Worker's fund for education and growing team at Communigrow

 to our new 'Worker Fund' for growing and education

Here we are now in my third April, there are times when I felt the project may not get beyond the end of the first back in 2013. Times were hard then as I was working out what we could do and what may be achievable. The idea of Community Supported Agriculture was top of the list and with the right support it may work. However we've not found that support en mass so we are now concentrating on our education work on and off the field. This way we hope to increase knowledge on food and farming through our vegetables and the extensive work we already planned and more with developments in such projects specifically designed for education such as our 

• 'Field Kitchen' (Cookery and nutrition skills and knowledge), 
• Education Centre, 
• Outdoor Classroom, 
• Conservation and habitat creation and 
• Environmental Studies. 
• Climate Change is a major area of awareness that we cannot ignore even though we face a high degree of misunderstanding.
• our unpolluted veg, organic or better, available for all as boxes to their home or from our 'barrow-on-the-green. Every vegetable is an education in itself as we grow without sprays and inputs - being grown using natural methods such as stinging nettles as a fertiliser. Sustainable in its true sense.

Just a reminder that we are now the entire field of 5.7 acres. This will not be entirely veg as it now turns out we can have some fruits, traditional craft crops like herbs and hops with wildlife and conservation areas and new habitat. Also we will have our outdoor classroom and teaching facilities. We are a charity based on providing field sessions (growing and outdoor classroom) for schools and groups Free of charge on our 5 acre field and  later in the community. Our veg is purely seasonal and boxes are available for our suggested donation. We shall also have proper eggs from scratch roaming hens, bees and more all for general study and fertility improvement. Get in touch if you may be interested, we are currently looking for someone to co-ordinate our education part time and others for our growing team.

On this issue here is a fact for you. Communigrow only ever exists now due to the dedication and hard work of myself and personal donations from friends and family in order to get it started and running so it may register as a charity. This has not been an easy period for me, no benefits and no grants. Very tough indeed as I'm not rich, my friends and family are not rich, it's not a hobby and I've tried to be as professional as time and money permits.

Our 'Worker's Fund', please help us
Add in the fact that even though we have been registered for 4 months now we still have no real grant or income to support our workers, principally myself but soon others who want more than a voluntary input.
So we shall soon be asking for crowd funding to bridge the gap until our summer veg starts to come in and we can distribute more boxes of our veg. Please consider this carefully and help us if you are able and keen to support the future of our project and all our charitable educational work as personal support is now stretched to its limits and I've only got poorer doing this. We also need to progress with more people on our team but how can we hope to inspire them to enter something that returns nothing but a good feeling in return?





And here are a few further facts.

• Currently we grow enough veg for about 20 families,
• Based on our new field plans we can grow enough for 200! 
• Currently we provide work experience and outdoor classroom facilities  for 12 6th form students all with special needs. Entirely free of charge.
• Based on our current education centre plans we can provide session space for 60! and, with a little further development, our plans could provide for double that! Think of the impact we can have?
• Currently we have no specially prepared conservation and wildlife areas - land dedicated to creating new habitat.
• Based on our current ideas we may allocate up to 1 and half acres of new conservation areas all for student and volunteer study and benefit for a large scope of species.
• Currently we are a group of mostly amateur and totally voluntary gardeners. We number 7 active on the field, totalling 90 person hours a week.
• In a very short space of time, based on our current plans, we may provide employment for a growing team of 3 and a further education team of 2. On top of that we can also provide facilities for up to 6 on work experience and another on apprenticeship. That totals a staggering 200 person hours a week PLUS our student session time during term time that currently totals 24 hours.
• Our full potential takes this student session total to 240 hours each week with more during special events and functions off site in local schools and groups.

If you think we started with an abandoned project and hay meadow we have come a long way already. We do invite you to attend our school sessions.

