CSA Network UK - Community Supported Agriculture

22/08/2024

'Taking patients to the farm, run by not-for-profit organisation Cae Felin Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), is one of many holistic approaches offered as part of their recovery.

Zoe said: “Our patients have a variety of activities to choose from at the CSA. Some may engage in light gardening tasks like weeding, mulching fruit trees, transporting wood chips uphill with wheelbarrows or, in Andrew’s case, crafting really useful items.

“Others might prefer to spend their time by the stream, embracing a moment of reconnection with nature.

“The partnership allows us to provide holistic neurorehabilitation through the enriching environment of a CSA, offering a pathway to recovery and enhanced well-being for individuals facing neurological challenges.

“Our unique approach maximises the brain's natural capacity for growth particularly in the earlier stages of recovery through engaging, hands-on agricultural activities.

“These activities not only stimulate cognitive functions and emotional resilience but also foster physical health through gentle, nature-based exercise.

“Beyond the physical and cognitive benefits, our program places a strong emphasis on psychological support and social reintegration, creating a nurturing community where individuals can connect, share, and grow together.”'

22/08/2024

Ready to farm with care for the whole food system, from the soil 🪱 to the humans 💚 in your local community?

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) keeps the social movement central to agroecology.

We want to equip you with everything you need to make your CSA startup a viable business rooted in commitment, belonging, mutual trust and openness.

Bookings are open for our 12-week Grow Your Own CSA course, starting in October, led by 's Tom O'Kane: https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/gyocsa/

📷 Plotgate Community Farm, Tomnah'a Market Garden, Gibside Community Farm Sims Hill Shared Harvest

21/08/2024

This is the promise of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

CSA connects farms with their local communities.

When you source your produce through a CSA farm, you're choosing to look after the farmers, your local landscape and your community.

We've made it easy to find your local CSA farm in the UK and Ireland through the map on our website: https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/find-a-csa/

But if you're a CSA, comment below with your name, where you're based and what you sell.

Or if you're looking for a food, flowers, fibre or fuel scheme, comment with your area and we'll try to point you in the right direction. 🍅🌷🧶🔥

16/08/2024

🌱 Rooted in community 👩🏽‍🌾

Community Supported Agriculture is a model which works for people, planet and producer. So we want to see your CSA thrive!

Get ready to launch with our *online* course, Grow Your Own CSA, led by Cae Tân CSA's Tom O'Kane.

We'll take you through everything you need to know in 12 weeks, from October to December, ready for next year's main growing season.

Our course covers:
🫛 The basic principles of CSA
🫛 Business planning and finance for your CSA
🫛 Land and site
🫛 The CSA Network, CSA types, funding
🫛 CSA legal structures and logistics
🫛 Crop planning
🫛 Marketing and memberships
🫛 Planning permission
🫛 Tools and equipment
🫛 Volunteers, trainees and schools
🫛Extending the season, storage and the hungry gap
🫛 Food equity and social links

Book your place here: https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/gyocsa/

And please share with anyone who's thinking about setting up a CSA or could do with the support we're offering 💚

16/08/2024

🌳LAST DAY TO NOMINATE THE ECOLOGICAL LAND TRUST FOR VITAL FUNDING🌳

We need your help to secure £5,000 for the Ecological Land Trust's vital work in improving habitat and biodiversity over our 225 acre land holding.

Our sister charity is taking part in Movement for Good's Climate and Environment Special Draw, where you can nominate us for the award until the 16th August.

Securing this funding would mean the world to us, and would go towards nature positive activities such as restoring hedgerows at Orchard Park in Cornwall, managing broadleaf woodland at Maesgwyn Isaf farm in Carmarthenshire, and finding out about the health of our soils and ecosystems at Ragman’s Lane farm in the Forest of Dean.

Please tell your friends and family, share on social media and nominate the Ecological Land Trust on Movement for Good's website between 12th to 16th August

https://climate.movementforgood.com/

16/08/2024

This spring we launched a new programme to provide support to CSAs in the process of getting off the ground.

Thanks to Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust we had funding for six places on the programme but with so many exciting new CSAs starting up, it was clear more was needed. With help from Pebble Trust and a private donor we managed to expand the programme to take on TEN CSAs!

It’s great to see so many varied and promising CSAs starting up and we’re excited to watch them develop!

Welcome to...

