Friday, April 12, 2013

help the market garden to florish this season

Hi, if you can help with a pledge of your support can help email me at laurencesn@blueyonder.co.uk

As a brief, I have taken on the formation of a 2 acre plot of ground that was a community garden within East Malling Research on land they allocated from their 500 acre estate in Kent. I have their support to establish a market garden based on 'Community Supported Agriculture' lines, that is people join as a member, receive discounted veg and produce and can come along to learn new skills if they want. We aim to have this set up in September but until then I need funds to establish and pioneer this season. We have the support of the Plunkett Foundation who work with new community co-operatives to produce local food.

Any sum over £10 is appreciated, I can offer of a box (or perhaps more) of seasonal veg and other produce for all donations over £25.

Need donations towards our project expenses. All are appreciated to enable progress this season as a new and independent Community Supported market garden (CSA).

There is the offer of a box (or perhaps more) of seasonal veg and other produce for all donations.

Also a free subscription to our market garden once registered for all pledges of support for our project over £50, (as well as the box of veg and produce).

You can paypal flowforms@gmail.com or direct 'bank-to-bank' (ask for details) or cash

go to https://www.facebook.com/EastMallingCommunitySupportedAgriculture
or http://www.projectdirt.com/project/9146/
or https://sites.google.com/site/londoncommunityagriculture/

Thanks

Laurence

We need donations to cover specific items:

Seed potatoes - £90 for 75kg of seed

green manure, or ground cover seed, that is clovers, field peas, vetch etc - £100 or more

weed control membrane - 'Bioroll' at £112

expenses for petrol etc - any donation really appreciated

Ride on mower with trailer, secondhand, approx £500

Likely to need to buy the container, any offers over £10 of sponsoring that would be fab

Irrigation pipe - not sure how much this may cost as yet
Another rotavator, £350

Manure, the plot needs muck to improve the soil.

Also the costs of researching the new structure with the Plunkett Foundation who have offered us their advice and support, any offer appreciated

Soil toxicity testing..... is it true there is no cheap and easy test?

Little wonder there is no idea on how much toxins we are eating and only building sites carry them out.

Soil Association say "Hello,

Unfortunately there is no cheap and simple way to do a thorough test on soil for toxic substances. If you know what toxin you are looking for, and can do a specific test for that substance, that is possible, (and the price will vary depending on the substance). But to do a very wide ranging test would be expensive. For organic farmers and growers, when land goes in to the 2 year conversion period, the organic inspector will always ask about the previous history of the land use. If land has previously been in industrial use, then organic certifiers would require soil tests. There are some chemicals, like PCBs, which are widespread in the environment, even though their use has been banned for many years, and it is in practice impossible to avoid some ubiquitous environmental contamination which human beings have caused over the last 60 years.

What organic farming and growing can do is guarantee that no more toxic chemicals are added to the soil or sprayed on food that we are going to eat. Hope this helps."

https://www.facebook.com/soilassociation/posts/10151595058993816?comment_id=39715806&offset=0&total_comments=2&notif_t=feed_comment

For interest here is a sample report.................... It is for a building site. No such requirements for land we eat food from and may be sold.

http://www.fastsoiltesting.co.uk/static/Sample-Soil-Contamination-Assessment-Report.pdf

Rapid Response Soil Testing

–

Contamination Report

Section A:

Introduction

A site visit was carried out on Monday 13

February to collect soil samples from

Sample Site

Soil contamination testing was required within 3 previously identified potential hotspots to assess the

current

levels of contamination in order to classify the waste before disposal.

Hotspot 1

–

5m x 5m x 5m (LxWxD)

Hotspot 2

–

5m x 10m x 5m

Hotspot 3

–

15m x 5m x 2m

Soil samples

are

to be taken every

from the center of the area

and testing is to be carried

out against

Ecofficiency’s Standard Classification suite

A sample location plan is included within Appendix B of this document.

Section B:

Contamination Assessment

Samples 8 & 9 taken from Hotspot 2 have been classified as hazardous due to elevated

levels of Petroleum

Hydrocarbons (TPHs).

Sample 4 taken from Hotspot 1 also showed elevated levels of TPHs however these readings were

inconsistent with other samples from the same area.

Section C:

Waste Classification

Sample ID

Waste Classification

EWC Code

Comments

Sample 1

Non Hazardous Soils

Sample 2

Non

Hazardous

Soils

Sample 3

Non Hazardous Soils

Sample 4

Hazardous

Soils

Sample 5

Non Hazardous Soils

Sample 6

Non

Hazardous

Soils

Sample 7

Non Hazardous Soils

Sample 8

Hazardous

Soils

Sample 9

Hazardous Soils

03*

Section D:

Conclusion and Recommendations

The majority of test results were returned as non

hazardous and within SGVs for the development

of site.