You may wonder why I consider the time scale given up to developing this as a 'lifetime'. I've worked on several voluntary projects including WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms as it was in my day) as both volunteer and host and pioneered a visitors centre in France as a pioneer developer. I trained as a farm manager and worked on some of the largest poultry farms in the country, millions of hens or 'broiler' meat birds packed into intensive conditions before the conventional battery cage ban put many out to range. From my work with free range I developed a simple system based on traditional 'fold' housing that in some ways goes to counter the problems that the largely intensive land use of the now established huge static housing that ignores the hens wonderful natural ability to forage. This campaign continues on Eggsfromscratch.co.uk and our current eggs that come from Orchard Eggs in Sussex.

But part of my life has been developing awareness of a healthy diet based on wholefoods either in a tiny community food co-op in Brockley, South East London - 'Telegraph Hill Wholefoods' or in the much larger wholesale distribution worker's co-operative 'Wholesome Trucking' (or 'The Muted Posthorn Transport Co-operative' to give it its full title). Both brought me into contact with the social impact of the food we are offered, buy and consume and so 'Fairtrade' became more than a marketing phrase to a direction of life. If anyone doubts what this means come along to the field and I shall give you a tour and bore the socks off you!

You Donate direct via our Charities Aid Foundation page at: Communigrow donate HERE

Do not forget to complete the Gift Aid as this makes a huge difference.

Thanks

Laurence

Support includes.......... (click on any log for further information)

Part of our new work for volunteers and opportunities for creative 'skillshare' is the great Men-in-sheds concept originating in Australia. In Kent this is a little broader in scope as 'Kent Sheds'.

also we've had support through the early months from specialists the Plunkett Foundation

and more recently the Lloyds Bank and National Lottery sponsored Fellowship 'Start-up' course at the School for Social Entrepreneurs (apply now for 2015). The year long course provides a wealth of knowledge and 'witness' examples of social enterprises to inspire confidence.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council have supported us with their 'Community Enhancement Fund' for the start of our education centre

Ditton Parish council have provided us with the means for facilities on site

and South East Water's 'Community Chest'

also we must thank the Kent County Council's 'Member's Grant' for ensuring we have toilet facilities on site

we would like to thank our landlords East Malling Trust and Betsy for starting the project in 2011

Phil Green's workshop.......... "365 Reasons to grow, buy and eat local food" Saturday 11th April, book now

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

help save numerous tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables from going to waste on farms - Kent Gleaning Coordinator Gleaning Network UK

help save numerous tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables from going to waste on farms

vacancy for 1 and 2 days per week
Closing date: Monday, 06 April 2015

Kent Gleaning Coordinator Gleaning Network UK

About the role

We are looking for two enthusiastic, highly organised and proactive individuals to join Feedback team in order to drive the expansion of our exciting new project Gleaning Network UK in two of our most established hubs – Kent and Manchester. You will be responsible for developing the Gleaning Network in your area, the logistics of organising gleaning days, and promoting the Gleaning Network through social and conventional media. You will help save numerous tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables from going to waste on farms which will then be redistributed to charities serving people in food poverty in the UK.

http://www.environmentjob.co.uk/volunteer/53924-kent-gleaning-coordinator?from_update=true

Volunteer • Part Time • Temporary

www.feedbackglobal.org/campaigns/gleaning-network jobs@feedbackglobal.org Martin Bowman

Key responsibilities:

1. Build and maintain relationships with growers, volunteers and charities in your region:

• Research and develop networks of growers, networking, and following up leads. Recruit farmers to join the network and host gleaning days.
• Recruit volunteers via existing networks and using social media
• Liaise with charities such as FareShare and other redistribution charities in the regions, to find food recipients
• Build a database of contacts, and keep track of communications and relationships
• Liaise with the central gleaning coordinator in London to develop strong local networks

2. Manage regional gleaning hub:

• Act as main contact for the region’s gleaning days and manage relationships with growers, volunteers and redistribution charities
• Develop a calendar of gleaning opportunities based on seasonal horticultural patterns in the UK, and farmers’ anticipated food waste hotspots
• Organise gleaning days in your region, including the logistics of coordinating volunteers and transport
• Supervise volunteers on gleaning days
• Be responsible for budget management of the gleaning days and keeping costs to a minimum
• Gather feedback via questionnaires from farmers, recipient charities and volunteers for the project’s evaluation
• Be responsible for health and safety, ensuring all the necessary health and safety procedures are followed during the gleaning days

