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‘It’s all about bringing people together’: BS3 Jammin’ returns
For just over two years, St Paul’s Church on Coronation Road has been home to BS3 Jammin’, a community event organised to reduce food waste.
This year, the event takes place across Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.
Caroline (“Cags”) Diep founded the event in 2023, together with St Paul’s Church vicar Jacqui Kean, after spending some time volunteering at BS3 Community Foodbank, which is based out of the church.
is needed now More than ever
Cags explained: “I came up with the idea when we first got hit by Brexit.
“I saw supermarket shelves getting smaller and smaller and the sensationalist headlines saying we’re running out of food. People were panicking.
“But this was also a time when there was food all around us but not being used. I saw so much fresh food, decent, quality food, going to waste and I wanted to do something about it.”
Anyone who attends BS3 Jammin’ can take part in drop-in workshops to learn how to reduce food waste, make fresh apple juice and cook new dishes.
There is also some food and drink on sale – freshly pressed apple juice and tonnes of fruit and veg from a pop-up BS3 Jammin greengrocer’s.
All proceeds will be donated to BS3 Community Foodbank.
At the pop-up greengrocer’s, customers can take as much or as little as they need and then pay via donation
All apples on offer have been picked from trees in the local area.
“I’ve even done a DIY Google Map where I’ve plotted out all the things that are growing in public spaces… pointing out blackberries are here, wild garlic is here, apples are here,” Cags added. “I want people to see how much is growing around them in public spaces.”
Around thirty volunteers support BS3 Jammin’ every year and the Cags is always looking for more.
For her, this is a “passion project”.
“I have Vietnamese parents who are waste not want not people,” Cags said. “My dad was in a war where he was captured, put in a camp and starved. In my culture, you don’t waste food.
“Food is so treasured and such an important aspect of everyday life. It’s all about bringing people together.”
To find out more about BS3 Jammin’, and to sign up to volunteer, visit www.humankindfestival.com/bs3jammin
All photos: Rob Browne
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