ediculture delivers courses and consultancy regarding edible culture. Registered charity number 1076110 Manifesto / Constitution . Edible Culture Operative (ECO) is a charitable trust, (1076110) dedicated to
1. the promotion of health and wellbeing
and 2. the alleviation of poverty for all people
by 3. developing the capacity of the edible cultural network
and 4. providing
educational information and resources
designed to improve the provision and practice of foraging and food growing
(i.e sustainable, organic, ecological, biological and permacultural techniques)
The trust will fulfil these aims and objectives by:
• developing relevant information
• presenting and distributing information to the public in relevant media and forums
• participating in processes designed to increase the local food capacity at all levels,
from individual-domestic though organised group-community sector up to and including broadscale-commercial.
• Developing opportunities for relevant training and qualifications
• Developing infrastructure
• Demonstrating edible-cultural practices and techniques
• Conducting research
Background –
During the summer of 2013 trustees of the then Sheffield Organic Food Initiative charitable trust (SOFI) held a meeting to discuss the continuation of the legacy of Richard Clare (1964-2013) founder of SOFI. Richard dedicated his whole adult life to creating, living and teaching edible culture. SOFI was founded in 1997, as a network of individuals committed to developing the provision of locally grown organic food. They provided working examples of urban, organic self-sufficiency, demonstrating the tangible benefits arising out of the application of such techniques. After Richards death the trustees moved from Sheffield, but the legacy was continued in the practices of those who he influenced. As the geographical location had shifted it became necessary to re-focus the same practices which were established by SOFI to a broader global vision. This became Ediculture, a fusion of edible and culture: edible, meaning a focus on food, and culture, meaning social practices which connect people. Whilst in the late 90s SOFI was initiating such practices, now in 2020 the network established by SOFI is operative, having honed the practices which were at first experimental. So SOFI charitable trust became the Edible Culture Operative charitable trust (ECO). ECO has established a base at Coed Hills Forest Garden, collaborating with The Friends of Coed Hills, a company limited by guarantee, who provide a space to demonstrate and practice edible culture. As practitioners we are well-placed to fully understand the complexities and demands involved, ranging from the personal challenges to more general lack of support from society at large. As such, we currently work with a small network of individuals and organisations who share our ethics and practices. We aspire to grow this network to include the wider public at large, and to expand our practice globally, especially to support and help developing counties through edible cultural practices. ECO will fulfil the requirements of an educational trust by demonstrating practices useful in improving the performance of the edible cultural capacity. It will build upon its strong organic and permacultural foundations, through active engagement with individuals and local organisations up to commercial. The trust will also promote the profile of the edible culture sector in the media and other relevant forums. We follow the natural learning cycle framework we call the Phases of Ediculture:
These are:-
- Foraging
- Organic horticulture
- Permaculture
- Seasonal Awareness
- Nutrition
- Herbal Medicine
- Working together
- Nature connection
Each of these subjects interelates and overlaps, and so we bring a wholistic approach to our learning and teaching.