3. Media, and promotion of the Gleaning Network:

• Document gleaning days, through photos and video media
• Act as point of contact for local and national media reporting on gleaning days
• Promote gleaning events via social and conventional media
• Act as a spokesperson for the Gleaning Network UK as required

Key Skills, Experience and Attributes:

• Past experience of recruiting and managing volunteers
• Experience of organizing events
• A can-do, proactive and flexible attitude
• Experience of building collaborative partnerships
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent IT skills/literacy (Word, Excel, email management, social media)
• Proven ability to multitask and thrive in a fast paced environment
• A commitment to the values and campaign aims of Feedback

Desirable skills, experience and attributes:

• Driving license
• Experience of working in the food and farming sector
• First aid training
• Experience of writing press releases and working with the media
• Knowledge of environmental/food/climate change issues

Support:

The successful candidate will be given support from our UK Gleaning Coordinator, including regular catch ups, support and training. They will be provided with resources, as well as benefiting from our already established network of volunteers, farmers and charities. They will also become part of a community of creative and dedicated gleaning coordinators around the UK mutually helping each other. They will be given support in developing appropriate health and safety practices, and Gleaning Network UK also provides the financial support to cover the expenses of running a hub.

Hours

Working hours are flexible but the role will require a commitment of between 1 and 2 days per week as a minimum (based on a 7.5 hour working day) in the initial stages of recruiting farmers to the network, increasing to 2 days per week or more with flexibility in the lead up to gleaning days. Some weekend work may be required to attend gleaning days depending onfarmers’ schedule. A commitment of at least 3 months is required.

Location

The role will be based at home but it is essential that the gleaning coordinators are based in the area they are applying for.

Compensation

This is a voluntary position and travel expenses will be covered for travelling to farms for gleaning days.

Application

To apply for this role, please send your CV with a short cover letter (one page maximum) to the email linked to above explaining why you think you are suitable for the role. Please include the location you are applying for in the email subject.

Deadline for applications is Monday 6th April, with Skype interviews being conducted on the same week.

Please note that due to the high number of applications we receive, we are unfortunately not able to respond to all applicants individually so only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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Please mention environmentjob.co.uk when responding to this ad.

Communigrow weekly news - help wanted this week - from monday 23rd March, also vacancy for an education co-ordinator and our crowd fund

help wanted this week ...... from MONDAY 23rd March Monday - 12 until 6pm Tuesday -  N/A Wednesday - 2pm until 6pm Thursday - N/A Friday - 2pm until 6pm Saturday - from 10am at our food and craft fair, The Festival of Fairtrade and Local at the church centre, Ditton then after from at the field - all help appreciated at this vital time of the year Many thanks for your help in advance. Tasks this week include..... Sowing - Onions and Carrots (go together as companion planted bedss Sowing - garlic Sowing - potato sowing - squash and pumpkin, courgettes Solar tunnel - base preparation for completion early april Please contact to be sure of arrangements - we are on a private estate and public may be challenged by security. Best drop in times are normally Tuesday, Friday and Saturday afternoons only. Our location Access is onto the private estate so please do not enter uninvited or without appointment as you may be challenged - we cannot provide an 'open door' to the general public even though we may like to. We welcome all to join as a 'Friend' of the charity Communigrow to avoid all potential problems. We prefer if you can walk or cycle to the plot Exit A20 next to the KIA garage turning into Bradbourne Lane. Pass the Tandoori Palace on your right. As you come down the hill there is a right hand turning into the East Malling Research Institute Grounds. Turn in here and follow the road (Red Line), over the small stream. Pass the cluster of offices on your left until you reach a small white house on your left and the entrance to the Communigrow field (Green triangle) is just past it on the left through the wide gate.

Education Co-ordinator ....... needed part time for our charity

Education co-ordinator for all the field sessions needed. Ideal for local applicants of some professional teacher/charity educational background.

