LIVING EARTH ENIZAGAMYTIRAHC
Celebrating 15 years with Prue Leith
Why It’s Time for Government Action Food for Life Served Here
The Global Soil Safari TV comes to life in the name of worms
The Whole Truth About Ultra-Processed Foods
Welcome to the Summer Edition of Living Earth
As summer unfolds and nature is in full swing, I’ve been thinking about just how much we can learn by slowing down and paying attention. Whether it’s the return of pollinators to our gardens, the quiet joy of foraging, or the sight of cattle turned out to pasture, this season reminds us of the beauty - and importance - of working with nature, not against it.
In this issue, you’ll find stories that bring that idea to life. You’ll meet John, an organic beef farmer from Somerset and one of our Farm to Fork ambassadors, who’s proving that small-scale, sustainable farming can be a powerful force for change (p12). We also celebrate 15 years of our Food for Life Served Here certification - a quiet revolution that’s helping caterers serve real, nutritious food in schools, hospitals and care settings across the UK (p10).
But we know there’s still so much more to do. One of the biggest threats to our health and wellbeing right now is the prevalence of ultra-processed foods. Our latest campaign is shining a light on the influence this industry has over what’s on supermarket shelves - and what we’re encouraged to eat. I hope you’ll take a moment to read more and add your voice to our call for government action.
We’re also preparing for our Annual General Meeting, which we hope to hold on 13th November 2025. Once again, we’ll be meeting online to make it easier for more of you to attend, wherever you are. It’s a brilliant opportunity to connect, ask questions, and hear directly from our team about where we’re heading next.
As always, I want to thank you for your continued support. Your care, your curiosity, and your commitment to a better future are what make our work possible.
With warm wishes,
Helen Browning, CEO and Organic Farmer
Your impact
Here at Soil HQ, we’re so grateful to have the support of our generous members. The future of food, farming and nature is looking brighter and it’s all thanks to you!
Thank you to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Ursula from the RSNO recently got in touch about their charity coffee morning. The orchestra and its supporters were raising money in memory of their friend and colleague, who was a Soil Association supporter. Together, they have donated an incredible £520 to us as one of the three charities important to Sally. Thank you from all of us at the Soil Association for making us a part of Sally’s memory.
Winners – People’s Choice at the Smiley Charity Film Awards
Our Stop Killing our Rivers film won the People’s Choice Award at the Smiley Charity Film Awards! Thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign, signed our petition, and voted for us to win. It really shows this is an issue that resonates, and we will continue to campaign on behalf of nature, wildlife and our local environments.
Save the Date for the Climate Coalition’s Mass Lobby
Join thousands in Westminster on 9th July 2025 to tell your MP to Act Now and support a better future for climate, nature and our health. More information will be available soon to help you meet with your MP.
To everyone who has supported us, we can’t thank you enough. If you’re interested in making an even bigger impact, please do phone us on 0300 330 0022 or pop us an email at memb@soilassociation.org
Why it’s time for government action
We all know that food is essential to our health, but in today’s world many of the products on supermarket shelves are a far cry from natural or nourishing. In fact, In fact ultra-processed foods (UPFs) make up 65 percent of our children’s diets, and over 50 percent of our shopping baskets.* An ever-growing body of research suggests they may be harming our health. The whole truth about ultra-processed foods:
of the foods in our shopping baskets are ultra-processed foods over 50%
Understanding what we eat and making small but meaningful changes can help us reclaim a diet that supports both our wellbeing and the planet.
What Are Ultra-Processed, Minimally Processed, and Whole Foods?
All food is processed to some degree, and processing can be necessary and beneficial. But ultra-processing is different:
• Whole & minimally processed foods: These are foods in their natural or near-natural state - think fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, fresh meat, fresh bread, plain yogurt and frozen vegetables. They are packed with nutrients and free from additives.
• Ultra-processed foods (UPFs): These are heavily altered products containing additives, preservatives, artificial flavourings, and other industrial ingredients. They include fizzy drinks, packaged snacks, processed meats, instant noodles, and ready meals.
