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The Boiler House
9 Wilcock Street
Manchester
M16 7DA
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0161 465 6954
We want to build a healthier city where everyone can grow their own food.
Somewhere that’s full of beans. The kind of city you want to live in.
Growing food in cities makes a lot of sense – gardens, allotments, patios, rooftops and window-ledges
all have the potential to provide us with an abundance of free and nutritious food. Plus food grown in
urban environments can help reduce food transportation, create jobs, and strengthen communities. We
all have food in common – we eat it, crave it, and dream about it. So let’s celebrate and grow it!
Founded in 2009, Sow the City is an award winning, Manchester-based social enterprise,
with a mission
to empower communities to grow and live sustainably.
We really believe in:
•
Encouraging people in urban areas to grow and eat nutritious food.
•
Involving local people in our projects to develop stronger, more cohesive communities.
•
Running practical horticultural and environmental training courses that provide skills and
knowledge for life, learning and employment.
•
Quality greenspace that is attractive and productive and that contributes to the long term future
of the planet.
•
Using sustainable materials to minimise the environmental impact of our projects.
•
Teaching organic practices and permaculture and promoting the use of plant species that
encourage wildlife.
•
Researching and testing innovative technology and techniques that can be used for urban
agriculture.
Take a look at Sow the City’s 2019/20 Social Impact Statement for more information about how our
work has benefited communities and the environment.
About us
Sow the City is a small but hardworking team of three, supported by a wider team of trusted specialists
and contractors who bring expert advice and support for specific projects when required.
Jon Ross
Born and raised in Manchester, Jon knows a lot about the soil in this part of
the country. Having graduated with a masters in environmental management,
he began his career at WSP Environmental doing contaminated land and
corporate social responsibility work. He then worked for Transport for Greater
Manchester delivering projects including the Rochdale Bus Station
Hydroelectric Power Scheme, the Greater Manchester Climate Change
Strategy, and he was lead person for biodiversity for the transport authority.
Jon founded Sow the City with just a few bags of compost in 2009. Since then he has steered the social
enterprise into an award winning organisation. Jon is passionate about the potential for urban
agriculture to improve his home town and loves to grow his own veg when he’s not helping other people
do the same.
Kieron McGlasson
Having grown up in the Lake District under the guidance of his Dad, a
landscape gardener, Kieron has always thought it normal to grow your own
food. After moving to Manchester for university, Kieron spent nine years in the
regeneration sector at BDP delivering high profile projects. These often
centred on the community engagement and sustainability elements of a city
plan or neighbourhood strategy. Kieron then worked for two years in the social
enterprise sector helping to build healthier communities in Salford.
Joining Sow the City in early 2014 has allowed Kieron to combine his roots, experience and personal
interests with a career across the public, private and social enterprise sectors. His work combines his
passions for food growing, his environmental conscience and his work in community development to
create a happier and healthier city.
Emily Corner
Emily was born in Salford and has lived in Manchester for the past five years.
After studying Geography at The University of Edinburgh, she moved back to
the Manchester area and began working and volunteering for The
Groundwork Trust in Oldham and The Conservation Volunteers in Manchester
focusing on practical conservation, countryside access and environmental
education. She then took up a role with Newground and Together Housing
facilitating community gardening across Burnley and Blackburn. Emily began
working for Sow the City in early 2018 and was able to bring along experience
in community food growing, outreach and engagement as well as practical
knowledge of habitat management and Forest Schools.
Please click here to find out how you can volunteer or work for Sow the City.
Copyright Sow the City 2020
Sow the City is a CIC
registered in England
company no. 6872177