Yesterday was the day when the Eden Project suggested that we all get together to share a meal, using  produce that we have grown ourselves or, that has been locally sourced.

The idea came from one of my favourite Eden gurus – Tim Smit who wanted to promote “human warming.” He summed it up when he said ” the greatest things in life are simple and great memories are usually made of things we do ourselves. So, all we want is for people to get out on their street, raise a glass and share a bite with their neighbours — that’s The Big Lunch.”

The fuller description at  http://www.thebiglunch.com/big-idea sounded even more picturesque and inviting:

“Imagine a summer’s day on which millions of us, throughout the UK, sit down to have lunch together, with our neighbours in the middle of our streets, around our tower blocks and on every patch of common ground. The food, entertainment and decorations we will have either grown, cooked, or created ourselves. This will be a day to break bread with our neighbours, to put a smile on Britain’s face.”

Due to the unpredictablity of the UK weather it was not like that everywhere but,it did inspire hundreds of people to make connections with their neighbours to share  a meal, snack or even just a cup of tea!

My oh my, what a wonderful day!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2543476/Brits-join-in-The-Big-Lunch.html

Eat up … Tim Smit eating The Big Lunch at the Eden Project in Cornwall

Sunday 19th July saw an estimated two million people around the UK stop traffic for a few happy hours as neighbours sat down in their streets with neighbours to share a Big Lunch.  Undeterred by the vagaries of the British summertime, people turned out to celebrate all that is best about their local communities in the biggest collection of open-air parties since the Golden Jubilee.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6719642.ece

I spent some of my Big Lunch Day at the Village allotments where the mixed bag of weather has  delivered a glut of lettuces, raspberries, peas and some yummy courgettes.

Hopefully August through to September will bring some more sunshine to bring on the corn, squashes and pumpkins. We seem to get Indian summers every year now which extends the season for grow your own and means that more and more people are connecting with this wonderful way to produce your own food.