The just in time food supply chains we have come to (over)rely on are incredibly complex. They enable us to have food from across the globe pretty much on demand. They have done away with the notion of seasonal eating that those of us with a fair few decades on the clock remember from our childhoods and teenage years. They have become something so integral to the way we live these days that we barely give them a second thought.

That’s until things start to go wrong. Systems are not designed to fail. They fail because increasing levels of complexity make it harder to maintain a holistic overview of what’s happening. Not having this overview means that it’s more likely for unintended consequences to occur as unanticipated events happen to disrupt supply chains in unexpected ways. Complexity may be seen by come commentators as the hallmark of advanced civilisation. The downside of complexity is that when parts of the system fail in unexpected ways, it potentially poses a threat to the civilised life we have taken for granted without a second thought.

When things really start to fall apart as a consequence of unexpected events it turns out we weren’t really prepared for, the veneer of civilisation can reveal itself as something that’s actually quite fragile. That’s because we lack the resources, intellectually and emotionally as well as physically to be able to fall back on our own resources when parts of the system start to fail.

On top of the concerns about the security of our food supply, an increasing number of people are starting to ask questions about where our food comes from and the processes involved in it getting onto our plates. With regard to food imported from developing countries, they’re asking questions about exploitation on farms and in some of the initial processing facilities. They’re asking questions about why some countries export a substantial proportion of what they grow when they sometimes struggle to feed their own populations. They’re asking questions as to whether it’s really a good idea to ship produce from half way around the globe when it could actually be grown here. They’re asking whether we should start eating seasonally again. They’re asking how fresh (or not) is the produce that ends up on our plates. They’re asking a lot of questions and that can only be a good thing…

It’s coming up with answers that can be tough. Obviously, the shorter and less complex the supply chain is, the less prone it will be to disruption, whether that’s through malicious action or a lack of holistic thinking leading to unintended screw ups. A more localised and less complex supply chain will also mean the food that reaches our plates will be fresher. However, even with these shorter and less complex supply chains, we will still have to rely on other people for our food needs. As we have said, whoever controls the food supply chain can also control the populace. With a growing level of mistrust in the government, it’s understandable that there’s an increase in people wanting to start growing as much of their own food as possible…

The collective aspect of growing our own food is vital. Setting up a community garden / seed bank / food bank is a way of bringing people together and re-building neighbourhood solidarity as well as resilience. In these fractious, troubled times, it’s vital we fend off the divide and rule merchants who would have us at each others throats…

Gaining control of our food supply at the grassroots is not some nice, feel good add on to our lives. It’s certainly not virtue signalling. If we want the freedom and autonomy that we need to live a truly human life, it’s an absolute necessity. This is what the At the Grassroots project is about – doing what we can to encourage, support and facilitate those taking the first steps towards growing their own food. It’s one of the first steps in what ultimately has to be a full on revolution that will rid us of the techno-fascists and the corporations who are hell bent on exerting their malign control over our lives, once and for all.

Here’s a list of some resources that will hopefully set you and your neighbours on the way to regaining some degree of control over your food supply, your lives and in the bargain, build some much needed community solidarity:

Setting up community food networks

Growing communities in Waltham Forest – Greg Frey | Freedom News | 14.5.24

There’s a solidarity economy emerging in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, and it revolves around food. Hundreds of people, and a handful of grassroots cooperatives, collectives and networks, are trying to figure out how to build an alternative to capitalist industrial agriculture, and not a moment too soon.

25% of children in London face hunger during the school holidays. A total of 3.2 million adults in the UK reported not eating for a whole day because they couldn’t afford or access food. 70% of our wildlife has been obliterated in the last 50 years, 64% of our insects in the last 20. Crops contain 40% fewer nutrients than they did 100 years ago. 99% of London’s food comes from outside the city, while almost one third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, one fifth being from transporting it alone.

Where do you even start when the industrial model has wrecked so much? As the Zapatistas say, there are many yeses and one no.

Setting up a community garden

How to Start a Community Garden – Elizabeth Waddington | ethical.net | February 14, 2020

Community gardens make a community more food-secure. Food security is vital for the long-term survival of any community – yet, all too often, communities become ‘food deserts’, with many people going without enough food. Community gardens ensure access to good-quality, local, and organic food.

Community gardens put power back into the hands of local people, reducing reliance on regional authorities or government to provide for their needs. Communities are increasingly recognising that co-operative efforts can improve areas’ wellbeing more quickly than by relying on authorities to do so.

Setting up a community seed bank

Stroud Community Seed Bank

As a group, we celebrate locally adapted seed, seed diversity and growing without the use of chemicals. Through Google groups, emails and gatherings, we support each other, share advice, tips and stories to improve our learning and enjoyment of seed saving. At every opportunity, we connect with community members, groups and schools to strengthen community bonds, resilience and spread knowledge of the importance of seed saving.

How to organize a Community Seed Bank – seedsavers.org

Unlike their larger counterparts, community seed banks are less about long-term preservation and more about sharing seed season to season. For that reason they’re sometimes called “seed libraries.” No matter what they’re called, the essence of all community seed banks is the same: they’re a central place where seeds (often locally grown) are stored and shared with local growers. Most offer their seed for free because the philosophy behind community seed banks is that seed is not a commodity but a shared community resource.

Tips for Starting a Successful Community Seed Bank – Catherine Winter | Morning Chores

We live in a time when food security isn’t a guaranteed thing, and people around the world are taking serious steps to grow their own food and medicine. As you can imagine, one of the most important aspects of this kind of self-sufficiency is high-quality seeds.

Considering how expensive heirloom and organic seeds can be, one of the best ways to expand one’s garden is to save and share seeds. Plus, you’re promoting local plant diversity!

Setting up a community food bank

How to start a foodbank: the story of Luton Foodbank – Left Unity

What place does food hold in the constellation of human needs? Maslow’s hierarchy of human need puts food among the base of human needs, alongside breathing, water, sex, homeostasis, sleep and excretion. It should be clear to all that food is a basic need, which is central to a cohesive, stable, humane society. Bertolt Brecht wrote in The Threepenny Opera, “First comes feeding, then comes morality.” If you cannot obtain food to feed yourself, then all other questions of culture, morality, law and right become secondary or meaningless.