It shall be voluntary to start, part time to suit applicant and later we hope to have funding in place soonish. We shall be happy to put whatever it takes into attracting the right person.

Must be skilled and experienced in running gardening/growing/farming/environmental sessions for schools and groups. Forest School may be useful as would conservation.

Further details on application to our steering group. email education@communigrow.org

As our vision is for a healthier, more balanced society through 'learning, teaching,sharing' applicants need to have some community engagement skills and knowledge of the local area with schools and groups, parish councils and general networks.

www.Communigrow.org

for more information on our education work go CLICK HERE to go to http://communigrowcsakent.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/learning-teaching-sharing-over-5-acres.html

DONATE to our work

We desperately need your old seeds, pots and trays to plant up for this season. As you can imagine with that much ground to cover we need a lot!

You Donate direct via our Charities Aid Foundation page HERE: (https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/donatesteps.aspx?beneficiarycampaignid=3255)
Thanks in advance

NEWS Produce available this week NOTE, we are currently still in winter mode so our seasonal veg is very limited. News: Eggs will be back this week. Orchard Eggs produce Biodynamic eggs of superior quality and very high 'Scratch' level. VEGETABLES: sorry to say our pumpkins have finally finished Potatoes 'BINTJE' - mixed size as they come or ask for .... very small potatoes 'BINTJE' - for roasting whole or.... large potatoes 'BINTJE' - for baking spinach Greens (broccoli greens) Purple sprouting Broccoli Leeks Baby Leeks HERBS: Rosemary, OTHER: Bamboo clumps for planting as an attractive barrier 'hedge' - email bamboo@communigrow.org We are currently sowing Carrots, garlic, onions, lettuce, salad leaf, spring onions, cabbage, brussels, parsnips, perpetual spinach, giant leaf spinach, giant leaf basil, beetroot, broccoli, mint, coriander, parsley, artichoke, rhubarb, kale, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, squash, tomatillo, sage, rosemery cuttings, blackcurrant cuttings, willow cuttings. Celery. We need help to organise. This may be for education or for the Community Supported Agriculture, growing or simply buying our veg (the best way you may help us).

Thanks to Brett for the hard work  on our new logo........

another case study...... Sydenham Garden was set up with the main purpose of helping those in our local community coping with or recovering from significant illness. Sydenham Gardens Resource Centre, 28a Wynell Road, London, SE23 2LW Patients are referred to the project through their GP or key worker and when at the project are known as “co-workers”; working alongside centre staff and other volunteers. Co-workers have the opportunity to work either in the community garden and nature reserve or with our Art and Craft group. Although some opt to do both! We make every effort to cater for the individual’s physical abilities as much as possible and tasks in the garden can range from light activities such as sowing seeds in pots, to heavier work such as digging or bricklaying. We also provide accredited training and help with progression to further education, volunteering opportunities or reemployment. The charity’s co-workers also have an active part in the development of the community garden and in the shaping of the project as a whole. Many also get involved in our very popular community events. Regular social events, group trips to other community projects and visits to places of interest are also an important part of the co-worker experience at Sydenham Garden. If you think you would like to join us as a co-worker, please have a look at our leaflet. www.sydenhamgarden.org.uk/uploads/ About Us Founded in 2002, Sydenham Garden is a growing, award-winning, registered charity involved in improving the health and well-being of residents living in Lewisham and Bromley. We provide gardening and creative opportunities for co-workers (the name the project gives to our primary beneficiaries) referred from over 30 community organisations and health sector agencies. We have developed an integrative approach where those with different degrees of mental and physical ill health come together with volunteers and members of the local community. This approach aims to reduce exclusion and the prejudice which fuels continuing lack of opportunity for many of our beneficiaries. As a user-centred service, co-workers and volunteers are very much involved in our decision-making processes and service delivery approach. In 2009, we had a record number of over 60 co-workers regularly attending the project, with over 50 co-workers, volunteers and local people achieving Open College Network qualifications. We are currently developing a significant expansion of training and work experience opportunities in the form of a market garden social enterprise. As local support continues to grow for the charity and its invaluable work in the community, over 1500 visitors attended our ever-popular seasonal events last year. We are always striving to be as inclusive and accessible to the community as possible. Co-worker Activities Co-workers take part in a range of therapeutic gardening or Art and Craft activities, depending on their interests. Co-workers set medium and long term goals (activity and health or social) and seek to achieve these during their sessions. Garden sessions begin with the co-workers, volunteers and staff deciding what needs doing and tasks are allotted depending upon individuals’ goals. Art and Craft sessions take place in a group and individuals complete projects such as card making, painting, felt making etc. Throughout the year co-workers have a chance to complete accredited training courses – we have run Level 1 and Level 2 Gardening courses, Level 2 Ecology and Conservation, Level 2 Felt Making, Mosaic Making and Batik / Tie Dye. find out more about this fab project at www.sydenhamgarden.org.uk