The problem? UPFs are often designed to be easy to over-consume while offering little nutritional value. Meanwhile, their convenience and affordability have made them a staple in many households.
How Did We Get Here?
For decades, large food corporations have shaped our diets, prioritising profit over health. Ultra-processed foods are marketed as quick, affordable, and tasty, but behind the glossy packaging lies a food system that encourages excessive consumption of products linked to obesity, heart disease, and digestive issues. At the same time, fresh and minimally processed foods are often less accessible and less affordable.
The Soil Association has obtained emails via the Freedom of Information Act showing that the ultra-processed food industry has blocked government attempts to encourage shops to offer promotional deals on healthy foods. The Department of Health and Social Care had planned to encourage retailers to promote more deals on minimally processed foods - such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and unprocessed meat. However, industry lobbyists, representing some of the UK’s biggest ultra-processed food manufacturers, pressured officials to remove this advice from the guidance issued to retailers. This move prioritises corporate profits over public health, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that whole and minimally processed foods are crucial for wellbeing.
The influence of ultra-processed food companies extends far beyond pricing policies. Globally, these industries spend millions lobbying governments, shaping health policies to serve their business interests rather than the public good. This must change.
What Can We Do?
The good news is that people are pushing back. Public polling undertaken for our campaign reveals that many respondents do not want the ultraprocessed food industry involved in shaping policies around healthy eating.
An overwhelming majority –91% – of people said they would be concerned if ultra-processed food companies were influencing government nutrition policy –with nearly two-thirds (61.3%) of people who responded to the survey saying they would be “very concerned” about it.
To drive this change, we’ve launched a petition calling on the UK government to resist the influence of the ultraprocessed food industry and prioritize access to minimally processed food for all.
* Colombet, Z. et al. (2022), OP12 Social inequalities in ultra-processed food intakes in the United Kingdom: A time trend analysis (2008–2018), Journal of Epidemiological & Community Health, 76:A6-A7.
Sign the petition today and be part of the movement for healthier, more sustainable food!
The Willow Trial: Could tree leaves be a natural boost for lambs?
When organic farmer Tom Fairfax noticed lambs on his Northumberland farm selectively nibbling willow leaves, it sparked a question. Was this just chance grazing or something more? “Where there are trees, the livestock and animals use them, and that’s not by accident,” says Tom.
His curiosity led to action. Tom teamed up with researchers from the University of Nottingham to set up an Innovative Farmers field lab - a Soil Association programme that puts real farming experience at the heart of scientific trials. The trials are designed by farmers, for farmers, giving them a chance to test new ideas and practices in real-life farm settings.
As it turns out, willow has more to offer than shade and shelter.
Willow is high in cobalt, which is something a lot of UK soils are deficient in, so a lot of lambs are deficient in it too,
explains Soil Association Farming Advisor, Tabitha Acton. Lambs lacking in cobalt can suffer from poor growth and need costly mineral supplements to stay healthy.
That’s where willow could come in. It’s rich in cobalt, grows quickly, and is relatively easy to establish on most farms. If proven effective, it could offer a natural, low-cost solution to a common livestock health issue - while also improving biodiversity, flood resilience, and soil health. “Willow trees can create wildlife corridors, which can be really important for biodiversity and the different animals involved on the farm” says Tabitha, a farming advisor at the Soil Association.
The study involved 580 lambs on Tom’s farm, all grazing a single field to keep conditions consistent. Each week, half of the lambs - the “treatment group” - was separated for one day and given access to freshly cut willow. The rest of the time, they rejoined the others – the “control group”. The goal? To see if these lambs would benefit nutritionally from the willow.
Lamb weights were recorded weekly, and blood and forage samples were collected by Dr Nigel Kendall from the University of Nottingham to track cobalt and other mineral levels.
Unsurprisingly, the lambs took to the willow enthusiastically, treating it as
a supplement rather than a staple. But the results showed no significant difference in blood cobalt levels between the treatment group and the control group of lambs.
