In the Yorkshire village of Todmorden, they say that if you can grow it there you can grow it anywhere. It rains so much in Todmorden the sun is a mythic creature they tell stories
Design for Living: Incredible Edible Todmorden
Then her friend Nick Green dug up a vacant plot in the middle of town. "I didn't ask anyone's permission. I just went there with my spade and my seeds and I planted cabbages and rhubarb."
They called it "propaganda planting": they wanted everyone to see it, ask questions and join in, and they knew it would be easier to ask forgiveness than permission.
The schools got involved and Incredible Edible was soon handing out thousands of seed packs and running classes in gardening, cooking, foraging, bottling and how to kill and pluck your own chickens. On Sundays there's a communal lunch, locally sourced and free to all.
Incredible Edible Todmorden has inspired similar projects worldwide, including some in New Zealand. In France, they call it Les Incroyables Comestibles.
"Things have changed hugely," says Clear. "But the real culture change is about kindness. People doing stuff for each other, for their town, bringing a tiny bit of joy."