Moonacre Farm near Frome in Somerset, start a CSA to build community around the grower and this beautiful land, growing food and eating together with love and laughter.

Lush Greens Bristol, a young and flourishing CSA located in Bristol. They run a pay-what-you-can-afford CSA alongside their work growing veg for food charities in their local community.

Sustainable Kirriemuir, an environmental charity based in Angus, Scotland. Their vision is for Kirriemuir to become a sustainable net-zero community where people and nature flourish.

Tyninghame Community Farm is a 2-acre community-led CSA in Dunbar, East Lothian. They are are not-for-profit and have regular volunteer days to share the space and joy of growing with their community.

Handley Farm CIC in Belper, Derbyshire, launched their CSA at the start of July and run a food hub on the Open Food Network alongside the CSA so members can buy a whole range of products from local producers at the same time as collecting their shares.

Nourish Kernow CIC, a growing community based in Camelford, North Cornwall, run on a regenerative market garden model and foster community engagement through volunteer opportunities and outdoor learning.

We can't wait to follow your journeys!

16/08/2024

ORFC is coming to Scotland!

ORFC in the Field at Comrie Croft, 9th - 10th October 2024

Join leading practitioners for three days of practical workshops, talks, storytelling, music and farm tours in the beautiful 230-acre grounds of

This unique, hands-on event will explore how young people are finding a way back to the land and farming, re-introducing traditional skills, applying new agroecological knowledge and practices, and inspiring more young people to do the same.

The exciting series of practical workshops and talks includes:

🍄 Cultivating and integrating various mushroom species into your garden or farm with .mushrooms
🪸 Learning how to make a Lazy Bed to produce great soil with seaweed 
🌱 Heritage Seeds: understand their importance and how to save your own seeds with
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Tour Comrie Croft Farm with Andrew Donaldson and learn about Andrew’s journey to accessing land in Scotland
🌻Explore with lead grower, Catherine

Book now at the link in our bio 🌾

13/08/2024

Three days left to make a nomination that could make a big difference!

13/08/2024

12/08/2024

We need your help to secure £5,000 for the Ecological Land Trust's vital work in improving habitat and biodiversity over our 225 acre land holding.

Movement for Good's Climate and Environment Special Draw, you can nominate Ecological Land Cooperative land trust for the award until the 16th August.

Securing this funding would GO towards nature positive activities such as restoring hedgerows at Orchard Park in Cornwall, managing broadleaf woodland at Maesgwyn Isaf farm in Carmarthenshire, and finding out about the health of our soils and ecosystems at Ragman’s Lane farm in the Forest of Dean.

Please tell your friends and family, share on social media and nominate the Ecological Land Trust on Movement for Good's website between 12th to 16th August
https://climate.movementforgood.com/

08/08/2024

project Cae Felin CSA in Swansea are an exciting example of a CSA joining forces with local healthcare providers to supply nutritious, fresh fruit and veg to local hospital workers and soon hopefully patients too 👏

A project growing crops on Swansea Bay UHB land has delivered its first veg box, starting the journey towards its long-term aim to supply Morriston Hospital with produce.

06/08/2024

In the video clip Tom O'Kane talks about why he started a project in Wales Cae Tân CSA

Our online course running October - December 2024 will cover all the topics you need to know to set up your own CSA including business planning and finance, the land and site, funding, legal structures, managing trainees and volunteers, marketing and membership, crop planning and much much more.

Tuesdays 6-7.30pm October - December. Ran by Tom O'Kane and CSA Network UK. Bursary places and member discounts available.

Sign up here: https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/gyocsa/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfwaVmRO1Tg&t=

06/08/2024

18-35 and passionate about sustainability in food systems? Join Emergent Generation for their annual gathering at Conygree Farm where they aim to encourage, empower and enable young people, giving them new skills, knowledge and networks

If you are 18 to 35 and passionate about sustainability in the food system then this unique and inspiring two day event in the Cotswolds is for you. Join us and learn more about agroecology and regenerative thinking, connect with like-minded people, gain confidence, and share knowledge.

05/08/2024

Want the chance to win an in-person ticket for ORFC - Oxford Real Farming Conference 2025?

The Food Data Collaboration is gathering information about how agroecological food producers and retailers are currently using different online sales platforms (or none at all!) to sell their produce and how this could potentially change in future.

