Earthed Up! is a collectively managed, non-profit workers co-operative based in Belper, Derbyshire, since 2021.
We grow agroecologically, growing & selling predominantly perennial edible & useful plants. We also sell compost, run courses & events, and offer garden design & maintenance.
Who we are
As a co-operative, all workers are invited to be members, all members are directors. We have 4 members: Carol, Dominic, Harry, and Ryan.
Where to find us
We sell at monthly markets – Wirksworth and Belper. As well as from the nursery.
You can visit us at our garden at Belper Lane End, DE56 2DL. We are 200 yards along Belper Lane from the The Bulls Head pub.
what3words address: ///stages.endearing.surveyed
We are open there Fridays 10-2. Other days by appointment, please get in touch.
- There is unrestricted car parking on the road outside the garden – please park considerately and do not use or block our neighbours’ driveways or the pavement.
- The number 113 bus (Belper to Ashbourne) passes 7 times a day.
- The 1.6 mile walk from Belper town centre and rail station is all on pavements.
Our Vision
With our contribution, people are enabled to regenerate land that they have stewardship over, and themselves.
Our Mission
Broaden the horizons of people, by sharing the benefits and possibilities of edible and useful plants. Develop a flourishing agroecological plant nursery. To make healthy plants accessible locally.
Our Aims
- Operate ethically/equitably, continually talk about what is fair
- Help to mitigate against the impact of climate change, build resilience and champion biodiversity through low and zero carbon practises
- Educate in the benefits and possibilities of edible and useful plants
- Provide inspiration for a regenerative culture/approach, including the use of permaculture design and forest gardening
- Give away a % of stock for community planting
- Provide a living wage for employees
- Develop our understanding and skills and work in the way that suits us as individuals.
- Create beautiful spaces to provide for our families and friends
- Promote positive mental, physical, emotional and planetary health through our work practises and processes.
- Remove organisational barriers to enable increased access for marginalised people
What we do
Growing
We propagate our own plants, much of it from the gardens. Our plant range includes perennial vegetables, fruit, and herbs.
We don’t use peat anywhere and do not use harmful chemicals.
For potting, use Melcourt organic peat free compost, incorporating our own made biochar and vermicompost.
We sell plants bareroot in winter and some stock bareroot in Spring too, with the rest potted through the year.
Soil Health Range
We sell Dalefoot and SylvaGrow peat free composts.
We craft a range of other Soil Health products, including biochar and natural plant feed.
Education
We run courses & events, offer garden consultations and talks for groups.
Garden design & maintenance
We offer consultations & permaculture design, including: planting lists & schemes, maintenance plans, and full designs. We maintain gardens regularly in the local area.
Our story
The seed of an idea
The business formed in late 2020, with four people who had formed friendships through a common love of growing food in a way that respects the environment. Belper permaculture network had brought us together.
The East Midlands needs a source of healthy, edible and useful perennial plants. Inspired by Cool Temperate nursery and the decades of work by Phil Corbett, on seeing his steady journey into retirement, we set about adding to the offering.
We have much appreciation for Ali, Katie and Rob, who helped form the first shape of our business, from the get go. Also to Jennie who helped at a critical time. Thank you for your work.
Resilience in co-operation
In the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, post-lockdown, from the start we found ways to work together to grow plants and the business. We haven’t been held back by the pandemic, with the majority of our work and all sales being outside.
In the first year, we registered as a co-operative society, sold around 500 plants and 400 bags of high quality peat-free compost. We attended local markets and events, hosted our own sales, and launched an online shop. We had many, many enthusing conversations with people about plants, gardens and food and medicine.
The end of 2021 saw changes in membership and we continued to grow. Through co-operation, we have strength and resilience.
In summer 2025, we agreed a 5 year lease on our garden. This enabled us to invest in a new gateway, giving step free access!
Support us – our loanstock offer
Loanstock is a way for us as a registered co-operative society to raise investment. We are seeking loanstock as a young business to be able to pay workers and grow the business to meet our mission and aims.
A loanstock scheme is essentially a bond scheme whereby people who want to support a co-operative lend money and can choose to receive a small interest on the investment.
Please e-mail if you’d like to be sent our business plan and financial projections with the view to apply for loanstock.
Want to learn more about what we do? You’re always welcome to get in touch!
Why a workers co-operative?
We are a registered society – a legal form to register a business. We operate as a workers co-operative, meaning our members are those who work for us. The workers co-own the business. Profits are reinvested in the business to meet our mission. We also collectively manage the business, with a flat structure.
From Co-operatives UK: “There are seven co-operative principles that define how a co-op operates:
- A co-op is owned and controlled by its members. It exists for the benefit of its members, who may be customers, workers, suppliers or the wider community.
- A co-op is democratic – this means every member has an equal say in how it’s run and how profits are used.
- Every member contributes financially in some way – from buying products, working for the co-op, investing in it or deciding how to spend its profits.
- A co-op is an independent business, owned and controlled by its members.
- It offers education and training to everyone involved, so they can develop the co-op and promote the benefits of co-operation.
- It co-operates, works with and supports other co-ops.
- A co-op supports the communities it works with.”
Earthed Up! 