Appetite for Change Erasmus+

The "Appetite for Change" project was a 13-day professional development training held in May-June 2023 at the Northern Lights farm in France, bringing together 41 youth workers from across Europe and beyond, including participants from disadvantaged backgrounds. The initiative aligned with the European Green Deal's Farm to Fork strategy and focused on promoting sustainable food systems, addressing climate change, and supporting food security through non-formal education. Participants engaged in a range of workshops on agroforestry, grafting, apiculture, eco-construction, seed and food preservation, and botanical studies of edible and medicinal wild plants. These activities were complemented by practical implementations, such as establishing a biodiversity-enhancing orchard, creating a seed bank, preparing garden soil using regenerative methods, and producing fermented vegetables to ensure a sustainable winter food supply.

The training emphasized holistic learning, integrating theoretical sessions on food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture with daily group practices like awareness circles and meditations to encourage personal and professional growth. Participants developed skills in compassionate communication, conflict resolution, and project facilitation, strengthening their ability to lead social initiatives and collaborate effectively across cultural and professional contexts.

The project resulted in tangible outcomes, including two guidebooks on fermentation and seed propagation, which are available here as a free resources, as well as strengthened networks of changemakers working toward sustainability and resilience in rural and urban communities. By empowering youth workers and enhancing the capacity of participating organizations, the project laid the foundation for long-term impacts on social cohesion, sustainable development, and climate action.