So what happened? The field where the trial took place was a well-managed herbal ley, rich in deep-rooting plants like red clover, which naturally draw up minerals from the soil. Although still lower than recommended intake levels, it’s likely the herbal ley with constant exposure was already giving lambs access to enough cobalt for their requirements during the trialhighlighting the benefits of diverse pastures and good grazing practices. However, other factors effecting the requirements of the lambs likely had the most impact on the field lab results.
Interestingly, lambs on other parts of the farm, grazed on more conventional pastures, did show signs of cobalt deficiency. This suggests that willow might still play an important role, especially on farms without herbal leys.
While the results didn’t prove a clear benefit from willow in this setting, they raised valuable questions. More trials are planned, and the idea has generated strong interest from other farmers keen to explore the role of tree fodder in livestock diets.
As Tom puts it,
If your margins are tight, this could be the difference between being profitable and being loss-making.
And that’s the beauty of field labs - they open up new possibilities, grounded in practical experience and shared learning.
15 years of Food for Life Served here.
Celebrating 15 Years of Better Food with Food for Life Served Here
In March, a special event took place at London’s City Hall that marked a quiet but powerful revolution in the way we eat - especially in our schools, hospitals, and workplaces.
Food for Life Served Here, a Soil Association certification scheme, celebrated 15 years of helping caterers serve healthier, more sustainable meals across the country.
If you haven’t come across it before, Food for Life is a programme that champions fresh, seasonal, and
ethically sourced food in public settings - think school dinners made with real ingredients, and hospital meals that nourish and support healing. The Served Here certification recognises caterers who go the extra mile to make sure food is free from additives, sustainably sourced, and packed with goodness. It’s about getting the kind of meals we’d be proud to serve at home onto plates across the UK.
The celebration brought together caterers, local authorities and changemakers from across the food
Photo credits: Erin Cobby
system. It was an afternoon of warmth, shared purpose, and well-earned recognition.
Sophie Pritchard, Head of Sustainable Catering at Food for Life, unveiled new updates to the certification’s standards.
We want to ensure our standards continue to lead the way for healthy and sustainable food.
She said. And with the ever-changing food landscape, that leadership is more important than ever.
The highlight of the afternoon came from Prue Leith, a long-time champion of Food for Life. In her keynote speech, she praised the team’s early vision and continued commitment.
London’s Deputy Mayor, Joanne McCartney, echoed this in her speech, commending the dedication of caterers in shaping young people’s relationships with food and health.
I have been a fan of Food for Life from its startup… I feel very proud of the fact that I was in there right at the start… Huge congratulations to you all, I really do think you do a fantastic job. I just wish there were lots more of you and more support from above!
Dame Prue Leith
Guests enjoyed beautifully prepared canapés from Graysons, a Food for Life Served Here certified caterer. True to the standards, the food featured sustainably sourced meat and a strong showing of seasonal, plant-based dishes, with 50% of the menu being vegetarian to reflect the commitment to getting more vegetables, pulses and vegetarian meals on plates.
Fifteen years on, Food for Life Served Here continues to prove that better food is possible - even in tough times. And that’s something we can all celebrate.
Meet the Farmer
Happy Cows, Happy Ecosystems
I have a deep relationship with the cows, like how you know your friends and family
Our Farm to Fork Ambassador Programme is made up of inspiring people working tirelessly to create a healthier, more sustainable, and fairer food system for all. Programme Manager Olivia has been to see one of its members, John, an organic beef farmer from Somerset.
‘Great beef, good quality animal’ was the most recent text from John’s butcher. “It tells me what we have been doing with the animal, with the tree-planting, with the scale of farming is right. The end user is happy, the cow is happy, the farmer is happy, the ecosystem is happy.”
John Ker, an organic beef farmer from Somerset, is one of our Farm to Fork Ambassadors. The Ambassador Programme is part of our Farm to Fork Partnership with Ocado Retail, aiming to transform the way we eat, farm and care for our natural world. I was lucky enough to visit his farm on a gloriously sunny spring day where he took me to meet the cows and shared his passion for farming in harmony with nature.
