Cuba Organic Support Group (COSG)
In February 1997, Garden Organic (then HDRA) and De Montfort University ran a study tour to Cuba for Garden Organic members, enabling them to meet and exchange experiences with Cuban gardeners who had been involved in the radical transformation to urban organic food production that has taken place since the early 1990s.
COSG was formed later that year by tour members and others supportive of the Cuban efforts. The group aims to 'facilitate cooperation with community-based projects involved in organic production in Cuba, and publicise the development of Cuba's organic movement'.
COSG has close links with the Foundation for Nature and Humanity (FNH), which runs courses and supports several projects across Havana including patio and rooftop gardens, school gardens, community composting and tree planting. COSG also links with the Community Food Preservation Project in Havana, which provides education on simple methods of food preservation and home gardens to improve the diet, health and lifestyle of the family.
In addition to providing tools and small funds to these projects, COSG organises annual Gardening Brigades to Cuba, in response to requests from Cuban gardeners for practical help.
In 2007 COSG and Garden Organic supported a visit to the UK by Dr Humberto Ríos Labrada, a Cuban plant breeder who has pioneered participatory farmer involvement in plant breeding and seed selection, to strengthen links with British research organisations and farming and gardening groups.
1 Cooperthwaite,
Windermere Road, Kendal,
Cumbria, LA9 5EZ
Email: cosg-uk@hotmail.co.uk
Website: www.cosg.org.uk
See also Information Resources page for a Resource List of contacts in Cuba and other useful websites.
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