‘Peas & Love’. A Case Study in Kindness and the Power of Small Actions: Incredible Edible, Todmorden

This case study explores a piece of work that started with community activity around food issues and building community resilience. The focus of the study looks at the values and process embedded in the work: collective food production, community festivals and associated activities were delivered through ‘a commitment to kindness, inclusion and mutuality’. The emphasis on process, and importance of how you work with people has long been an integral part of community development. The other side of practice is the product of the work, that is, what is achieved in terms of outputs and outcomes. Ideally, community development work balances mindful process with real products. However, it is often the case that one side of practice dominates over the other, often reflecting the approach of the workers.

The main themes covered in the study are:

Recognising that government cannot meet all community needs, and local people have to take personal and collective responsibility to make their lives better

Building on local resources, and local people

Sustainability

Environmental action