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Loxley Valley Community Farm in South Yorkshire was featured on River Cottage last night (26th November) on Channel 4. The community farm has received support through Making Local Food Work, a programme which helps people to take ownership of their food and where it comes from. Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Making Local Food Work is working to support 650 local food community enterprises to increase access to and awareness of local food for 1 million people by 2012.
About the Community Farm
Just outside Sheffield, past the end of the last tram stop, in a field on the slopes of the valley, is the site for the Loxley Valley Community Farm. Set up in July 2009, a group of people have come together to produce their own food on a 6.5 acre site with 25 members growing vegetables and keeping pigs, ducks, laying hens, turkeys and bees.
The initiative for the farm came from Mark Whitehouse whose garden almost backs on to the field. He’d been renting the land for a number of years but since his horse died, he set about realising his dream of starting a smallholding. But rather than do it alone, Mark advertised the land on the Landshare website on 20 April 2009 and within hours got his first reply.
Getting Started
At the first meeting, which was held in the field, back in April, Mark described his idea for a community growing scheme in preference to everyone just having individual allotments. At first, people were quite reluctant about the idea, but by the end of the meeting, there was all round enthusiasm. Mark insisted that trust amongst the group was essential if they were going to make a success of it. Twenty people signed up to being in the group.
In May, shortly after the group had formed, Mark, Matt and Gary had a meeting with Kirstin Glendinning, Soil Association CSA regional coordinator, at Swillington CSA, near Leeds, to tour the farm and see at first hand what this farm has achieved.
On Open Farm Sunday in June, a group of the members and their families also visited Swillington Organic Farm and CSA to get inspiration and ideas.
The group developed a shared vision of what they wanted on their farm which essentially was to grow their own Christmas dinner! They agreed on pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, vegetables and bees.
Bringing together a diverse group of people also brought together a wide range of skills which were essential for taking the work forward.
It also of course brings together a lot of diverse ideas and opinions but having a clear structure for decision making helped them move forward and not get stuck.
Motivation in the group was extremely high as it was clear there was no time to waste. If they wanted to grow their own Christmas dinner, then the seeds needed planting and the animals needed to be purchased as soon as possible.
Stephanie, one of the people involved in the farm said, “I’m just starting to really learn about growing vegetables. When I was growing up my parents had a vegetable patch in the garden, and I tried growing stuff last year when I was a student, but am really keen to learn real skills now. There are no allotments available round here so this has provided me with a fantastic opportunity to get involved. The highlight for me is actually growing my own food. Watching a tiny seed develop into a cauliflower is what its about. Knowing where my food comes from, and that there’s no waste. When you’ve grown it yourself, you feel a real pride and so, whatever the shape or size of the produce, you want to eat it!”
Grace, 11 years old said, “Before the farm, there was nothing to do after school. But now I love coming up here and looking after the animals. It’s good to eat animals when you know they’ve had a happy life.”
Vision for the future
As the project has worked so successfully for them, the Loxley Valley Community Farm members are very keen to help other communities in the Sheffield area to set up similar schemes.
They also hope to create an opportunity for local people to come together, as there is no local smallholders association in the area.
Establishing a breeding programme and increasing the area for vegetables and planting fruit trees is also on the agenda.
The members would like to be in a position to donate surplus produce to local people in need and charitable organisations.
Support received through Making Local Food Work
Loxley Valley Community Farm received help and advice from the Community Supported Agriculture project of Making Local Food Work. This strand is managed by the Soil Association and offers help and support to new and existing Community Supported Agriculture enterprises across England. They also received free mentoring support through Making Local Food Work which offers free mentoring, business support, governance and legal advice to a range of community based food enterprises across England.
Further information on our work to support Community Supported Agriculture enterprises - http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/about/csa/index.cfm
Further information on the free support and advice available –
Enterprise support and mentoring - http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/about/Enterprise_Support.cfm
Governance and legal structures help and support - http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/about/gs/index.cfm
To watch the episode of River Cottage again, please visit http://www.channel4.com/programmes/river-cottage/4od#3011054.
Contact :
Loxley Valley Community Farm Ltd
7 Leaton Close
Loxley
Sheffield S6 6RH
T: 07805501186
E: info@loxleyvalleycommunityfarm.org.uk
http://www.loxleyvalleycommunityfarm.org.uk
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