St Fitticks Edible Garden was initiated by the community group Cultivate Aberdeen, a Scottish Charity (No SC048720). Alas, the running of the garden was left to one person with a couple of others offering support but there was no financial nor leadership support.

So very much of the running of the garden was left to the community but little has happened due to a lack of resource and direction. That is until we at Social Juice took an interest.

Social Juice is a Community Interest Company (CIC) incorporated 22nd February 2022 and registered with Companies House (SC724028). Profits made are reinvested back into community projects.

The name Social Juice is made up of two distinct parts – Social and Juice. Lets take the Juice part first. The CIC aims to plant fruit trees in community spaces, encourage community groups to maintain the trees within their areas and to harvest the fruit for the benefit of their community. Juicing is only one product though and will be the main thrust of the work of the CIC.

However, the community has no restriction in that regard and can use the fruit directly or to make, for example, apple pie / toffee apples / apple sauce etc for sharing or it can be exchanged for donations and thus gain a funding stream for other community needs.

Now lets take the Social part of Social Juice. That’s very much about social integration and cohesion and focuses on volunteering. Mostly volunteering within your own communities but also outwith our own areas to enable the learning of new skills or to share our skills with others.