Share your experiences as a food producer or retailer in this super quick survey closing Friday 16th August at forms.gle/svR3BXzp91yHMn496

05/08/2024

Save the date! Come along, bring your pals, enjoy Sims Hill at its most rambunctious time of year. We will be cooking up some food grown on the farm, there will be cider on tap, and some welly wanging too.

Volunteer session at 10.30 am, food from 1.30 pm
@追蹤者

02/08/2024

We have recently published results from our member surveys which highlight the many social, environmental and public benefits farms have in the UK.

🥕 There are around 230+ CSA farms in the UK, 190 of these are our network members
🥕 These CSAs produce fresh agroecologically grown food for on average 66 households each
🥕 That is the equivalent of feeding over 15,000 households in the UK
🥕 On average CSAs farm on just 3.19 hectares of land

Thank you to all our members who took part, these results help us make the case for further and support

https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/the-current-picture-of-csa-in-the-uk/

01/08/2024

**Rural England Prosperity Fund**

Funds capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure to help improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.

The funding itself however is allocated to local authorities, so to apply or see if there is a fund available in your region, you will need to research in the search engine 'Rural England Prosperity Fund (your area)'.

North Somerset for example are currently offering funding for capital projects only and grants of £5000 - £25000.

More info on the fund itself

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

31/07/2024

Ed Hamer and Chagfood CSA will be running their eleventh CSA start-up and scaling-up course in September 2024.

14th-15th September 2024 in Chagford, Devon

The course will build on the first-hand experience they have gained in establishing their own CSA’s over the past ten years to provide the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence for you to start a CSA in your own community. The course will also be targeted at individuals and community groups who have already established a CSA enterprise but are looking to take it to the next level in terms of membership or new enterprises.

Sign up and more info here!
https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/csa-start-up-and-scaling-up-course-september-2024/

25/07/2024

Sims Hill Shared Harvest is recruiting for a part-time grower (October 2024 – February 2026)

Closing date for applications is 9am 15th August.

Start date: 2nd October 2024
Hours:
5 Winter months (Oct-Feb) 2.5 days per week
7 Summer months (Mar-Oct) 3 days per week.
8 hours per day, fixed days – Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Pay: £11.76 per hour (to be reviewed for 2025)

Sims Hill Shared Harvest is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) run using a cooperative structure, based in Frenchay on the edge of Bristol. They are recruiting a grower to collaboratively work with their existing growing team of two other part -time growers to run the farm.

They are looking for a grower with an understanding of and commitment to CSA values, the prospective grower will be a member of a three-person grower team responsible for the planning, production and delivery of members’ vegetable shares and wholesale vegetable orders, as well as developing relationships with partners and new potential customers.

They will also support volunteer groups and contribute to the running and development of their Soil Connections project and Tuesday workshares sessions.

Please apply by sending your CV and a covering letter to [email protected]

https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/part-time-grower-opportunity-sims-hill-shared-harvest-closes-15th-august-2024/

25/07/2024

We have backed an open letter coordinated by the Soil Association to the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling him to back and scale-up British fruit and vegetable farming.

Along with other farming and environmental groups, influencers and TV presenters we have sent the letter asking the Prime Minister to double the land used for horticulture in England. Currently less than 2% of farmland is used to grow fruit and vegetables, less than is available to play golf in England!

The letter calls for the government to put more money into nature friendly fruit and veg production including organic, alongside tailored support for small-scale growers.

What can you do to help?
🥬 Sign the Soil Association pledge to support homegrown fruit and veg
🥬 Write to your local MP using our template letter asking them to support CSAs and other British farmers and growers https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/csa-network-uks-asks-for-the-new-government/

https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/double-the-land-used-to-grow-fruit-and-veg/

Soil Association pledge https://act.soilassociation.org/save-our-fruit-and-veg?utm_source=press&utm_medium=press&utm_campaign=fruit_and_veg&utm_content=handraiser #

23/07/2024

Help support Glasbren secure a reliable source of local, agroecological, affordable food for the future. It will support tree planting, ecosystem restoration and the education of future generations in nature skills and environmental awareness.

They’re asking for donations to their Crowdfunder campaign, in exchange for a list of really exciting rewards - from planting a tree in your name on the land, dedicating a bench overlooking the three rivers estuary, or a place on one of their workshops, right up to a lifetime membership of Glasbren.

Help us grow into a huge new opportunity for Glasbren & unlock its potential as a truly regenerative place - for nature, people and planet!

