Local food hub sets up home delivery service
AN online food hub launched as an emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic has introduced a new home delivery service to ensure people across East Devon have access to fresh, high quality local food during the latest national lockdown.
Since April last year, In My Back Yard (IMBY) has been growing steadily and supplying households with a wide range of produce including vegetables and salad, herbs, meat, eggs, dairy, honey and sourdough bread.
Created by a group of independent and small-scale farmers, producers and community members, In My Back Yard aims to build a more resilient and community-centred food system for the local area.
Customers order direct from the producers and growers involved via an online platform, with a phone buddy system available for those who don’t have access to the internet. Goods are then delivered to one of the specified collection points in Branscombe, Lyme Regis, Ottery St Mary, Seaton and Sidmouth, or direct to homes and businesses.
Award-winning cook, food writer, grower and photographer Mark Diacono was full of praise for In My Back Yard and its ethos. He said: “We love In My Back Yard and wouldn’t want to be without it. It’s essentially a local, ethical supermarket that not only offers incredible food – the most delicious eggs, chicken and salad I’ve ever eaten – it was created from the ground up.”
Mr Diacono, who lives in Sidmouth, added: “It’s about so much more than delicious food though: this way of shopping has us directly investing in our local landscape, the care of our soils and supports a community of passionate and dedicated growers and makers.”
In My Back Yard sources as much produce as it can from within 30 miles of its Branscombe hub. Goods can be ordered online or via telephone from 10am on Saturday until 10pm on Wednesday, with home deliveries across certain postcodes or collection pick-ups taking place on Friday afternoons.
Around 20 environmentally-minded artisans, businesses and farms are members of the cooperative, including Artemis Bees based in Ottery St Mary, Elbow Farm in Beer, Forest Funghi in Dawlish, Natural Branscombe in Branscombe, Well Bread in Tytherleigh and Westhaye Farm in Hawkchurch.
Non-producer member Emma Brice, who heads up In My Back Yard’s media, marketing and public relations, said: “The cooperative is very much looking toward a changed food future, working with producers and communities to support the local economy, trade and environment. By sourcing locally and encouraging new entrants into growing and farming opportunities, In My Back Yard hopes to help build adaptable and flexible resilience into our local food industry.
“In My Back Yard is a local cooperative created by a group of farmers, producers and community members, all coming together under one
‘Connecting producers with the community makes local food a serious and viable option for the weekly shop’
name and promotional effort, to help small, ecologically-minded family businesses thrive.”
She added: “Largely run by volunteers, the local team that goes into making this possible are delighted and proud to be providing this service.”
In My Back Yard has also recently received support from the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s (AONB) Sustainable Development Fund, delivered locally on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Devon county councillor Martin Ward, who represents the Seaton and Colyton ward, commented: “Connecting local producers direct with the local community in this way makes local food a serious and viable option for the weekly shop – currently dominated by supermarkets.”
Visit www.inmybackyard.co, email feedme@inmybackyard.co or call 01297 680680.