The Soil Association is a membership charity campaigning for planet-friendly food and farming. They believe in the connection between soil, food, the health of people, and the health of the planet.
The Soil Association was established over 60 years ago. Thirty years ago they drafted the worlds first organic standards and are responsible for promoting and maintaining the principles of sustainable agriculture in over 30 countries.
We have led campaigns on a wide range of issues from GM, pesticides and school meals to animal welfare, UK food security and climate change.
We have a department dedicated to promoting local food initiatives and have played a key role in developing farmers markets and veg box schemes.
The charity has 26,000 members and active supporters.
Why should I join the Soil Association?
Be the change. Make a difference in your own life by joining our movement and becoming part of the solution. Give your beliefs a voice through our campaigns on sustainable food and farming – from GM, pesticides and school meals to animal welfare, UK food security and climate change.
Support projects around the UK that transform food culture and help build healthy communities.
We are the best-placed organisation in the UK to deliver local and organic solutions to the environmental threats that we face.
What do members of the Soil Association receive?
Membership of the Soil Association costs from £24 a year. All members receive:
A free subscription to Living Earth, the Soil Associations award-winning quarterly magazine.
A members-only e-newsletter, keeping them in touch with our campaigns and programme work.
Invitations to special events for members such as farm walks, debates and masterclasses many on our network of Open Farms. Get involved and make a difference. All members have the chance to join a group or local food project and receive help on the changes they can make at home and in their communities.
With the Soil Association Welcome Pack, all members receive a membership card that entitles them to special deals and discounts at independent outlets, and free entry to our annual organic festivals in Bristol and Glasgow.
The Soil Association exists to research, develop and promote sustainable relationships between the soil, plants, animals, people and the biosphere, in order to produce healthy food and other products while protecting and enhancing the environment.
The Soil Association offices are in South Plaza, Marlborough Street, Bristol BS1 3NX (telephone 0117 314 5000) The Soil Association “is the UK’s leading environmental charity promoting sustainable, organic farming and championing human health.” It also wholly owns Soil Association Certification, Britain’s largest organic certifying body.
We all need food. Agriculture in differing forms is the basis of most culture. It also has fundamental far reaching consequences in matters of social justice. Most of our food derives from soil. Healthy soil contains millions of living organisms and as such hold lots of carbon. Recent modern agricultural practice has contributed much to the loss of top soil and consequential loss of carbon to the atmosphere. Agriculture and the way we manage land globally has a most crucial role to play in helping against climate change. Moreover in view of modern agricultures dependence on oil based fertilizers and chemicals, it is becoming essential that more of us become involved in agriculture and food production and further that even more of us understand properly the workings of nature and how we are to care for this planet properly.