As we walked down to the winter cow sheds, John told me that his family
have been at Kittisford Barton Farm since the 1950s. Their family have tried different farming approaches from conventional to organic, from arable, to sheep, and to beef. Before converting to organic in 2001, John’s Dad had a bad reaction to chemical sprays which sent him on a journey of asking what are these chemicals doing to us? For him it was a no-brainer, and he stopped spraying overnight.
John has continued the legacy of farming with nature. The farm has a small number of cows who are healthy, relaxed and have lots of space. We wandered over to look at a paddock lined with trees, planted both to capture carbon from the atmosphere and provide food for the cows - which they “love to browse” John tells me. The farm was alive with birdsong, buzzing hedgerows, and an abundance of wildlife including otters!
What struck me is how connected John is with his cows and the landscape. We opened a gate to his garden, filled with signs of family life and a veg patch. We walked to a shed behind his house where John and his three children are raising their show Dexter calves. He told me:
“I have a deep relationship with the cows, like how you know your friends and family”.
He went on to explain that this style of farming – small scale, organic, and in harmony with nature - is part of the solution for a healthier farming system.
He focusses on building soil health and growing great grass that nourishes his cows. This, in turn, helps to produce high quality beef and the cows replenish the soils with their manure as they graze.
“We have to produce enough food for everyone. If we grow more nutrient dense food, in theory, we would need less food.”
I asked John, who can change the food system so it works for everyone and the planet? John responded
“No one person can take responsibility for changing it. It needs to be collective action. We need control of the narrative of what is healthy food. And it needs to be simplified so the masses can afford [food] and understand it. It’s so complicated, so I do what I am doing to the best of my abilities, and I take opportunities to engage with the public.”
It’s clear John is passionate about telling the world about how he farms.
“This is why I go to livestock shows with my family”.
Showing cows gives John the opportunity to talk to the public about producing high quality, low intensity, ethical food. John tells me he handdelivers all the Dexter beef boxes himself, and some customers come visit the farm to learn more about how the beef is produced.
When asked why do you farm like this? John said,
“for me, it’s more genuine, more connected, I feel valued”.
13th
Nov
Save the date
Our Annual General Meeting will beheld on the 13th November 2025 between 7-8.30pm. We’re excited to share our updates from the last year and a look ahead for 2026. We’ll have a host of guest speakers and the opportunity for you to share your questions and feedback.
We’ll be holding our AGM online again to allow more of our members to attend. It increases the accessibility, sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the AGM.
Look out for more information and our invitation to register closer to the time!
We think large rooftops should have solar. Do you?
Become a member of the Big Solar Co-op today.
The Big Solar Co-op is a not-for-profit and 100% member owned. We’re installing solar on large commercial and community rooftops across the UK to push fossil fuels off the grid, fast.
• Buy shares from just £100
• Earn inflation-beating annual return
• We’re UK leaders in using only ethically-sourced solar panels
Capital at risk. Please read our online share offer document for details.
Better news for bees ...But
the work isn’t over yet
Thanks to dedicated campaigning by us, wider conservation organisations and supporters like you, the UK Government has finally banned the use of neonicotinoids in England. It’s a big win for bees, and one we couldn’t have achieved without your helpthank you!
Neonicotinoids were among the most widely used pesticides, but they’re also among the most harmful to pollinators. These chemicals attack bees’ nervous systems, causing disorientation and, ultimately, death. Professor Dave Goulson, a bee expert at the University of Sussex, estimates that just one teaspoon of neonicotinoid is enough to kill a staggering 1.25 billion honeybees.
Although the EU banned neonicotinoids in 2018, the UK Government had continued to allow emergency authorisations each year,
especially for use on oilseed rape. But in January 2025, that policy changed. Emergency applications were finally rejected, and we can now celebrate a complete ban.
While some farmers expressed concern, the long-term benefits could be substantial. According to researchers at the University of Reading,
bee pollination saves British farmers around £1.8 billion a year in crop production.
