Transition Town Dorchester Community Farm Project
Project Aim
To provide an opportunity for those without a garden or allotment to collectively produce food for its members.
To educate and reskill. This is extended to local schools who have taken a keen interest.
To be socially inclusive. Physically disabled and Learning Disability groups are eager to be involved as well as the socially disadvantaged (long-term unemployed, mental health)
To be a venue for like-minded people and not just a place to grow food.
Further details
The project was set up to provide a place where likeminded people could gather and grow/rear food on a communal basis intended to be socially inclusive. Under Lanche Community Farm is a site of approximately 2 acres situated on the edge of the Poundbury development, which is at the western edge of Dorchester.
It was always envisaged that its primary roles should be 3 fold. Education, Social inclusion and Food Production.
The Project has received a lot of support from the Duchy of Cornwall, the Farm is on their land and we have been granted an initial 5 year lease at a peppercorn rent. The Duchy management locally continue to offer and provide valuable help in the form of groundworks (use of JCB etc.), maintenance of boundaries, provision of surplus supplies (topsoil for deep beds, paving material etc) and advice on infrastructure issues.
Initially we will be concentrating on a few project areas: -
- growing areas including raised beds, fruit cage etc
- a wildlife pond
- livestock (chickens, bees, pigs etc)
- structures such as polytunnel, straw bale building, composting toilet
- social areas, such as picnic/BBQ zone, kids garden
As interest grows and requests for other projects are suggested this list will grow!
The TTD Community Farm Project, of which Under Lanche is part, hopes to acquire other sites within or close to Dorchester as the initial interest from the public has been much greater than some expected (but I always thought it would "take off" once it went public).
Whilst the Project was set up as a TTD Project it is envisaged it will inclusive and there will be no requirement to subscribe to Transition, although it is hoped Transition issues will be embraced and, perhaps, non-TT members will want to find out more.
Inspiration
Outcomes so far
Unexpected outcomes
Links and Partnerships
Duchy of Cornwall - land and help.
Kingston Maurward Agricultural College.
Scats Countrystores
Adult Learning Disability department of Dorset Social Care and Heath
Sources of Funding
None at present but some offered from Dorset Social Care and Health.
Contacts
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Picnic 15th August
30 July 2010 - 11:08am — AnonymousA picnic is planned for the 15th of August on the farm site (which is still bare).
Some food will be provided, along with tea/coffee and some soft drinks, but please bring-and-share what you can.
Ian
Busy!
22 November 2010 - 12:51pm — Ian ReeveIt's all kicking off!
We've had planning Days and have laid out where all the elements are to go and will soon be starting excavating the pond and leveling of ground for the Veg beds (all with the help and blessing of the Duchy of Cornwall - who have offered the use of a JCB)
2 weekends ago 15 of us turned up to plant about 150 trees generously provided by the Woodland Trust. These will form an 'Edible Hedge' along the northern boundary of our field. We also took time to clear one or two hazards such as discarded barbed wire fencing. This week we hope to get dates for the hard work to start.
Ian
And there's more!
22 November 2010 - 1:04pm — Ian ReeveJenny, my co-conspirator in this project, has managed to secure some disused railway allotments in Dorchester for use as a community orchard. Network Rail have recently let us have the site for a peppercorn rent (if collected) for a minimum of 5 years! The site covers about 1/3 of an acre next to Dorchester South Station and has been unused since the nearby Railway Cottages were sold off in 1986! Bramble Central! It's lethal going in there.
We've got local resident support, and they are pleased the site is to be used again.
In association with the Orchard Jenny plans on establishing a 'Virtual Orchard'.
In the space of a couple of months it looks like Transition Town Dorchester has become more prominent in the community. It's all about having something visible.
Ian
Winter Work etc.
9 February 2011 - 4:47pm — Ian ReeveWhen the weather has been acceptable a committed group of us have been busy on-site. Steve Ascott has been pestering local Scaffolding forms for condemned boards. These are starting to be used for the construction of raised beds. (3 built to date. enough for 8 beds) The intention is to have 8 beds at about 400mm deep for accessibility for wheelchair users, and a further 24 beds much lower in height (saves wood!).
The pond has been dug but we are waiting for funding for a pond liner. The original intention was to use a puddled clay liner but because the water table on site is some 6 metres down and the subsoil and below is chalk this would be a disaster. Issues regarding the clay drying out when the water level drops, cracking and leaking. Within a year or 2 we'd have a dry, clay-lined pit. So butyl it is for a liner. Cost? Exorbitant!
Polytunnel manufacturer, First Tunnels, have agreed to donate us a polytunnel! One of our number did all the negotiating as he writes on growing in tunnels and the deal was he would write a how-to pamphlet for them if they donated a tunnel. How cool is that?
We're just waiting for the weather to improve so we canget some serious work done.
Ian
This is really inspiring,
20 February 2011 - 8:27pm — Martin WhybrowThis is really inspiring, I'd love to do something like this here in Hythe (our transition scheme is well under way). I was wondering what a 'virtual orchard' was?
Virtual Orchard
22 February 2011 - 12:36am — Ian ReeveMartin,
To see what we're up to lately got here and click on the links to both the orchard and the community farm. It'll also give you an idea of how we got to where we are now.
A virtual orchard is a database of fruiting trees that are in a communities gardens. Members register their trees, share the fruits and get help with looking after them if needed. (eg. If I have a Cox Orange Pippin tree and you have a Bramley we share eachothers fruit). Its also an opportunity for 'members' to buy trees in bulk and distribute amongst themselves. Have a look at Tamzin and Rob's book 'Local Food: How to make it happen in your community'. That was our inspiration. Loads of good advice.
Ian
The nitty gritty
15 March 2011 - 4:41pm — Heidi HaxeltineSounds fabulous...we're looking at starting up a community allotment, much smaller scale but wanted to ask about insurance....do you have any and if so who through?
Thanks, and good luck!
Heidi : )