28/10/2024
Farewell to The Family Foraging Kitchen CIC
As we close this chapter, we reflect with deep gratitude on the journey of The Family Foraging Kitchen CIC, led by Vix Hill-Ryder. What began over 13 years ago as a small initiative rooted in her love for wild foods and the Cornish landscape blossomed into a thriving social enterprise, reaching and inspiring thousands. Vix, a passionate forager, educator, and community advocate, brought her vision to life by guiding communities to reconnect with nature, nurturing both the land and our ties to it.
Together, we’ve accomplished so much—from teaching countless individuals about the edible and medicinal treasures of the wild, to launching impactful community projects that restored biodiversity and fostered sustainable practices. Noteworthy achievements from our community projects include educational programs for local children and adults, the creation of wild food maps, recipe books, and community events that celebrated and preserved our natural heritage.
For many here, the Harfest festivals we put on over the years in Millbrook remain cherished and fill us with pride. As do all the festivals who brought us in to share our passion! Over the years these have included Faery Festival, Green Man, Port Eliot Festival and Beautiful Days Festival.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who believed in and supported our mission. A special mention goes to our funders, including Unltd, GAIN Soup Awards, The Cornwall Community Foundation, The Shackleton Foundation, The Peninsula Trust, Millbrook Parish Council, The Carew Pole Trust, Thatchers, Cornwall Council, IKEA, The National Lottery, and all who contributed to our crowdfunded projects. Your support was the bedrock of our success.
To our voluntary board of directors, past and present, thank you for guiding us. To our dedicated course tutors, staff, and partner organisations, we are grateful for your collaboration, expertise, and shared passion for making a difference. To each of our customers—children and adults alike—who joined us on our courses, thank you for your enthusiasm. Your joy in discovering wild foods and reconnecting with the land was the heart of our work.
We invite anyone who attended a walk or course with Vix and her team to share their stories. Vix is collecting memories and experiences as she embarks on a new chapter as a sole trader. Her memoir will carry forward the spirit of The Family Foraging Kitchen, capturing the lessons, joy, and wonder that fueled her journey.
A final thank you to the talented artists, photographers, filmmakers, graphic designers, and writers who helped bring our vision to life through websites, films, publications, recipe cards, and more. Your creativity added beauty and breadth to our work.
Thank you all for being part of our story. The journey continues with Wild Edge, where Vix will carry forward her mission to nurture, protect, and celebrate the wild spaces around us.