Elevated TPH levels identified at Sample Locations 4, 8 and 9 were inconsistent with the readings acquired

from the majority of the site and should be treated as hotspots. These areas should be excavated in full until

all visual and olfactory evi

dence of TPH contaminated ground has been removed. Further soil testing should

then be undertaken at each side and the base of the excavation to validate the removal of all contaminated

ground identified on site.

Due to the identification of contaminated ground it is recommended that the local authority is consulted at

this stage to advise on whether a full Phase 2 Site Investigation & Risk Assessment is required to satisfy

planning conditions.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

it may be safer to grow fruit and veg on a building site than a lot of untouched sites.

Is there a cheap and simple way to get a complete and thorough toxicity test for soil?
I'm worried about the number of organisations encouraging young people to grow on ground without ensuring it is safe ground to grow on and then sell the produce.

Time someone provided clear advice on this. There appears to be a conspiracy of silence as if tested and a certain level of toxicity is found it opens a large and expensive can of worms. yet continue to grow and now encouraged to sell produce. Perhaps it is really not a problem but I've tried getting some statistics on it and it is so hard, I am not sure they actually exist!

So if no one actually knows how toxic a school space may be then it is assumed safe. It may be time for a clear bit of advice, and an affordable and complete test, with advice, funds and support if toxicity may be found OR advised not to grow on untested ground or to sell to the public, perhaps using only 'safe' bought-in soil and compost.

Waitrose, who are running a 'Grow and sell' scheme to encourage local schools, say it is the responsibility of each to ensure the soil is 'fit for use'. People often ask about the safety of soil for use and my research indicates it may be safer to grow fruit and veg on a building site than a lot of untouched sites. Contaminated soil must be removed to build houses, but no such regs for veg. A simple system to test should be made available to ensure food grown to eat or sell is actually safe.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/02/waitrose-alan-titchmarsh-schools-initiative

Alas they say it is up to the schools involved to ensure the soil is 'fit for use'.

Titchmarsh said: "Teaching children at an early age about the food they eat and where it comes from is something that I'm very passionate about – we've all read shocking statistics about how many nowadays do not know what chips are made from or that a blackberry is a type of fruit and not just a phone."

When you think how many sites now grow, and in Waitrose supported schools case, sell, you would have thought someone would have sorted this issue out long ago. I think that may be wise for anyone growing, and selling, their produce as they may need to ensure it is safe. My research indicates it may be safer to grow fruit and veg on a building site than a lot of untouched sites. Contaminated soil must be removed to build houses, but no such regs for veg.

With the interest and market Organic produce, I am surprised there is not more encouragement to ensure land is 'safe'
It almost seems that as soon as lead was removed from petrol organisations think all is now safe, never mind years of the industrial and post industrial revolution, I grew up with Friends of the Earth suggesting to never grow leaf veg in the open in London.
There are ideas .. "that compost is an excellent neutralizer and is often used to remediate contaminated soil situations." but I wonder how that squares up with the main theme that growing your own is good for you and may be healthier.
Main concern is the growth of people growing their own on ground that may be toxic and selling it. No one seems to mention the importance of soil testing for heavy metals (PCB's) etc.

AS AN UPDATE,

Soil Association say............... "Hello, Unfortunately there is no cheap and simple way to do a thorough test on soil for toxic substances. If you know what toxin you are looking for, and can do a specific test for that substance, that is possible, (and the price will vary depending on the substance). But to do a very wide ranging test would be expensive. For organic farmers and growers, when land goes in to the 2 year conversion period, the organic inspector will always ask about the previous history of the land use. If land has previously been in industrial use, then organic certifiers would require soil tests. There are some chemicals, like PCBs, which are widespread in the environment, even though their use has been banned for many years, and it is in practice impossible to avoid some ubiquitous environmental contamination which human beings have caused over the last 60 years.

What organic farming and growing can do is guarantee that no more toxic chemicals are added to the soil or sprayed on food that we are going to eat. Hope this helps."

Soil Association Future GrowersThe Soil Association signposts people to this organisation. http://www.eurofins.com/en/about-us/laboratory-contacts/united-kingdom/eurofins-agroscience-services.aspx They say "I'm afraid I don't know how much they cost. Local Environmental Health teams should be able to tell you what they can test for."

RHS, and OrganicLea suggest contacting the Environmental Health.

