Last week, I went to see Five Acre Community Farm and its diverse production of local, organic fruit and vegetables. Established in 2012, the farm operates under the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, meaning that the farm is supported financially by community members who receive a weekly share of the produce. With a strong community focus, volunteers collaborate to grow seasonal crops – learning new skills and building new connections in the process.
All the produce is grown in the field at Ryton Organic Gardens with minimal fuel usage, meaning minimal environmental impact. The community aspect of the farm’s ethos means that both the risks and rewards are shared between the farm managers and growers. By growing organic, the farm helps cultivate a healthy environment and facilitates a thriving biodiversity. The social, health and environmental benefits of these types of projects contribute so much to local communities across the UK.
Up and down the country and in rural constituencies like ours, there are many families that rely on farming for their livelihoods. A few weeks back I attended the Back British Farming event in Westminster hosted by the NFU and I am proud that under the last Government the £2.4 billion farming budget was maintained annually. The last Government also published the Blueprint for Growing the UK Fruit and Vegetable Sector, which set out how the UK could boost its production of fresh produce and reduce reliance on imports. I hope to see more work conducted on this by the new Government. It was disappointing, however, that the new Government’s manifesto had just 87 words on farming. Whilst it did contain a commitment to source half of all public sector food for local or environmentally certified producers, the details of this proposal are unclear.
By supporting locally grown food like that produced at Five Acre, buyers help reduce the environmental impact of industrial agriculture and combat climate change. Thanks to Five Acre’s focus on organic farming, reducing food miles, and promoting biodiversity, the farm has become a leading example of sustainable food production and community-supported agriculture in our local area.
You can find out more about Five Acre Community Farm, including how to get involved and purchase their produce at: www.fiveacrefarm.org.uk/veg-shares, or by contacting them on 02477 360361.
