The idea
We will meet with Kent based refugees weekly to forage and cook. We will involve the most knowledgable in weekly foraging and cooking workshops showcasing the food culture of their host countries, especially in relation to the use of edible wild plants. This is to provide a living example to everyone of what it looks like to practice a wild food tradition that is experienced as safe and normal. In the UK much of our food culture involves eating unhealthy food- often take ways or ready meals or otherwise highly processed foods. Ironically this harmful diet is perceived as safe, whilst most Brits are afraid to eat health promoting wild foods! So we want to bring people together so that this more traditional food culture can rub off on us Brits- like introducing sour dough starter culture to a batch of dough - you only need a little bit to get the culture started! To amplify the impact of the project we want to document it using film and podcasts.
What we'll deliver
- 10 Weekly foraging walks and cooking collaborations with Kent refugees
- 10 Outdoor foraging and cooking sessions for local people of all ages, cohosted with refugees
- 5 Indoor cooking classes cohosted with refugees
- A documentary that tells the story of the project
- 3 Podcast Episodes about the project
Why it's a great idea
We will educate children, young people and adult family members about healthy eating and how to achieve this though foraging safely for edible wild plants and preparing them in simple meals. This will create a foundation for a good diet in later life for the youngsters and potentially collect poor dietary habits for adults. It will also bring benefits of being outdoors and connecting to nature as well as benefits of doing things a community. The project will also address issues around the integration of refugees into our community. Whereas there are voices out there who allege that refugees are a burden and otherwise unwelcome, our point is that they come here as a gift and in particular their food and foraging cultures are a gift. This project will present that gift to local people both so they can receive the benefit of this encounter and so that the refugees can feel welcomed, honoured and appreciated. so the benefits should effect human heath, and mental and community health.
Steps to get it done
- We will work with at least 50 people from the Kent refugee community
- We will hold 10 foraging and cooking workshops
- We will produce a documentary about the project
- We will spend 10 days foraging and cooking with refugees near Napier Barracks Folkestone
- We will hold 5 indoor cooking classes
There is so much research showing the benefits of connecting to landscapes and spending time in nature but young people are increasingly spending time indoors and on devices. This sedentary lifestyle is exacerbated by poor diet but also makes young people more socially isolated. This project will address all of these issues and also bring the added dimension of integrating refugees into the Kent community in a way that will benefit both them and us.
