We’ve come to the end of our Sea Change journey on Food and Farming Systems. We’ve learnt so much from the importance of soil health to how to grow veg from scraps.

Although the Sea Change is moving on to the next content journey, making our food systems better and more sustainable doesn’t have to stop.

We’re sharing a toolkit with 16 ways to make permaculture a part of daily life.

16 Ways To Take Action On Sustainable Food And Farming Systems

1. Get started with gardening

Try one of our recommended growing kits, find one that suits you. Whether growing your own produce or an aesthetic houseplant, it’s a fun and easy way to get closer to nature.

2. Take what you've learned further

Pick up a new book to read. Think about an area in our Q2 that has really captured your interest, nurture it, and let your knowledge grow!

If you want to learn more about permaculture, read Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass; for English regenerative farming read English Pastoral by James rebanks; if you want something to inspire you into action, read Miles Irving’s The Forager Handbook.

3. Swap to peat-free compost

If you’re already a gardener, try an easy and small swap from peat compost for peat-free.

It may seem small but it has a big impact as peatlands currently store 42% of all land carbon!

Help stop the peatlands from being destroyed, and switch to better alternatives.

4. Reduce the carbon footprint in your food

An easy way to support your local farmers, reduce your carbon footprint and eat healthy is shopping at a farm shop near you!

You never know, it could become your new go-to for fresh produce or gifts. Here’s the UK’s best.

5. Try foraging

Explore the outside world and try foraging!

Maybe hunt for a new ingredient that could be used in a meal - like blackberries and wild strawberries.

Make sure you forage safely - check out our favourite foraging guides.

6. Grow veg from scraps

Instead of throwing food scraps away, see if you can use it to grow your own!

Spring onions and celery are so simple that anyone can try - see our tips and tricks on growing from scraps here.

7. Perfect your compost

If those scraps can’t be nurtured into fresh produce, try your hand at composting!

Currently, 40% of food waste goes to the landfill in the UK - when it can be used to make soil healthier.

Learn about what can and cannot be composted, as well as how to ensure effective composting in our article.

8. Volunteer in your community

No matter where you live, see what your local community is doing with respect to gardening and being greener.

This could be helping at community gardens or volunteering and donating food for vulnerable people.

9. Grow in small spaces

Whether a first-time gardener or an expert, challenge yourself: grow herbs like chives and basil, or go a step further and grow tomatoes, in a small space.

Whether it’s in a container or on a windowsill, see how much you can grow in a small space!

10. Embrace a climatarian diet

Embrace a climatarian diet: opt out meat for lentils and see how much you’ve reduced your emissions!

Studies show that if everyone shifted to a plant-based diet, we would reduce global land use by 75%. It also helps that lentils are delicious and nutritious.

11. Dry your herbs

Try preserving your own food - don’t let food go to waste unnecessarily!

Whether it’s a herb you’d foraged, grown, or bought, drying out herbs extends their lifespan by a year!

Drying herbs is a great beginner’s practice for preserving foods.

12. Support charities

Follow and fundraise for charities like The Sustainable Food Trust who tackle ethical and environmental crises involved with today’s farming systems, or Sustain who promote equity and the cultivation of better food systems for everyone.

If you want to be more hands on, see what local initiatives are run by FairShare - the UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors.

13. Improve soil health

Delve into your own garden and ensure healthy soil by planting soil-saving plants. See the Soil Association to see what great plants there are that help with soil health.

From small cover crops like clovers and cowpeas, or go big and plant a tree!

14. Try your hand at permaculture

Try your own hand at permaculture! See how you can organise your garden into zones, and let 20% of your garden grow wild.

15. Join the Ripples by pebble community

Join the pebble ripples community and let us know what aspects of Sea Change inspired you!

Whether it’s your own thoughts on articles, or images of your own hand at permaculture, join our community and meet 1000s of other people interested in bettering the planet.

16. Spread the word

Recommend books, articles or activities that you have done inspired by the Sea Change journey. After all, permaculture is all about helping others and sharing knowledge for a better future!

Read more. Do more...

Want to learn more about regenerative power and permaculture?

• What is Permaculture?
• Regenerative Farming Booklist
• What is Soil Health?

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Let us take you on a journey to learn about soil health, permaculture, regenerative agriculture, growing your own and food systems, with new content, insider tips and book lists released each week until the end of June 2022.

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