Community food hub takes shape in former library headquarters

New place for people to come together to grow food, cook, eat and learn

Work has started on Greener Kirkcaldy’s new food hub.

Greener Kirkcaldy is refurbishing the old library headquarters at East Fergus Place, after being awarded a grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

The building will house a new community food hub as well as the Greener Kirkcaldy office and an events space.

Work is expected to be complete by February 1.

As part of the move, the organisation will be closing their high street office and High Street Hub and moving their staff and activities into the new building.

The food hub, which will launch in early spring, will be a place for people to come together to grow, cook, eat and learn.

It will include a fully equipped kitchen, training garden and events space, and offer events, courses and workshops in all aspects of food and drink, training, volunteer opportunities, and community meals.

It will also include a base for a food co-op promoting local seasonal produce, a community fridge redistributing shortdated food, a pop-up community café, and will act as a distribution point for Kirkcaldy Foodbank.

The building will also be a base for Greener Kirkcaldy’s other events and activities, including its repair and reuse classes, bike activities and the Cosy Kingdom energy advice service.

It will also continue to run events, growing workshops and volunteering at its community training garden at Ravenscraig Walled Garden.

Senior development worker Lauren Parry said: “The new building will be open to all. People will be able to visit us for energy advice and find out more about our projects.

“We hope to encourage all of our community to get involved, and we’ll have a wide variety of events and volunteer opportunities.

“The kitchen and events space will also be available for community groups and individuals to use.”

Greener Kirkcaldy purchased the building with a grant from the Scottish Land Fund, a Scottish Government initiative which gives funding and support to help communities take ownership of land and buildings for projects to benefit local people.

The refurbishment is being funded by a grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

Activities such as the “living well on a budget” workshop will move to the new centre.

Top: The East Fergus Place building is now being refurbished. It will include a base for a food co-op promoting local seasonal produce.