Soil Association senior policy officer Lucia Monje-Jelfs welcomed the news:
It is vital that the UK puts an end to the use of bee-harming chemicals. Neonicotinoids simply have no place in a sustainable farming system, and we are delighted to see the Government sticking to their commitment to protect our pollinators.
There’s Still Work to Do
The neonicotinoid ban is a crucial step forward, but it’s only the beginning. A wide range of other pesticides remain in use and continue to harm wildlife and degrade soil health. Their widespread application is a key driver of global biodiversity loss.
Fertilisers are another concern. Research by Rothamsted and the University of Sussex found that even common fertilisers used on grassland can halve pollinator numbers by reducing the flowers they depend on.
Climate change adds further pressure. In fact, 2024 was the worst year on record for bumblebees, with numbers dropping by nearly a quarter compared to the 2010-2023 average, according to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.
While the Government’s new UK Pesticides National Action Plan sets a target to reduce potential harm by 10% by 2030, we believe this target is far too modest.
How You Can Help
We’ll continue to push for stronger policies, more ambitious targets, and support for organic, nature-friendly farming. With your help, we can keep the momentum going.
If you’d like to help at home and have a garden, you can make a difference through initiatives like ‘No Mow May’. By not mowing your grass for the month of May (or longer!) You can help provide food and shelter for pollinators. Avoiding fertilisers and chemical weedkillers like glyphosate is another simple but powerful step.
Bees play an essential role in our ecosystems and food supply. And beyond their usefulness, there’s real joy in seeing these charismatic little creatures humming from flower to flower. Let’s keep fighting for their future.
Why organic dairy deserves a spot in your fridge
There’s something timeless about a cold glass of milk or a knob of butter melting on warm toast. But when that milk comes from an organic farm, there’s more in your glass than just comfort - it’s a whole system of care for animals, people and the planet.
© Yeo Valley Gardens
Spring marks a special time on most organic dairy farms, as herds head back outdoors after being housed during winter. And unlike non-organic farms, organic standards guarantee that cows spend as much time as possible outside grazing freely, often in clover rich pasture. This is because organic farmers plant clover to “fix” nitrogen from the air to help fertilise the soil, instead of using fossil fuel based artificial fertilisers. So this diet isn’t just better for them - it’s better for us, too!
Studies have shown that organic milk contains higher levels of healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, thanks to that clover-rich, leafy forage diet. As Michaella Mazzoni, a British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine registered nutritionist, puts it:
We’ve heard you are what you eat, but what we should be saying is you are what you eat, eats!
So, what makes organic different?
Organic dairy cows are truly freerange, with access to pasture for as long as conditions allow, and plenty of space to roam (including when they are housed during colder weather months). This can reduce stress and disease, meaning they’re not routinely given antibiotics or chemical wormers unless they are required for the cow’s health and welfare. They must also be fed a natural and organic diet, with a minimum of 60% of this made up of forage – for cows this means a grassrich diet. Organic standards also ban artificial fossil-fuel based pesticides and fertilisers, so farms support on average 30% more wild plant and animal species than their non-organic counterparts.
30%
more wild plants and animal species found on organic farms
What’s more, long term studies have shown soil on organic farms stores more carbon compared to nonorganic, helping to tackle climate change. That’s because organic farming works with nature - not against it.
It’s easy to overlook the stories behind the foods we eat every day, but a pint of organic milk tells a good one. It supports farmers who care about their cows and the countryside, delivers real health benefits, and plays a small but powerful role in a more sustainable food system.
So next time you’re shopping, consider going organic with your dairy. You might just find it tastes betterbecause it’s better all round. And if you already do, thank you! You’re part of a growing movement that’s making a real difference.
This April, children across the world were invited to swap screens for spades and take part in a muddy, hands on science mission - the Global Soil Safari.
Watch episodes of Moley on YouTube @moleyofficial
This interactive adventure is one of five exciting activities in Global Action Days, an international campaign led by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to mark Earth Day and empower young people to reconnect with nature and with the help of the Soil Association, the soil beneath their feet.