Mainstream agricultural research and development tries to solve farmers’ problems with top-down, chemical and energy-intensive inventions. FarmHack seeks to solve problems by helping our community of farmers to be better inventors, developing tools that fit the scale and their ethics of our sustainable family farms http://farmhack.net/

Produce available this week along with our other news, views and comment including volunteer sessions at the field and festival

Our news, views and comment including volunteer sessions at the field and festival

NEWS

Welcome to our new look Community Supported Agriculture. Gone are our newsletters and gone are the hours of nail-biting over wondering how we are going to plant the crops we need to feed people. Instead you come into our project when you can, without pressure to do so as we understand people have lives to lead and work to do. Come along when you can, you'll be welcomed.
What we do ask is for all our supporters to help us by buying our veg produce. That way you support not only the growing and consumption of locally grown veg but may also really benefit local students who have little or no facilities for learning hands-on growing or, as with our first school groups, have few opportunities for work experience as they all have learning disabilities and few employers take on the challenges required. We provide this service FREE OF CHARGE, go to our education page to find out more. They also really enjoy the veg as well as learning all about growing.
As an example a regular order of £10 would currently give us £9.50 to develop our project as we are all voluntary and only have direct costs to cover. So if you order a box you not only get a treat of unpolluted produce but also give us the means to develop and if you order for the summer and pay now we shall ensure you may have the best of our expanding selection over the months to come - £100 will buy you 10 boxes and you choose what you have when we have the choice.

News next week include our fab recipes back by popular demand.

Produce available this week  You may order what you like at a suggested donation of £1 per portion OR ask for a box of our seasonal produce - normally enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 for the best part of a week. Good value and the single best way to support our charitable work

NOTE, we are currently still in winter mode so our seasonal veg is very limited.

News: Eggs will be back this week. Orchard Eggs produce Biodynamic eggs of superior quality and very high 'Scratch' level.

VEGETABLES:

sorry to say our pumpkins have finally finished

Potatoes 'BINTJE' - mixed size as they come or ask for ....

very small potatoes 'BINTJE' - for roasting whole or....

large potatoes 'BINTJE' - for baking

spinach

Greens (broccoli greens)

Purple sprouting Broccoli

Leeks

Baby Leeks

HERBS:

Rosemary,

OTHER:

Bamboo clumps for planting as an attractive barrier 'hedge' - email bamboo@communigrow.org

We are currently sowing Carrots, garlic, onions, lettuce, salad leaf, spring onions, cabbage, brussels, parsnips, perpetual spinach, giant leaf spinach, giant leaf basil, beetroot, broccoli, mint, coriander, parsley, artichoke, rhubarb, kale, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, squash, tomatillo, sage, rosemery cuttings, blackcurrant cuttings, willow cuttings. Celery.

We need help to organise. This may be for education or for the Community Supported Agriculture, growing or simply buying our veg (the best way you may help us).

Thanks to Brett for the hard work  on our new logo........

help wanted this week

Monday - 12 until 6pm
Tuesday - 12 until 6pm
Wednesday - 2pm until 6pm
Thursday - N/A
Friday - N/A

Saturday - from 10am at our food and craft fair, The Festival of Fairtrade and Local at the church centre, Ditton

then after from at the field - by special arrangement (Darren)

Many thanks for your help in advance.

