Children could have school lessons in gardening and allotment produce could be sold in shops under local authority proposals to be considered by the Government.
The ideas were put forward under the Sustainable Communities Act. The radical law, passed in 2007, was introduced to give ordinary people a chance to formulate Government policy.
The idea was to improve democracy and create a real chance for residents to have their say in creating law. Out of about 300 proposals submitted nationally this year, nine originated in Brighton and Hove.
Jenny Hawke was asked for ideas in her role as chairwoman of the Community Association for Higher Bevendean and South Moulsecoomb.
The mother-of-three submitted the proposal for surplus allotment produce to be sold in shops.
She said: “It just seems like a logical step.
“We are constantly being told of the need to eat healthier and eat local produce and this seems like a good fit.
“We’re lucky in that we have a garden but not everyone is as lucky as us. For those who don’t, especially those in flats, it is really difficult to get hold of fresh vegetables.
“But people on the local allotments are not allowed to sell their produce on. It is also a way of educating people and letting people see how things are grown.
“We have lost our local shops and they have been replaced by supermarkets. But this will mean people can get their food locally, with the dirt still on it, for a really good price.
“Think of the amount of money that will be saved on packaging. I think it is well worth it.”
Vic Else, director of the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership, put forward the idea for gardening to become part of the school curriculum.
She said: “We were asked for things which would improve the quality of life in our area and I really think this is something that will do that.
“We work with schools a lot already but they say food growing tends to get pushed off the timetable as the National Curriculum subjects always come first.
“The idea is to get it equal status and get it integrated with what schools have to do.
“A recent national study said that 10% of children did not know that a potato and carrot came out of the ground.
This will be a skill not only for life but for the future. The generation of children growing up now face a very different world to the one we currently live in.
“At the moment a lot of food production relies on the oil industry. But that is changing and there must be other ways for us to gather produce.
“If you get people to invest their own time and grow something then it’s unlikely they will waste it.”
After a period of formulation, the ideas were passed on to an independent panel.
They forwarded them on to the local authority’s cabinet, which then submitted them to the Local Government Association.
The lobbying organisation, which campaigns on behalf of councils, will submit a shortlist to Communities Secretary John Denham at the end of the year.
But despite only being in the middle of the first process, it has received the backing from councillors and residents.
Mrs Hawke said: “The Act seems like a fantastic idea. It gives us a chance to make things a little bit better.
“With the best will in the world, the people in decision-making roles don’t always know what the community wants or needs.
“We live here every day and I think anything which gives local people the chance to make national law should be welcomed.”
Dee Simson, the council’s cabinet member for communities, said she backed the Act.
She said: “I’m absolutely in favour of the Act. I think communities should have a say in how they are run.
“I think we put forward the most proposals by any local authority in the country but that was because we had some really good ideas which were full of common sense.
“Some have probably been raised locally before but the Act gives the opportunity for these ideas to be fed through to the Government, who hopefully will listen.
“I don’t know what the outcome will be as what is important locally may not have a national importance.
“I guess we will find out at the end of the year when the final list is passed to the Government.”
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