Waitrose have passed me a link to a site in California https://sites.google.com/site/healthygardeners/testing-labs-results

No one contacted have provided the easy, accessible and complete way for testing

I think the time has come for a simple way to get this done with advice on the problem, level of incidence of toxicity in tests carried out and clear advice on what to do if your soil tests as toxic.

Waitrose to launch 'grow and sell' initiative for school children

Local schools will get seed kits, equipment, growing instructions and invitation to set up stalls at stores to sell produce

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 2 April 2013 11.15 BST

Coombe Hill Junior school students kids their school-grown produce at Waitrose stores at Kingston

Gardener Alan Titchmarsh has backed Waitrose scheme, which has already run a pilot, to encourage school children to grow vegetables and sell them at the store. Photograph: Waitrose

Waitrose is set to sell wonky carrots and knobbly potatoes grown in local schools under a new national scheme backed by gardener Alan Titchmarsh. The supermarket's new 'grow and sell' initiative aims to encourage green fingers in 7- to 11-year-olds across the UK by helping them grow and sell their own produce.
Every Waitrose branch in the UK will work with four local primary schools who will each receive a seed kit. The kit is designed to get school vegetable patches up and running, and includes seeds, equipment and step-by-step growing instructions. Later in the summer, the branches will invite the schools to sell their home-grown produce outside the store.
Schools will also be able to receive additional seed kits' through the in-store Waitrose community matters scheme, where customers can support a local charity by dropping a green token into the relevant perspex box. It is hoped that the scheme, run in association with the Waitrose farm on the Leckford Estate, will reach over 100,000 children.
The national roll-out follows a successful pilot last year when 20 primary and secondary schools across London worked with 10 Waitrose branches in conjunction with the School Food Matters charity to sell fruit, vegetables, eggs, chutneys and jams.
The TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh was recently hired by Waitrose to help raise the profile of British agriculture and horticulture. The store is branching out into the gardening market with the launch of 6,000 products to help customers grow their own flowers, fruit and vegetables.
Titchmarsh said: "Teaching children at an early age about the food they eat and where it comes from is something that I'm very passionate about – we've all read shocking statistics about how many nowadays do not know what chips are made from or that a blackberry is a type of fruit and not just a phone."
Tina Varns, sustainability and ethical sourcing manager at Waitrose, added: "We are really pleased to be rolling this initiative out to all 290 of our branches. Growing at school encourages children to eat well and to go for a wider variety in their food – we believe this is very important as it paves the way for healthy eating."
She said the scheme also allows children to identify where food comes from, the importance of seasonality and the impact of bad weather, as well as developing an entrepreneurial spirit.
The previous government introduced a sustainable schools standard to reflect the importance of sustainability in the curriculum and in schools' own practice but this was not officially adopted by the coalition government.
A major review of the curriculum is currently under way, sparking speculation about how sustainability and climate change will be taught in the future. But it emerged in March that specific mention of "climate change" has been erased from the draft geography curriculum in England up to and including key stage 3 (all children aged up to 14). However, horticulture is included in the new curriculum review.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Cropping planning Tools for Community Agriculture Groups

with the help of the Soil Association resource pages and their tools I am now working my way through the essentials..............

Cropping plan, this is their 'Cropping Tool for Community Agriculture Groups'
Crop planning tool [Spreadsheet, 154 kb]

Capital costs

Capital costs for setting up a new vegetable CSA [pdf, 156 kb]

Soil Association guide to rotations for organic horticulture field crops [pdf, 566kb]
A comprehensive guide to organic horticultural field crop rotations.

Propogation for CSAs [pdf, 137 kb]
Suggestions on how to source seedlings and plants to overcome the problems faced when entering commercial scale growing in a CSA.

Marketing..................

CSA
Box schemes
Farmers’ markets
A series of practical guides aimed at farmers looking to diversify your business and marketing your produce

and there are also some example planners.

go to http://www.soilassociation.org/communitysupportedagriculture/resources/agricultureandlivestock

London Community Supported Agriculture (London CSA) campaigns to create viable market gardens in and around London

"We are never going to be able to afford local, sustainably raised food without doing it for ourselves"

Having Identified 40 acres of underused or totally disused land in Greenwich alone, with many more potentially available or for shared use in the borough and beyond the scope is simply enormous. We aim to create new community growing enterprises owned and run by their members.
Help and advice needed - to join a team of growers and community developers

https://londoncommunityagriculture/

Our projects on projectdirt.com - /project/9146/

Go to our blog at http://londoncsa.blogspot.co.uk/

Explain what a CSA is and why it may make a good model

Often asked to explain what a CSA may be and why it may make a good model for a viable market garden like Communigrow.

