Planning the future for East Malling CSA (Communigrow)

June will be the deciding time for the future of the plot and all things related to the co-operative. Having researched for 5 months and established the basis for the market garden with the support Joining Hands and the land allocated by East Malling Research it is now time to make a few decisive moves on the formation of the group that will run the project in the future.

Our timetable sets September for the registration of the Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, with the basis that it will have something to work with over the winter and into next season.

It will be known as the Communigrow Garden with an official title of East Malling CSA.

Produce will be sold direct to the residents of Ditton, the Mallings and surplus to local food distributors in Kent and beyond that via Food Access co-ops stalls in Greenwich. the intention is that as many people as possible may access the good food and produce we shall grow at the Park Farm site and perhaps more plots in future.

Membership is open to all. for a modest annual fee of £25 anyone can join to support our aims.

We would hope that subscription to our seasonal veg box will start later this year ready for the 2014 season. It will take this time to organise and create the foundations for growing enough to supply the demand.

For now we will be a Voluntary Unincorporated Association, and later register as either a 'Bona fide Co-operative' or 'Society for the Benefit of the Community' as a Industrial & Provident Society or 'IPS'. The difference between the two is who actually controls the workings of the co-op, the members or the community. The jury is still out on that one.

We need more for the core group so if you may be interested send me an email for a pack of information. There is no cost other than time right now, a meeting once in awhile, though we would hope all would become members.
Email me at:
communigrow@eggsfromscratch.com