How to Depend on Ourselves and Each Other: Foraging, Fermenting, and Working Together with What We Have

How do we depend on ourselves and each other, when it all becomes a bit too hard? In the face of growing food insecurity, cost-of-living crisis, climate crisis, and wider structural violence, this free event is an opportunity to (re)connect what helps us stay strong in the time of crisis - what we eat, and the people around us. With workshops and talks on foraging, fermentation, and community organising, you will gain new perspectives and methods for taking care of yourself and the people around you, using what we already have and/or what is easily accessible. We'll also have an opportunity to exchange small, yet important life hacks and tactics that make things slightly easier.

Free & open to all, no prior knowledge required. Please wear clothing and shoes that you don't mind getting dirty and that are comfortable for walking. You may join us for the whole day, or for part(s) of the day. Participants under 16 should be accompanied by an adult.

This event is supported by the UKRI ESRC Festival of Social Science, and the University of Exeter.

Programme:

10:30-12:30 Foraging walk & talk with Exeter-based herbalist and forager, Yasmin Kerr.

12:30-13:30 Lunch*, exchange of recipes and small life tactics

13:30-15:30 Fermentation workshop & talk with Plymouth-based CIC, JarSquad.

15:30-17:00 Community Organising & Mutual Aid workshop and talk with Bristol-based community organiser and activist, Rouxben.

*Please bring your own lunch - only light refreshments and hot drinks will be provided.

Locations:

• Foraging Walk: Belmont Pleasure Grounds, Belmont Road, Exeter, EX1 2DH - where the foraging walk will take place. Meet at the gate that opens onto Belmont Road/ Clifton Hill.

  What3Words: https://w3w.co/utgång.skolor.introducera

• The rest of the day will take place at Devon Ukrainian Association Community Hub, 19 North Street, EX4 3QS. We'll walk there together after the foraging walk or lunch, depending on the weather. Alternative transport options can be arranged for those with accessibility needs.

  What3Words: https://w3w.co/handy.grows.brings

Access:

A travel bursary of up to £10 is available for those with accessibility needs and/or living in areas with limited public transport connectivity to Exeter city centre - please email Yudi (yw936@exeter.ac.uk) for more details.

Yasmin Kerr, founder of Honeysuckle Herbal, is a Medical Herbalist practising in Exeter, Topsham & Ottery St Mary. Yasmin spends most of her time consulting patients, running workshops, foraging, and making medicine with plants. She is dedicated to making private healthcare affordable, accessible, and sustainable for people and the planet. Yasmin aims to share her knowledge, empowering individuals to make informed choices throughout their healthcare journey. Find Yasmin on Instagram @honeysuckleherbal, or visit her website www.honeysuckleherbal.co.uk.

JarSquad makes jams and preserves using surplus ingredients, collective know-how, and shared effort. They connect the dots between food waste, climate action, and combating social isolation. They gather at monthly Assemblies, which are open to the public. Working as a SQUAD, they turn surplus food - gifted, grown, gleaned, foraged from various parts of the food system - into tasty JARS (and more) which they share in a solidarity economy. Based in Plymouth, JarSquad is currently co-animated by Mal Biele, Rachel Dobbs, Tess Wilmot & Carmen Wong. Find JarSquad on Facebook & Instagram @WeAreJarSquad, or visit their website https://jarsquad.com/.