Why a Farmers Market?

We are Manchester Urban Diggers.

We create beautiful community market gardens in urban spaces as visions of fair and sustainable ways to supply the food we need to be part of a fairer food system, outside of the current broken system.

A community garden is a piece of land managed by the community and collectively worked on.

A market garden is a small scale farm that grows a variety of edible food.

One example of this is Platt Fields Market Garden in Fallowfield, where the MUD Market is held.

In our spaces people grow, cook and eat delicious, healthy food together. These gardens are hubs for thriving, connected communities and havens for nature.

We are building routes to market for producers of food.

This includes MUD Kitchen, where we harvest produce from our gardens and turn it into community lunches and catering, and The MUD Market.

The MUD Market is a Farmers Market which happens every first Sunday of the month 10am - 3pm at Platt Fields Market Garden in Fallowfield.

At this market you can buy a large part of your weekly shop directly from local producers and learn about where your food comes from and how it is made.

The food system is broken, and we are trying to change it.

A fairer food system treats people and nature with respect and care.

We believe a fairer food system encompasses a healthy environment, strong communities, and greater wellbeing for all.

Combined, this equates to Food Sovereignty.

What is Food Sovereignty?

The universal right to grow and cook food, and locally access high quality, fresh, seasonal produce at fair prices for growers and customers.

This includes everyone having opportunities to access appropriate education and training, and to be able to collaborate and share skills around food growing, horticulture and cooking healthy food.

Food production in disused urban land increases biodiversity and soil health.

Sustainable food production requires a healthy envirnment where natural, low-impact farming methods are prioritised and localised.

This requires a shift away from the current supermarket model.

Local growing and direct routes to market increase food resilience, with far less food miles and a supply change less impacted by global conflicts and climate disasters.