ABOUT MUD
Sam, Jo and Mike founded Manchester Urban Diggers CIC in 2019 after creating Platt Fields Market Garden in 2017.
The MUD team make beautiful gardens in urban spaces, where people grow, cook and eat delicious, healthy food together. These gardens are hubs for thriving, connected communities, havens for nature, and visions of a fair and sustainable alternative way to supply the food we need to be part of a fairer food system.
Over the years we have tried to articulate what we are working towards and why and have developed a fairly simplified set of objectives and outcomes that we use day to day to help us keep on track and stay true to our core values. It’s a continuous work in progress but we hope the information below is a useful tool and encapsulates the work we do.
what does a fairer food system mean?
To us, a fairer food system treats people and nature with respect and care. Our priority will always be caring for and respecting the planet (that includes people!) We believe a fairer food system encompasses three intrinsically linked areas that combined, equate to Food Sovereignty.
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Prioritising natural, low-impact farming methods & localised, sustainable food production; reducing the city’s carbon footprint through food production in disused urban land; increasing biodiversity and soil health.
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Increasing access to green spaces in urban centres; offering therapeutic gardening to improve physical and mental wellbeing; supporting people towards careers paths in growing food; providing opportunities to volunteer, socialise, upskill & be mindful in beautiful, calm surroundings.
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Supporting diverse groups, cultures and individuals coming together in free, accessible, shared space; co-creating garden spaces with the whole community for the benefit of local people; cooking, eating and sharing food together; building connections and decreasing loneliness.
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Supporting diverse groups, cultures and individuals coming together in free, accessible, shared space; co-creating garden spaces with the whole community for the benefit of local people; cooking, eating and sharing food together; building connections and decreasing loneliness.
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The universal right to grow and cook food; local access to high quality, fresh, seasonal produce at fair prices - for growers and customers. This includes everyone having opportunities to access appropriate education, training, collaboration and sharing skills around food growing, horticulture and cooking healthy food.
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Chelsey Roberts
she/her
Events Coordinator
Comms & Social Media
chelsey@wearemud.org
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Hat Collins
they/them
Volunteer Coordinator
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Mike Hodson
he/him
Director
Head of Growing / Volunteering
mike@wearemud.org
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Emily Witts
she/her
Head Chef
Marketing & Design
emily@wearemud.org
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Lulu Heal
she/her
STH Practitioner
Strong Roots Lead
lulu@wearemud.org
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Iman Mahdi Aziz
she/her
Chef
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Sam Payne
he/him
Director
Head of Finance / Business
sam@wearemud.org
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Cara Powell
they/they
Events Manager
Volunteer Coordinator
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James Brown
he/they
Volunteer Coordinator
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Dan Thomson
he/him
Volunteer Coordinator
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Jo Payne
she/her
Director
Head of MUD Kitchen, Events & Comms
jo@wearemud.org
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Tom Cockroft
he/him
Volunteer Coordinator
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Lily Bulivant
she/her
PFMG Assistant General Manager
lily@wearemud.org
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Joey Frances
he/him
Fundraiser
fundraising@wearemud.org
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Katie Hourigan
she/her
Baker
“I feel like I’ve achieved something. Knowing that I’ve made a difference. It’s been years since I’ve worked or done anything. I like to go home and see the plants that I’ve taken with me and see the growth and I feel proud.”
WHO WE WORK WITH
We help to create and develop community gardens and green spaces around the city with a range of partners. We work with community groups, charities, schools, public services and the private sector develop ways of growing food in urban and often challenging environments.
We specialise in community engagement through food and growing.
and HOW WE’RE GETTING THERE…
WE’RE BUILDING ROUTES TO MARKET
This includes the MUD Kitchen, the MUD shop & the monthly Farmers Market at Platt Fields Market Garden.
WE’RE PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION AND TRAINING
We’re teaching people how to grow and cook food. We have a mixed team of food growers, chefs, and STH practitioners who deliver free sessions such as our New Growers Programme and our Open Volunteering Days.
WE’RE PROTECTING AND DEVELOPING GREEN SPACES AND NATURE
We’ve worked on over 30 gardens since 2019. We design and build community gardens around the city and we maintain 3 large gardens in South, Central and East Manchester.
WE’RE GROWING, COOKING AND EATING TOGETHER
Our gardens are places where local people can participate in activities that support greater wellbeing such as cooking clubs and community lunches and volunteer lunches.
WE’VE CREATED THIS VENN DIAGRAM TO ILLUSTRATE THE ACTIVITES AND OUTCOMES THAT ARISE FROM A FAIRER FOOD SYSTEM
our impact
1,000+
New volunteers across our projects in 2023
11,400+
Volunteering hours delivered across our projects in 2023
2,400+
Free meals given to community members in 2023
95.7%
said their wellbeing had improved as a result of volunteering with MUD
84%
of volunteers said they felt more connected to their community
1000+
litres of compost produced each month on average
not for profit
We are a not for profit social enterprise and the money we make goes towards developing our projects, providing free services and events for the community and creating employment opportunities for our volunteers and the local community.