At the heart of the campaign was a very special pair, Moley and Squirm, stars of the popular animated TV show Moley. Moley is a curious and kind hearted mole who lives in a secret world beneath Windsor Castle, and his adventurous best friend Squirm is a lively, wriggly worm. Together, they’ve become Ambassadors for Early Years and the faces of this year’s campaign.
The UK launch of the Global Action Days campaign kicked off with a very special Soil Safari at Woodoaks Farm in Hertfordshire, a recently certified organic farm owned by the Soil Association Land Trust, the Safari launched with class 4YB from Shepherd Primary School in Rickmansworth. The children danced, stomped, and even played musical instruments to try their hand at the age old art of worm charming: encouraging worms to surface by creating soil vibrations. Moley himself made a surprise appearance to cheer them on.
Steve Dutch, the farm’s ranger, shared his excitement:
We love hosting school visits at Woodoaks, but the worm hunt with Moley was something extra special. It was great fun, and a brilliant way to help children understand why wormsand soil - matter.
The goal? To count how many worms emerged in a patch of soil within one minute.
Worms might not get much fanfare, but they’re essential to healthy soil. They aerate the earth, recycle nutrients, and support the ecosystems we depend on. And because worms won’t thrive in poor quality soil, their presence is a useful indicator for farmers and scientists.
In total, over 600,000 participants of all ages from 142 countries joined the global campaign!
Woodoaks Farm provided the perfect setting to host the UK launch. Having recently completed its two year transition to organic, the farm is already showing dramatic improvements in biodiversity and soil health. With hedgerow restoration, flower margins for pollinators, and a thriving Compost Club, it’s a beacon for community led, nature friendly farming.
The Soil Safari might be aimed at children, but the Global Action Days message resonates far beyond the school gates. Healthy soil is the foundation of our food system, our ecosystems, and even our climate. And thanks to a little help from Moley, it’s getting the attention it truly deserves.
Ethical Vitamins with an Organic Heart
One of our organic calendula fields
Some of our organic pr oducts
CHOOSE FROM OVER 80 PRODUCTS IN THE LARGEST RANGE OF ORGANIC SUPPLEMENTS
All e thic ally source d and Soil Asso cia tion cer tifie d.
Help Bring the Black Barn Project to Life
In a time when wildlife is struggling and natural habitats are disappearing at an alarming rate, a small corner of Hertfordshire is offering a reason to feel hopeful.
Woodoaks Farm, just outside Rickmansworth, is a 300-acre site that has been carefully stewarded into organic certification and is now blossoming into a flagship for sustainable farming. Gifted to the Soil Association Land Trust in 2020, the farm is already making a name for itself as a welcoming space for food producers, community events, learning opportunities and peaceful moments in nature.
With the help of our members through donations, volunteering, and sheer goodwill, Woodoaks has already seen an incredible transformation.
From hedgerow planting and grassland restoration to hands-on research and rewilding efforts, the farm is teeming with life once more. Now, one more piece of the puzzle needs your support.
At the heart of Woodoaks is a beautiful 16th-century, Grade II-listed timber barn known locally as the Black Barn. With support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we’ve started the work to restore this historic structure and build a brand-new Community and Education Hub alongside it.
Once completed, the Black Barn will offer space for year-round learning,
A Vision for the Future
• A vibrant food and farming hub, open all year round
• A place where volunteers, growers and visitors can learn and share
• A deeper connection to nature through experience and education
skills-sharing and events. From school visits and growing workshops to talks, film screenings and nature-inspired activities, it will be a space to connect, recharge and build a better relationship with the land.
As Programme Manager Rose Lewis puts it:
We believe access to nature and good food should be for everyone. The Black Barn Project is about creating a space where people from all walks of life can learn, connect, and be part of a better food system.
This is farming done differently, working with nature not against it. And with your help, we can bring that vision fully to life.
Make It Happen
So far, we’ve raised an incredible £500,000 thanks to donations from trusts, foundations, and individuals who believe in this work. Now, we’re reaching out to our wider community to raise the final £50,000 through a crowdfunding campaign launched in May.
