Keep your weekend free over September 11 and 12, cos it's the Colne Valley Food Festival. We've got some great treats lined up for anyone keen to find what delights the Colne Valley holds in terms of local food.

Here's what is coming up:

The two major focal points of the festival are the Local Produce Swap and Information Fair running from 1 to 4 pm on Sunday, September 12, and the previous evening's screening of 'Food Inc.' with an audience debate to follow.

But that's not all. there are other good things happening on the Saturday during the day. From noon until 2pm there is chance to find out what permaculture is all about, and from 3-4pm we've got a session on using Himalayan growing techniques in the hilly Pennine landscape. Both events are in the upstairs room at the Commercial and are free. Why not come along, get yourself a pint or a coffee, and find out more about how you could be improving your fruit and veg growing.

On Sunday from noon until 2pm, also upstairs in The Commercial is a really interesting session looking at various options about how we could increase our local food production here in the Colne Valley. Ever wanted to scale up your allotment and start supplying fruit and veg to our community in the Colne Valley? Interested in helping rear organic pigs locally? Interested in Community Supported Agriculture and community farming? Come along to find out what's going on, put your ideas into the mix and get involved.

If you would rather be out and about on the Sunday there is free family foraging walk led by Alan from Birch Forest Schools to look for edible plants and berries and join in some family fun. Highly recommended!. Meet at 10 am at the Rotcher picnic site car park on the Sunday morning.

On Saturday evening (Sept 11) The Handmade Bakery presents a film screening and audience debate, from 6pm - 9pm at Slaithwaite Community Centre. Join us for a screening of the Oscar nominated, thought provoking, film Food Inc. followed by the chance to debate the issues raised by the film with a panel of food experts including: growers, retailers, and authorities on the food chain and sustainable agriculture. You’ll never look at food the same way again... price: £3.50 on the door (includes 1 free drink). This promises to be a really interesting evening. Get there early to avoid disappointment!

On Sunday afternoon from 1pm through to 4pm the round car park on Carr Lane will be the centre of attention as numerous projects and local food organisations come to set out their stall and provide information about what they are all about. Marsden and Slaithwaite Transition Towns are holding a Local Produce Swap, there will be an opportunity for those interested in preserving,  to link up with growers with gluts,  plus competitions, children's activities and live music.  The Green Valley Grocer and The Handmade Bakery will both be open for the afternoon, as will the fabulous Vanilla Bean ! So come along, enjoy the harvest and see you there !

Take a look at the dedicated festival website for all the details and to keep up to date with the latest.

 What a marvellous turnout for our local growers and producers meeting this evening !

Thanks to all who came, and we hope that amongst all the chat and info you found out something of use and interest.

There is obviously a lot of potential out there in the Colne and Holme valleys beyond.

Highlights of the evening include -

the promise of a Slawit blueberry harvest

a possible Preserving Group with the aim of sharing all the old skills to keep the harvest going year round

garlic from Taylor Hill

and maybe even some Crimble honey ( next year ..... I can hardly wait !)

and lots lots more.

So, this is just the beginning - and we have a wonderful season of local produce to look forward to !

If you couldn't come to the meeting, and are interested in getting involved in growing and producing for us, email us  - helen@slaithwaite.coop or call on 01484 598050