Playing on the dynamic audience we held a series of three round table discussions using themes that were intended to take participants through discussions of policy, food production, and solutions. Our invited guests included Andrew Simms author of Tescopoly, Harriet Lamb director of the Fairtrade Foundation, food artisit Clare Patey, Ian Cox form Eco Studio and Martin Bowman from Food not Bombs.

Our Discussions weren’t the only things on the menu, with a really exciting line up of drama, poetry, puppet making and cooking workshops from Low Carbon Cook Off to really get the messages of food waste across to the public in participatory, creative and fun ways, along with the more high-brow discussion program.

The finale, an intimate and luxurious three course FEAST off food waste. Having picked up food mostly from the Organic Fresh Food Company in Lampeter, who supplied us with fruit and vegetables we cooked up a delicious meal almost entirely from surplus, hosting twenty people and feeding at least 10 more in the surrounding area of friends we had forged during our visit. The diners were led through the meal with poetic comparing by slam poet Josh Solnick, who described each dish and prompted discussion about food waste from around the table.

See Events Page to read more.

‘Speak with your mouth full’ says a campaign group touring Wales and hosting feasts made from preventable food waste

Positive News Issue Campaigning through the celebratory act of feasting, a small group of artist-activists are touring events and festivals in Wales throughout the year to communicate the scale of preventable food waste in the UK.

From Cardiff to Bangor, via Hay-on-Wye, Machynlleth, and more between, at each location the campaign organisation This is Rubbish (TiR) will set up a food waste cafe. The team will host a two-day program at the cafe, featuring workshops, games and creativity, followed by a food waste feast for 30 people each evening.

While raising awareness of the problem of food waste and the associated environmental issues, TiR also wants to promote solutions in a fun, engaging and creative way. Through community and arts-led public events, TiR founders Caitlin Shepherd, Kate Blair and Rachel Solnick, believe that celebration can be an effective means of communicating needed change. Read on >

In 2011 This is Rubbish will tour the length of Wales visiting a selection of communities and food festivals. In each location TiR will set up a popup food waste café to host workshops, games and a programme of creative events followed by an evening food waste feast.

During the Wales tour, TiR will engage with a wide range of audiences and networks, including art centres, environmental centres, universities, community centres, agricultural organisations, policy makers and town councillors, to make the ‘Feast’ in each location unique, locally inspired and collaborative.

The Feast Tour Dates

• Sunday 15th May, Seed Savers Seedling Sunday, Machynlleth
• Saturday 21st – Sunday 22nd May, Green Horizons at Royal Welsh Smallholder and Garden Show, Builth Wells
• Monday 3oth – Tuesday 31st May, Hay on Wye Festival, Hay on Wye Community Garden
• Monday 20th – Tuesday 21st June,  Wise up to Waste week, Swansea Community Farm, Swansea
• Saturday 8th July, Llanidloes Carnival, Llanidloes
• Saturday 16th July, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
• Friday 30th September – Saturday 1st October, Bangor Open Air Festival, Bangor

To find our more about the This is Rubbish Feast project contact info@thisisrubbish.org.uk

Download the TiR Feast booklet pdf here. Read on >