Growing with the community Keen allotment gardener Andy Whitmill visits the volunteers at Highbridge Farming Co-operative in Hampshire to see how they are producing food for themselves and the local community, thanks in part to the generosity of a forwardthinking local farmer
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alph Waldo Emerson, the American poet, lecturer and essayist, 1803-1882 once said: “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” and if that is so, Highbridge Farming Co-operative in Colden Common, Hampshire, is due another bumper season of crops. The enthusiasm of the group was evident from the outset. In February 2010, a team of 12 handdelivered 8000 leaflets to local residents in an attempt to recruit 100 members. In return for their £10 annual subscription and an agreement to work on the farm for 10 hours a year, the new conscripts would be entitled to purchase 1% of the vegetables produced. The cost would be around a third of supermarket prices and a fifth of current organic prices.
A learning experience
The project had begun in early February 2010, when members of Eastleigh Transition Network (ETNet) – Food Group, a team of local residents working alongside the borough council in tackling the challenges of climate change, met with local farmer Henry Russell. He’d offered them a 1.7 acre piece of land that was strewn with sweetcorn stubble and housed the frame of a large polytunnel. Biologist and Food Group committee member Andrew Ross recalls the early days of the venture: “The committee wanted a strong community
Jim Malpuss, farm treasurer, puts his back into some digging.
based project. We realised this would be an opportunity for many people to learn, as 70% of our members are novice gardeners.”
Team work pays dividends
The patch of land was split into 20 allotment sized plots. The 10 teams were created, each with a team leader, two plots and a crop to grow. “The early summer was very dry,” Andrew remembers. “We were desperately short of water and people were walking 100 yards to get it. Towards the end of the summer, Henry (Russell) provided some IBCs (industrial bulk containers) which meant we could fill them up with water, making the task a lot easier. “Another problem was the rabbits and we had to get a fence put all around the site. We have had a bit of a problem with deer and we need to address that.”
Important allies
Henry the farmer has been an important ally to the co-operative, regularly offering the group valuable support and the use of redundant farm equipment. Jim Malpuss, original Highbridge member and treasurer, confirms: “Henry is very enthusiastic about what is happening here and has been incredibly helpful to us. Initially, he ploughed all of our land and has done further ploughing since. He’s also provided and put up the fence that surrounds the farm and placed the IBCs about.”
Where possible this support has been repaid. The not-for-profit group sold around £2500 worth of food to its stakeholders last year. “We’re building up funds from selling produce and out of that we’ve paid Henry for the IBCs and the fencing,” said Jim Malpuss.
Under cover harvests
Donated to the group was the polythene cover for the polytunnel (from Northern Polytunnels), promoting its status to an essential part of the farm’s infrastructure. Steve Middleton, a building services engineer, has constructed and installed an innovative warming system into the polytunnel. He explains: “The warm, daytime air from the tunnel is drawn down through a hole in the ground. This hole is full of one pint milk bottles filled with water. The air passes across the bottles and warms the water. At night, as the air in the polytunnel cools, the cooler air is drawn through the hole and takes the heat from the water filled bottles. This keeps the polytunnel at a couple of degrees above freezing, therefore avoiding problems with frost conditions.”
Above clockwise: The well-worn hand tools, many of which have been donated; working in the tunnel, the cover for which was generously donated by Northern Polytunnels; sowing beans is a job for the whole family; an IBC (Industrial Bulk Container) – perfect for holding water; broad beans ripe for picking; here is a fine crop of leeks; what’s on the menu today?
Raising the game
As the co-operative entered its second summer season, a major change was made to the qualifying conditions for membership. “When we started up it was £10 and 10 hours of work a year,” said Jim Malpuss. “That was a total underestimate of the work involved, so this year we have increased that to 10 hours’ work a month. Some members have said they can’t commit to the extra workload so it was decided that the stakeholder could be an individual, couple or family and therefore the monthly hours could be shared,” he added. “Although we have around 90 stakeholders, we actually have a couple of hundred people helping out, including children.” The ambitions of the community for 2011 were much greater than the year before. Over 30 crops were grown and harvested compared to just 10 in 2010. A potential problem again caused concerns: “As in the previous seasons, an extremely dry spring in 2012 caused extra work and threatened to limit the potential harvests. Perhaps our social events in 2013 should include a regular rain dance.” said Jim Malpuss. ➤
A great future
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There are, however, signs of trees and below that is a space We realised impressive things to come. for a vineyard.” this would be an Part-time pig farmer, Terry As contract negotiations opportunity for many Silvester, has relocated his with farmer Henry Russell stock from his back garden approach, the future of the people to learn, as to a piece of land adjacent Highbridge farming co70% of our members to the farm. The numbers operative looks positive. of pigs vary according to Just over a year into the are novice business and he offers the project and the land is a gardeners subsequent pork products for thriving, extravagant and sale to fellow members. sustainable vegetable garden Another new produce soon to operated by a team of dedicated tempt the palates of the group is honey. gardening lovers. The passion and desire of Hives have been erected and novice beekeeper, the group are unquestionable. Rain, snow or Mike Lucas, is hoping to produce the first yield of shine, the Saturday morning gatherings are honey in the near future. consistently well turned out. With the diverse Over the winter 450 trees were given to the personalities, professions and lifestyles on offer, group by the woodland trust. “There are five there’s something special within this types of tree,” Andrew Ross explains. “Hazel for membership, making them gel and producing the nut, blackthorn for the berries and sloe something great. Ralph Waldo Emerson would gin, elderflower for wine and cordial, Rosa be impressed. Rugosa for the hips and crab apple. In front of For more information contact: Andrew Ross: them we have planted an orchard of 20 apple Highbridgefarmcp@gmail.com
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Clockwise from the top: The large polytunnel has proved invaluable for tender crops and for indoor working in wet weather; peas certainly enjoy the rich, well-drained soil; chives add colour to the plot and attract pollinating insects, including the farm’s bees; the community farm depends on teamwork and every team has their patch to tend to.