COMMUNITY FARM PLANS
April/May 2010
Plans to develop our growing operation into The Community Farm move ahead
Phil Haughton, our MD and grower, and Luke Hassel, Farm owner
Over the past 18 months we and a group of interested people have been putting together the plans for a Community Farm. This social enterprise project will take over the growing operations from The Better Food Company.
Making this Community Farm a reality has taken a lot more time and energy than we at first thought. However, we are making real progress towards our goal and are writing inform you on news and to invite you to help us make it all come together.
The past six months activities can be broken down into two parts:
1 The Growing OperationWe, The Better Food Company continue to produce the vegetables at Denny Lane over looking the Chew Valley Lake and this year have increased its acreage from 11 to 22 acres. In order to do this successfully we have had to invest in equipment and expertise and are pleased to welcome Ben Raskin, an experienced grower who has been working for the Soil Association, to the team for two days a week. As most of you will know, we have just moved all our box and wholesale operations from the Bristol base in St Werburghs down to Wood Barn Farm next to the field on Denny Lane in Chew. This is in preparation for The Community Farm taking over this part of the business. Our vegetable box customer numbers have been growing well and are now at an average of 380 boxes a week. All the produce for the shop comes from the farm depot now even if we have bought it in as before. [Picture shows Lucy, Atanas (in front) and Ben sitting in loaded planter] 2 The Community Farm development
We have an excellent steering group led by our Chair, Nelisha Wickremasinghe. Together we have been working on a comprehensive business plan, the legal structure of the organisation and how to raise community finance to fund the project start up costs. We plan to become an Industrial Provident society with its members involved in running the project. A community investment share offer will be the vehicle used, along with grant funding, to raise the necessary capital investment. We intend to raise enough to pay for the existing operations and capital equipment as well as to further develop the infrastructure needed over the first 18 months. The Plunkett Foundation is assisting us in developing the plan and the share offer. The plan is to launch the offer in September 2010 with completion by the end of the year. To help with this we will have several Pioneer Member Days at the farm to give you a real feel for farm life and what it could mean to be a member. These days will take place on SATURDAY 22nd MAY, SATURDAY 26th JUNE, and SATURDAY 17th JULY. Each day will allow volunteers to work on the land and participate in workshops explaining The Community Farm and asking for your ideas. We will provide you with lunch and drinks on the day and provide tools for working on the farm .If these days don’t work for you, please email your interest anyway as we would love to get your input into the making of The Community Farm. To book in for all or any of these days please email phil@betterfood.co.uk stating your preferred date and if you can offer or need lifts. Other ways to support the Community Farm 1. Recruit potential members and investors. 2. Get involved and help us make this project work. 3. Become a farm volunteer co-ordinator.
We would be looking for someone who is able to organise a group of up to eight people and looking after them during the Pioneer Member Days. This can be very rewarding and fun. You will get basic training and support from experienced farm staff. Phil Haughton and Luke Hassel
On behalf of The Community Farm
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