I still wonder why we may need a good model? There are plenty of well meaning and often well run organisations that fit the bill with a variety of governance structures and management. Many are a development of years of hard work on a valued community asset like a city farm or have sprouted from a group of people simply wanting to eat better veg without being poisoned by agrochemicals and pesticides.

One of the best reasons from my own point of view would be the fair-trade element. Buying locally and direct should give fairer returns for the grower and better value to the consumer.

The idea that people can be involved in some way in the process of production is probably the single best reason for growing locally. It is not a new idea, allotments have been a long established system of enabling people to get their hands dirty and taste the fruits of their labour. Some even share their produce around. But to grow in any larger volume there needs a structure to guide the organisation and get it to function with the demands of running a market garden, especially if principals of organic or biodynamic growing come into it with the ideal there may be a more sustainable way to produce what we consume.

This is a piece by the soil association along with 'Making Local Food Work' and may help explain a little better than I can.

Also take a look at a few good examples I've found over the years researching London Community Supported Agriculture......................

one-example-from-university-of-kentucky.html

Having looked at several examples of effective Community Supported Agriculture I now realise that the boat needs to be pushed out.
Though the sea may be choppy and the rocks not far below there is huge scope for real and radical change in the way we think about food and our own role in the process.

This is just one example from the university of Kentucky who run a large CSA project for their students and locals.

also a case study with links to the Soil Associations pages on setting up a CSA ...................

a-site-full-of-info-and-help-to-any-csa.html

Case Studies
Stroud Community Agriculture (SCA)
Location & area of land Stroud, Gloucestershire, 50 acres
When did the project start? 2001
No. of workers/volunteers employing 2 full time farmer/growers
paying for a part-time treasurer and
membership administrator
Aim of the project
The aim of SCA is to integrate community and agriculture by managing a mixed,
sustainable and environmentally responsible farm for the benefit of everyone
involved.

and more on Stroud CSA.....................

along-lines-of-stroud-csa.html

Stroud Community Agriculture is a new type of sustainable farming.
Built on cooperation and mutual support the risks and rewards of farming are shared between the farmers and consumers. The consumers commit themselves to supporting the farm and providing a fair income for the farmers. The farmers can then develop the health and fertility of the farm, its wildlife and environment. All the produce from the farm is shared between the supporting consumers or sold locally if there is a surplus.

Community supported agriculture (CSA) is a partnership between farmers and the local community, in which the responsibilities, risks and rewards of farming are shared. Benefits are enjoyed by all sides: farmers for instance can receive a more stable and secure income and closer connection with their community, and consumers can benefit by eating fresh healthy food, feeling more connected to the land where their food is grown and learning new skills.
The most common produce for CSAs is vegetables, but they can also include eggs, poultry, bread, fruit, pork, lamb, beef and dairy produce. CSAs are also developing around woodlands for firewood and also more recently fish.

Benefits of CSA

Benefits to local communities

consumers benefit from receiving fresh food from a known source
the environmental benefits of fewer 'food miles', less packaging and ecologically sensitive farming with improved animal welfare
a local economy enhanced by higher employment, more local processing, local consumption and a re-circulation of money through 'local spend'
educating people about varieties of food, it's production methods and costs
having an influence over the local landscape and encouraging more sustainable farming

Benefits to farmers

a more secure income which improves business planning and time to concentrate on farming
a higher and fairer return for their products by selling direct to the public
increased involvement in the local community; the opportunity to respond directly to consumers' needs
receive help with labour and planning initiatives for the future

How CSA can work for you

There is no fixed way of organising CSA, it's a framework to inspire communities to work together with their local farmers, so it's up to you how this works best for you and your local community. Here are some examples of initiatives:

Communities can:

grow vegetables to supply a weekly box for members throughout the year
sponsor an apple tree and harvest its fruit
buy shares in a cow and receive interest in cheese
rent-a-vine from an organic vineyard
help with the running of an organic farm and supporting a farm shop
rent a plot of farmland and have vegetables grown on your behalf
receive a regular loaf of locally baked bread
receive a monthly supply of organic meat

Farmers can:

produce vegetables or meat for a group of committed members who pay up front
receive help with sowing, weeding, harvesting and packing from enthusiastic members
enable social events on the farm
rent a field to the local community to grow their own vegetables
get financial support from your community who pay up front for their produce

http://www.soilassociation.org/communitysupportedagriculture/whatiscsa

London Community Supported Agriculture (London CSA) campaigns to create viable market gardens in and around London

"We are never going to be able to afford local, sustainably raised food without doing it for ourselves"

Go to our blog at http://londoncsa.blogspot.co.uk/