Tasks this week include.....

Sowing - Tomato & peppers
Sowing - carrots & onions & garlic
Sowing - potato

Help needed for our Solar tunnel - base preparation for completion early april.









Please contact us to be sure of arrangements - we are on a private estate and public may be challenged by security. We are all voluntary and so have many other commitments than Communigrow.

Best drop-in times are normally Tuesday, Friday and Saturday afternoons only.

Education Co-ordinator .......

needed part time for our charity

Education co-ordinator for all the field sessions needed. Ideal for local applicants of some professional teacher/charity educational background.

It shall be voluntary to start, part time to suit applicant and later we hope to have funding in place soonish. We shall be happy to put whatever it takes into attracting the right person.

Must be skilled and experienced in running gardening/growing/farming/environmental sessions for schools and groups. Forest School may be useful as would conservation.

Further details on application to our steering group. email education@communigrow.org

As our vision is for a healthier, more balanced society through 'learning, teaching,sharing' applicants need to have some community engagement skills and knowledge of the local area with schools and groups, parish councils and general networks.

www.Communigrow.org

for more information on our education work CLICK HERE 

DONATE to our work

We desperately need your old seeds, pots and trays to plant up for this season. As you can imagine with that much ground to cover we need a lot!

The best way to donate to our charities work is by eating our veg! A box of seasonal veg (we do not buy-in any veg) is for a suggested donation of £10 and includes only £1 for our packing and delivery to nearby residents. Not only do you support all our educational work to provide land based experience free of to schools and groups BUT you get to eat the produce too. To order CLICK HERE or call us to make arrangements. 07806 708 386 (leave a message and we shall call you back)

You Donate direct via our Charities Aid Foundation page HERE: (https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/donatesteps.aspx?beneficiarycampaignid=3255)

Thank you in advance

The story so far... and yet so near! the Larkfield and Ditton Local Food campaign and project Communigrow

Learning - 'Zones'

FIVE PRINCIPLES FOR AN EDIBLE EDUCATION BY ALICE WATERS 

I. FOOD IS AN ACADEMIC SUBJECT
Ecology and gastronomy bring alive every subject from reading and writing to science and art.
II. SCHOOL PROVIDES LUNCH FOR EVERY CHILD
Good food is a right not a privilege. It brings children into a positive relationship with their health, community and environment.
III. SCHOOLS SUPPORT FARMS
Cafeterias buy fresh food from local farms, not only for reasons of health but to strengthen local food economies.
IV. CHILDREN LEARN BY DOING
Children work in the vegetable beds and on the cutting boards to awaken their senses and open their minds, both to their core academic subjects and to the world around them.
V. BEAUTY IS A LANGUAGE
A beautifully prepared environment, where deliberate thought has gone into everything from the paths to the plates on the tables, communicates to children that we care about them. OTHER RELATED TERMS 

FARM TO SCHOOL
The Integration of a hands on, farm based curriculum into classroom learning. 

http://www.lexiconofsustainability.com/

Communigrow may reach a conclusion - for now we are barely starting to write the 'introduction'.

This creative process is a struggle. Not only do we have very little funding (thank you South East Water, you saved the day) but it has been so few doing it. Only very recently we've inspired more to join us, and we still need more, many more.
Luckily we have the sound basis of learning to help to plan and propel the project forward. It is all about people, and food, and hopefully we'll inspire many more to get involved as keen consumers of fresh veg, dabbling gardeners and even ways to save the planet! So that's all good then. And it gets better.
We are no experts. We've had skilled advice on Community Supported Agriculture (thank you Plunkett Foundation) but learning is in all that we do. Learning about the soil, natural systems for growing, learning about the options we have to turn a field of grass into a productive plot for all to benefit. It is this 'all' that brings in the largest scope for learning, how to get 'All' involved, active and in some small way contributory to our aims.
Example is great. Each potato is an example of what we can achieve. Every onion a little parcel of bursting flavour and a sensation of community involvement. Taking this forward we now need more in the way we label our greater packet of produce, the message we may give. Everyone knows what that potato or onion looks like but why is it there at all, you can buy the same from the supermarket down the road, so what makes it 'Local Food' and why should people choose to buy it?
Follow this through to the boarder aims. Why should people join us as 'Friends' and why come along to pick the spinach or slice the pumpkin on a friday? It is very much about those learning, teaching and sharing tag lines. A few words that frame so much.

