What’s the Pig Idea?

A campaign aiming to conserve food supplies and cut waste began at the Farm on World Environment Day, 5 June 2013.

Eight young pigs will be fed on food waste from around London, including used brewers’ grain, whey and unsold fruit and vegetables.

Organisers food waste expert Tristram Stuart of the Feeding the 5,000 campaign, and chef Thomasina Miers, founder of Mexican street food restaurant chain Wahaca, also hope to change European law to allow food leftovers to be fed to pigs.

Feeding pigs with food waste was banned in the UK in 2001 after the foot and mouth outbreak. This has meant feeding pigs with expensive crops such as cereals.

Using leftovers reduces feed costs. It also helps protect areas such as tropical rainforests under threat of being used to grow feed crops.

This in turn boosts food security as crops such as cereals will be available for people to eat rather than pigs. It will also help create new jobs and income in the new eco-feed industry.

You can see the pigs’ diet at www.thepigidea.org

Some famous names will be cooking prime pork dishes for thousands of people in November at a feast in Trafalgar Square. The Feeding the 5,000 team will provide thousands of free meals using meat from our and other pigs fed on food waste.

We’re already working to improve access to high quality and locally- produced food. Our livestock team, which prides itself on high welfare and husbandry standards will be caring for the pigs. Come and say hello.

Visit our Farmers’ Market: every Saturday 10am – 3pm

There’s freshly-baked bread, traditional English juices, melt-in-the-mouth meat, a huge variety of cheeses and much more. It’s the only Farmers Market in London where you can visit animals while you shop. All the stalls are run by small producers, from within 100 miles of the Farm, organised by family firm City & Country Markets.

Out of work in Tower Hamlets?

We’re still looking for people to join our Urban Farmer scheme. You’ll get expert advice on growing fruit and vegetables and caring for livestock.

You can keep your produce to eat, or sell it through our Farm shop or new market. We’ll teach you how to turn fruit and veg into groceries to make more money along with business skills that could help you get back into work.

The Farm is a fun and friendly place where you can make friends. And we’ll give you a tasty and healthy lunch to boost you learning new skills.

If you’ve been unemployed for more than a year, can spend 15 hours a week on the Farm and live in the borough of Tower Hamlets, contact Karen@stepneycityfarm.org or call 020 7790 8204.

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Stepney City Farm in London’s East End is a working farm, Rural Arts Centre and community meeting place. We give children and adults a chance to meet farm animals, learn how to grow food and try out arts and crafts.

Come and visit us on Stepney Way, London E1 3DG, near Stepney Green Underground and Limehouse DLR stations. We’re open for drop-in visitors 10am to 4pm from Tuesday – Sunday and Public Holiday Mondays. For more information please call 020 7790 8204 or email info@stepneycityfarm.org