To someone who knows nothing about your society, how would you describe it to them in a couple of sentences?
We are a group of students passionate in getting our hands dirty to grow food and appreciate nature. Even though we aren’t always successful in growing the plants, we learn from the process and try our best to create an inclusive environment.
What are your personal motivations for being a part of the society?
I love plants! I have learnt so much about the flora and fauna of the UK since moving here, and I couldn’t have done that without the help of many others. I want to pass it forward and spread my knowledge of plants in the UK/London to other students, and hope that they learn to appreciate nature and subsequently fight to protect our collective natural environment.
Whats the best thing about being part of a society?
Meeting other people who are passionate about plants, growing food, and just being chill and enjoying nature.
Why do you think it’s so important to inspire other students to be part of this movement for change?
In a world dominated by rapid urbanisation and construction, access to green spaces is so important for our mental health and well-being. We are also increasingly disconnected from nature due to the globalised nature of trade (where does your cup of Pret coffee come from?). By growing our own food, one gets more connected to the hard work and process behind every loaf of bread. This makes us more conscious of the food we eat so that food is not merely food but a story and a livelihood for someone else in the world.
Food is not merely food but a story of a livelihood for someone else in the world".
Do you see yourself as a leader when it comes to climate action and change? And/or do you have anyone who inspires you in this field? It would be great to hear about them.
The scale of action we are taking is really small, I wouldn’t say we are actively decreasing our carbon emissions significantly, but I like to promote a more plant-heavy diet over meat. And growing one’s own food is a good starting point to talk about climate action for people who have never been actively engaged in it.
Tell us about events, initiatives, campaigns that you’ve been involved in so far?
For Urban Farmers’ society, I have organised social events like pumpkin carving (Halloween), house plant workshop, an upcycling workshop with climate action society, a spring harvest sale and a veggie bbq.
I am also a volunteer in Castlehaven community centre (a foodbank) as a gardening volunteer for their parks, and I also volunteer for Trees For Cities as a Volunteer Planting Supervisor, where I teach others how to plant trees and also do it myself!
What do you think are the biggest challenges for climate action?
Inertia among politicians. Normal people get jaded, and so do politicians. It seems almost like there needs to be an emergency for people to start caring about climate change again, just like with the Palestine-Israel conflict.