19/07/2024

OUR DEMANDS FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT
We want to see CSAs of all types thrive and we encourage the new government to offer more support to British farmers and growers.

We will be writing to the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Minister of State at Defra, with our demands.

These include:
🥕 Inclusive grants and subsidies that adequately reward CSA farms for the public goods we provide.
🥕 We want to see grants offered for horticultural start-ups and grants for new farmers to access land and equipment.
🥕 That ELMs and farm payment schemes are accessible to CSAs in practice, that adequate guidance is provided and that farm payment budgets are increased to make the work involved in applying for these grants worth it for small farms.
🥕 To support our call for a bold cross-departmental horticulture strategy to increase domestic fruit and vegetable production and improve access to fresh, nutritious foods.
🥕 With more power in local planning decisions we want greater provision for small farms to facilitate the development of infrastructure and on-site accommodation.

To read all our demands AND find our template letter for you to send to your own local MP go to our website https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/csa-network-uks-asks-for-the-new-government/

13/07/2024

New research has shown that more traditional farmers are diversifying their farms and trying out

Research of 100 freehold farmers across the UK, found that farmers are diversifying traditional arable, dairy, or livestock farming to use their land in new ways to increase or supplement their income.

Almost 40% of farmers said they were trying out Community Supported Agriculture to diversify their farm.

Farming Online
https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/new-research-finds-more-farmers-trying-csa/

12/07/2024

As part of a collective of organisations, we have sent a letter to Steve Reed The Labour Party, the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ask for support for UK

We are asking the new government to go further than the previous government’s Blueprint to grow the UK and sector and deliver a bold cross-departmental horticulture strategy, to ensure a resilient fruit and veg supply.

With Landworkers' Alliance Soil Association Growing Communities Regather Cooperative The Wildlife Trusts Propagate Better Food Traders Organic Farmers & Growers Sustain: The Alliance For Better Food And Farming

https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/joint-letter-to-new-labour-government/

11/07/2024

Gŵyl Paramaethu Cymru 2024
Wales Permaculture Festival 2024

Three Pools permaculture farm, Abergavenny, South Wales
27-29th September 2024

If you would like to offer a workshop or talk, please get in touch at: [email protected]

They also have spaces for craft activities and stalls.

Buy your tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/paramaethucymrugathering/1181987

https://www.permaculture.org.uk/festival-wales

10/07/2024

Take a look at these interesting findings from a recent member survey results published by the CSA Network UK. The number of CSA farms has grown to over 230 in the UK. These CSAs produce fresh, agroecologically grown food for on average 66 households, that is the equivalent of feeding over 15,000 households. On average CSAs farm on just 3.19 hectares of land. The results paint a picture of the important impact of CSA in our community.
CSA Network UK - Community Supported Agriculture @追蹤者

08/07/2024

BenVista Csa Newtownards farm is launching a project this month to make organically produced vegetables available to local families.

“The community supported agriculture approach which we have adopted on one field on the farm isn’t about making profits and developing big business, but more about producing food at a tiny scale and without agrochemicals, with and for, our local community.”

Part of Sustain: The Alliance For Better Food And Farming Bridging the Gap project

General Ards farm launches new initiative to help lower income families By Chronicle Reporter - July 4, 2024 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp Organic veg made accessible to all AN innovative new scheme will be launched in Newtownards this month aiming to make organically produced vegetables avail....

04/07/2024

📣 We're HIRING! Please help us spread the word.

The Resourcing and Relationships Coordinator will work on securing funding and resources for Shared Assets and the wider land justice movement 🌿

You will lead on developing and maintaining relationships with Shared Assets' key funders, stakeholders, institutions, and individuals 🤝

We're looking for someone who is:

▶ experienced at bidding for grants and funding
▶ passionate about land, food and social justice movements
▶ competent at building and maintaining stakeholder relationships

🌐 Find out more here: https://www.sharedassets.org.uk/open-positions/resourcing-and-relationships-coordinator

⏰ Apply by 15th July

04/07/2024

Happy to see specifically mentioned in a political party manifesto ahead of today’s upcoming election!

Co-ops are mentioned in the party’s plans around food and farming, “rebalancing the power dynamic between big food manufactures and local alternatives such as local food networks, community-supported agriculture and other co-operatives”.

Green Party of England and Wales

Regional mutual banks would be capitalised through a Co-operative Development Fund, says the party