Thanks to the Aviva Community Fund, every donation up to £250 will be matched -meaning your gift goes twice as far.
The campaign runs until 8th June, giving everyone a chance to help shape something lasting and meaningful.
Whether you’ve visited Woodoaks before or are just discovering it now, we hope you’ll join us in making the Black Barn Project a reality.
To donate and learn more please scan the code or visit woodoaksfarm.com
Book Club
Seed to Supper: Growing Curiosity from the Ground Up
Michelle Darmody
Looking for a way to get little hands muddy and little minds thinking this summer? Seed to Supper, from independent publisher Nine Bean Rows, is a lovely way to inspire the children in your life to connect with food, nature and where it all begins - right in the soil.
This beautifully illustrated children’s book follows the journey of growing food, from sowing seeds to sharing a home-cooked meal. It’s perfect for sparking curiosity and showing young readers the magic that happens when we slow down, pay attention to the seasons, and grow something from scratch.
With clear, engaging language and joyful pictures, Seed to Supper isn’t just a story - it’s an invitation. An invitation to dig, plant, taste, and talk about the world beneath our feet. And
whether you’re a seasoned grower or a windowsill gardener, it offers a wonderful way to spend time outdoors with children or grandchildren, learning together.
This book makes a great companion for summer holidays - easy to dip into before a trip to the garden or allotment, or to spark ideas for simple home-grown meals.
If you’re someone who believes that what we eat - and how we grow itmatters, Seed to Supper is an engaging and hopeful place to start sharing that story with the next generation. We think it deserves a spot on every ecoconscious family’s bookshelf!
Seed to Supper is available now through Nine Bean Rows and independent booksellers.
If you’re enjoying our book recommendations, or would like to share any book ideas, please do get in touch! We’re always happy to hear from our readers, so please do share any books you’ve read that have changed the way you think about your food, farming or the natural world.
Email: memb@soilassociation.org
Want a sneak peek?
Seed to Supper is packed full of great activities, just like this one! Whilst you wait for your copy to arrive, why not try saving some beans ready for planting in the coming weeks.
Summer foraging:
A taste of the wild from June to August
There’s something timeless and deeply satisfying about gathering wild food. Foraging brings us closer to the seasons, reconnects us with nature, and rewards us with flavours no supermarket can match. And with long, light-filled days and hedgerows bursting into life, summer is a wonderful time to start exploring what’s growing just beyond the garden gate.
What to Forage in June
Early summer is rich with floral treasures. Elderflower are a classic find - those creamy, fragrant blooms make beautiful cordials, syrups and even homemade fizz. You might also spot wild roses with their delicate petals (lovely for flavouring sugar or vinegar). Lime flowers, found on the small-leaved lime tree, are another hidden gem with a sweet, calming scent ideal for teas.
July’s Abundance
As the weather warms, so do the hedgerows. Look out for the delicate, white flowers of meadowsweet, once used to flavour mead. Wild raspberries may be ripening in shadier spots, and chickweed, often overlooked as a weed, can be added to salads and pestos. Bilberries, the wild cousins of blueberries, can be found in heathlands - if the birds haven’t got there first!
August’s Late-Summer Riches
By August, fruits and seeds are plentiful. Blackberries begin to darken and it’s a great time for hazelnuts, though you may be competing with squirrels! If you’re lucky, you might come across chanterelle mushrooms - golden, trumpet-shaped and prized for their subtle flavour.
A Note on Responsible Foraging
Foraging should always be done with care. Only pick what you’re certain you’ve correctly identified - some wild plants and fungi can be harmful, even deadly. If in doubt, leave it out. Take only what you need, avoid damaging plants or habitats, and never forage on private land without permission.
And remember, our wild spaces are home to many creatures. Leave plenty for pollinators and wildlife, and don’t uproot plants - it’s illegal and harmful to the environment.
Foraging is one of the most mindful ways to engage with nature. With a basket in hand and the summer sun overhead, there are few better ways to spend a day. Just tread lightly, forage kindly, and savour the season.
