A HOMEGROWN community produce project is attracting interest from all over the world.

Incredible Edible, a sustainable organic food scheme started in Todmorden by four green-fingered volunteers in 2008, also featured on BBC One’s Countryfile on Sunday.

The team started out by planting fruit and veg in every spare corner of the town.

Now they have branched out into using state-of-the-art growing techniques and started two social enterprise producers.

Last month, the team provided lectures and tours to 90 ‘veg tourists’ from around the world.

Jenny Coleman, who organises and leads work parties at Incredible Edible, said: “People from every continent in the world have picked it up and ran with it wonderfully, which is just brilliant.

“It’s an idea, not a business, and so we’re keen to spread it.

“It’s about three ‘plates’, bringing communities together, learning for adults and children, and supporting local businesses.

“All three work together and interact with each other, hopefully to the ultimate goal of a sustainable community.”

All of Todmorden’s schools now have a supply of fresh fruit and veg which the children are encouraged to help cultivate.

The most recent developments are the aquaponics, hydroponics and permaculture set up at Todmorden High School in Ewood Lane.

For an ‘aqua garden’ in a school lab, researchers have used tanks of goldfish which excrete nitrate rich waste which is then fed to potted vegetables, cleansing the water, and then going back to the fish. If the experiments are successful, carp will replace the goldfish, as they are larger and edible.

Permaculture allows for little to no use of pesticides and synthetic fertilisers by using deep soil beds, compatible planting, and manure. Mrs Coleman said: “We are pretty much totally organic and we’re the first place in the country to bring together these innovative ways to grow.”

“It works with the children at the high school, helping them learn and keeping them healthy.

“It would be great if more places picked it up.”