'Remembering the Food Cycle' project begins

Filming for Forgotten Fields project - Ashton Basin

The Kindling Trust have been awarded a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund to research and present their latest heritage project, 'Remembering the Food Cycle'.
With the grant we hope to find out about the collection of 'Night-soil' and 'sweepings' (human and horse manure); its transportation from the streets of Salford and Manchester along the Bridgewater Canal, and its use on the surrounding fields to be spread as a fertiliser. 
Crops were then carried back to the markets of Manchester to feed the ever expanding population.
We plan to conduct intergenerational research to record memories of these practices:
Hoping to demonstrate some of the techniques in workshops;
Organise training in recording, interpretation and presentation of the findings;
and re-enact some of the moments from this mysterious process.

We would particularly like to hear from the descendants of the canal-boat people or night soil collectors as their history is really in danger of being lost.

If you would like to get involved by volunteering;
if you have any memories you would like to share about this part of our food heritage, some photos or memorabilia;
or if you would like to be involved in archival research;
please email fiona@kindling.org.uk
many thanks...
There's a lot to find out!