Next time.... more on our own 'Show' gardens and school pocket patchwork

Case study.....

Stroud Community Agriculture

All About Stroud Community Agriculture
Stroud Community Agriculture Ltd (SCA) is a community-led enterprise, which is developing a local farming business to produce fresh organic/biodynamic produce for its members. Members pay an annual membership and a further payment in order to receive produce including vegetables, pork and beef, and diversifying into other produce. The farm is certified organic and is influenced by biodynamic methods.


Our Principles
The guiding principles of Stroud Community Agriculture:
The Community Co-operative is bound by a set of principles established by the members at an early public meeting.
The principles are:
To support organic and biodynamic agriculture.
To pioneer a new economic model based on mutual benefit and shared risk and ensure that the farmers have a decent livelihood.
To be fully inclusive. Low income shall not exclude anyone.
To encourage practical involvement on all levels.
To be transparent in all our affairs. To make decisions on the basis of consensus wherever possible. To strive towards social justice.
To offer opportunities for learning, therapy and re-connecting with the life of the earth.
To network with others to promote community supported agriculture to other communities and farms and share our learning (both economic and farming).
To encourage members, in co-operation with the farmers, to use the farm for their individual and social activities and celebrations.
To develop a sense of community around the farm.
To work co-operatively with other enterprises that share our principles.

Our Vision
Stroud Community Agriculture (SCA) provides a link between people and farming. It does this by providing an opportunity for people to support and benefit from farm projects in various ways;
by paying towards the costs of running farm projects,
by receiving a share of the produce
by volunteering time to help with farm work and other work linked to the running of SCA,
by setting up and attending events linked to the farm,
or just by being interested in SCA

SCA aims to provide as many people as possible in the Stroud area with opportunities to make these direct links with farming and food.

SCA aims to:
Pay the people who work on the farm a fair wage
Develop a rich variety of crops, livestock and other projects that meet the needs of the farm and the people who support the farm
Provide opportunites for as many people as possible to make connections to the farm in whatever ways work for them.
Manage the farm in a way that is sensitive to the environment, wildlife and ecological system that the farm is part of
Encourage other, similar projects to set up

How is SCA organised and how do we operate?
Stroud Community Agriculture Ltd is incorporated as Community Co-operative. As a Community Co-operative every member has a vote, which puts everyone on an equal basis. Membership spreads the costs and risks involved in business.

Members hold quarterly planning meetings to set the direction for the farm. At an annual general meeting members elect a core group of (currently 8) volunteers to act on the plans set at members meetings. Read the minutes of AGM's.

Decisions are usually reached by consensus. The farm business is owned and controlled by the members, who employ the farmers. The farmers are members too, and sit on the core group, although they cannot take decisions about their own pay.

Another benefit of the Community Co-operative is that it is possible to raise capital by shares, should we wish to, by allowing investment with a return for investors as a profit-sharing organisation. Although this is not likely to happen, it does mean that it would be possible, for example, to raise money to buy land to set up a land trust.



Transition Network is a charitable organisation whose role is to inspire, encourage, connect, support and train communities as they self-organise around the Transition model, creating initiatives that rebuild resilience and reduce CO2 emissions. 

Ultimately it’s about creating a healthy human culture, one that meets our needs for community, livelihoods and fun.  We’re here to support you.

We shall soon have a few copies of the 'Transition Free Press' available for a donation of £2 to cover costs. To order email laurence@communigrow.org.

also for your information... a local event this coming Saturday 21st - build a pizza oven in Larkfield