Multiple diciplines make up a whole understanding of edible culture. Over time it has become clear to make an educational framework which fits into the natural learning cycle. The natural learning cycle is how we percieve nature, and how this in turn gives us natural expecations for what follows. I.e sunrise leads to mid-day, which leads to sunset. When applied to edible culture the framework for us seems to fit within this natural cycle of 8 phases:
Wild food is where we begin. We will cover these skills:
| methods to identify plants |
| understanding the risks/hazards involved in foraging |
| understanding the context for wild food |
| be able to define wild food |
The second session is about growing food: lets grow what we can’t forage… We will cover these skills:
| propagation techniques |
| basic soil types, cultivation thereof, and improvement techniques |
| families of annual crops and their management cycles |
| harvest crops for the kitchen, and know harvesting strategies |
The Third session covers design. How do we design an edible landscape which gives us the best of both foraging and growing? We will cover:
| understanding what factors to consider when designing a new site |
| drawing a basic horticultural design of a site, to improve and increase access of local food |
| show thoughtful consideration of the intention behind the design, considering its usage, function, and vision. |
| create an implementation and development process for a design |
The forth session is all about seasonal awareness. Its not just what to do, its when to do it! In the natural world, timing is everything. We will cover:
| drawing out a wheel of the year, knowing the key changes that occur seasonally |
| understand calendars based on the solar year, and lunar month |
| focus on planning ahead in order to be well prepared for the necessary actions to grow a crop |
| learn about natural rhythms in nature and how growers utilise these to plan their activities and get a sense of right timing |
And when the Autumn comes, so does the need for cooking and sharing food to bring nutrition to our body, soul and mind. We will cover:
| understanding the importance of a holistic approach to diet, and why its important to focus on the health and nutrition of the soil as the root of nutrition. |
| Seeing nutrition from a seasonal perspective, knowing what foods are available at any given time and the role that preserving has in extending the season. |
| seeing nutrition from a local and ancestral perspective, and the role that local food can play in solutions to global issues |
| have the capacity to cook and share food with others, and understand the importance of this. |
And when the food isn’t enough we need to work with special foods, aka herbs and herbal medicine, to help us heal. We will cover:
| understand how flavours are indicators of effect in the body, and how stronger, less familiar flavours can be used to assist healing. |
| understand the methods and mediums that are used for getting herbs into the body and basic preservation methods for storing herbs throughout the winter. |
| understand medicine as food and food as medicine, and how to judge not only the right herbs but also the right quantities of herbs to include in ones general diet. |
| understand the limits of herbs as a food, and the key safety procedures when working with herbs for healing purposes. |
And when the herbs are not enough, we turn to the wider community for help, guidance to learn and work with one another:
| demonstrate active listening skills |
| demonstrate clear communication skills |
| be able to pass on a skill they have learnt to others |
| understand some of the cultural and psychological complexities of running a food growing project |
And finally, at the end of our cycle we turn to nature, our greatest teacher and healer. We listen, observer and practice nature connection:
| creatively explore the natural world |
| practice utilising all our sensory awareness within natural surroundings |
| be able to see the vital importance of nature connection in modern times, especially for the younger generations |
| demonstrate a keen awareness of natural ecosystems |
And from here we return back to observing where the wild foods thrive, and begin again our foraging journey…