagination)
• The Best Children’s “Town Meal” themed hat
• Bring your own “Mystery” bag of vegetarian ingredients for the chefs challenge
• The Best Floral Display

We would urge you to get your creative juices flowing and let us know which activities that you may like to take part in?

In addition to the Town Meal we are also looking to provide the following on the day:

• Morris Dancing
• Country Dancing
• Classes in Flower Arranging
• Cake Decorating Classes
• Punch and Judy
• Wild Birds of Prey and Farm Animals
• Farm Machinery
• Various stalls of local urban and rural interest
• Art and Craft Fair
• Farmers Market
• Face Painting
• Coconut Shies/Wet Sponge Throwing/Lucky Dip/Hoop La
• Farm Animals
• Pig Run – Racing
• Meet Your Local Councillors - Environmental Question Time
• Meet the Youth Council

We do hope that you will join us for this great day out and also inform your family and friends.
Post DOTT07 Legacy – “Tees Up”:

The following information is to assist you in preparation for the Town Meal and to let you know what else is happening in relation to the post DOTT07 period (“Tees Up”).

Growing: We would like to thank all concerned in the growing process last year and to Groundwork for keeping an overseeing eye on the process. Due to a greatly reduced budget the Council has already implemented this year, all new growing within the last three months at various community and school locations across the town. A limited amount of new seeds and plants will be made available to last years growers on a first-come, first-served basis however - to register your interest please contact Charlotte on 01642 729142.

Local Meals: These are planned to take place at various locations across the town within the coming six months. We will inform you as and when these are arranged.

New Allotments: We are delighted to inform you that eighteen new allotment sites have gone live within the last three months at various locations across the town. These will be playing a crucial part in this years’ Town Meal (MM08).

Food Cooperatives: The basis of the new food cooperatives are in place in Gresham Neighbourhood Centre, Breckon Hill Community Centre and Easterside Partnership Office (with an extra location still to be identified). These should be fully operational by the early summer time.

Town and Country Alliance: This is soon to go live and will actively link our schools, and longer term our community centres, to working farms in the North East via the use of farm visits, farmers visiting the town for educational presentations, educational trips to the countryside etc.

Food Policy/ Strategy: We are currently exploring a number of issues in relation to this area. The following is just a taste of what is coming up on the agenda and everyone will be most welcome to become involved:

• The establishment of a Local Food Policy Council which will seek to source local food for the town from within 50 miles of the town;
• The initial exploration of the issues and possibilities of a new “15” style restaurant to work with excluded young people;
• A new adult allotment-training project at Whinney Banks that is part funded by the EU and is a partnership between the Youth Committee, the Council and Erimus Housing.

As you can see the picture is exciting and varied and we would be most grateful if you would be willing to take part again?