Nothing Wasted. The project concerns itself with what one does with an abundance that is considered waste, and how to turn that into something that is productive for society. According to WRAP the UK has thrown away approximately 6.4 million tons of edible food in 2018, despite this still 8.8% of UK households (4.7 million adults) experience food insecurity in the past month. And in households with children, this number is 11%. This represents a total of 2 million children who live in households that do not have access to a healthy and affordable diet. This is where the program of this project meets with 2 charities that are tackling this issue. Empty Kitchens Full Hearts provide free and healthy meals made from surplus food to people that need it and Earth in Common is a charity that generates community solidarity and wellbeing by growing food in urban areas, strengthens the local economy, and contributes to community wealth building and skill-training.
The project is based in Leith near the links where Earth in Common has a community croft on which they grow food, have markets and build community. The building which houses the learning hub and education centre was formerly, a timber store house. The centre is located on John’s lane a street away from the croft surrounded by a block of flats and a variety of sheds/ warehouses turned into car garages. The project is attentive to the varying environmental conditions required for cooking, storing, growing, and teaching. Timber is used extensively throughout the project for its low carbon properties as well as, looking at how standard timber sizes can inform the structural system in the program. The project narrates a communal effort to end food insecurity by teaching young people about food waste and its environmental impact and empowering communities to become food sovereign by growing their own food and ending food insecurity.