Led by Emily Nurden (she/her), a staff member based in the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Social Sciences, in collaboration with the Academy for Sustainable Futures, the Students' Union and the Chaplaincy, the Veg Box Project was launched in 2022 and is currently running on a fortnightly cycle. This wonderful initiative gives our university community the opportunity to engage in sustainable living practices by:

• offering convenient and regular access to fresh, seasonal, organically-grown food at an affordable price, brought direct to their place of work or study
• advocating for sustainable growing methods in harmony with nature
• reducing both food miles and single-use packaging, helping our staff and students to lower their carbon footprints
• making cooking with nutritious ingredients and understanding seasonal availability of foods more accessible
• supporting a direct link from local farmers to consumers.

All vegetables are freshly harvested at Ripple Farm in Wye, less than ten miles away from our Canterbury Campus.

How it works

• Step 1: Place your veg box order via the online form no later than 12pm on the Tuesday prior to a collection date, and complete your £6 card payment (per week's veg) via the link provided.
• Step 2: Bring a reusable tote bag, box or whatever you prefer use* to uni with you, and collect your vegetables from the North Holmes campus on the subsequent Thursday between 15:00-17:00. (Locations vary but will be confirmed on the form when you order.)
• Step 3: Receive your (optional) newsletter with details on the week's vegetables and some recipe ideas to use them in.
• Step 4: Enjoy your seasonal, local, organic veg!

To see upcoming Veg Box Collection dates, check out our Sustainability Events programme.

*In order to keep the cost as low as possible, the veg is ordered and delivered to campus in bulk each fortnight, and then weighed and sorted by Emily and her volunteers at collection, which is why we ask you to bring your own reusable bag or box that best suits your chosen means of transportation.

You're not tied in to any kind of subscription; you can order a box one fortnight at a time, as and when you want one, or order several boxes in advance if you prefer.

What you get

Although the total weight will fluctuate as different crops come in and out of season, you can expect to get approximately 4kg of seasonal organic vegetables, freshly picked, in your order.

Although we can't facilitate the ability to choose individual items to include or exclude from your order each time, we've got a handy one-page guide for you on what veg are likely to be in season month by month, and if you sign up for the  newsletter when you order your box, Emily will regularly suggest recipes tailored to the current season which help you get to grips with how to cook and use different vegetables, including any you may be less familiar with.

You can also check out our growing library of seasonal recipe cards which will be available in hard-copy from time to time at the veg pick-up point, and are published on our Sustainability blog.

How you can get involved

If you'd like to find out more about the project, or if you're interested in helping to run and support the project, and help us in reaching more staff and students, you can pop your details in this online form and Emily will get in touch with you directly to answer your questions and tell you more about it.

Refillable Van

Want to stock up on plastic-free cupboard staples to supplement your veg box? No problem! The Refillable Van will be parked up on the Canterbury Campus outside Verena Holmes on the last Thursday of every month, between 13:00-16:00.

This local business operates a mobile zero-waste pop-up shop, offering a wide range of refills including:

• Dry foods such as rice, pulses, grains, and nuts
• Dried fruit, vegan pick and mix and other sweet treats
• Herbs and spices
• Washing Up liquid, laundry liquid and fabric softener
• Hand soap, shampoo/conditioner, and body wash
• Homewares, seasonal gifts and more...

Simply bring your empty bottles and containers and they will refill them with as much or little as you need. You can always check when the Refillable Van will next be on campus, and find out about other sustainability initiatives, events and activities at CCCU by keeping an eye on our Sustainability Events programme or following us on social media.