Building a community farm for the future of East Sussex... that produces great organic veg, and is a place for the community to get out into nature, get their hands dirty and learn how to grow food on this scale. Whilst also improving the soil and the environment around us.
We produce organic vegetables on 3.5 acres of land whilst also:
- Providing opportunities for the community to get out into nature, have a break from working life, get active and get their hands dirty
- Teach our community about small scale farming and how to grow their own food.
- Building a central hub for the community to connect.
- Increase soil health and sequester carbon through tree planting and no-dig gardening
- Work in harmony with nature improving the environment rather than simply taking from it.
- Look after wildlife by increasing habitat and biodiversity
With your support and donations we will be able to:
- Buy tools and facilities that create a community farm that is a central hub for locals who want to visit, get in to nature, get active, have a break from working life and who want to learn about growing food sustainably.
- Build facilities that will allow not only open and volunteer days for the local community, but a space for schools, colleges and community groups to visit and learn too.
- Create a nature haven on the farm to increase the ecosystem, we will double the size of our on site pond and plant nature increasing plants and trees around it to truly add an area that both increases habitats for wildlife and is a peaceful area for the community on open days. (This pond will also help irrigate the farm, preventing us from needing to use water mains to water the veg gardens - which is much more environmentally sustainable.)
- Create a dedicated community garden where all food grown will be directly donated to local food banks and community projects in East Sussex.
We aim to break down the barriers between Organic and Local veg, bringing both to the doorsteps of families across East Sussex. We will deliver veg boxes through our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Scheme on a weekly basis in the main UK growing season.
We believe there has been a disconnect over the last decade where people have seen food as a task and a convenience and this has seen farms move away from being a central hub within the community. We want to revitalise that, and bring them back to being a welcoming place, where you can get back to nature, get fresh air, great food and get your hands dirty… whilst also learning how you can apply this to your own garden, or simply learn where food comes from again.
We’re looking for change makers, local food lovers, and people who can see the benefit in small scale farming and the benefit of knowing where food comes from and a farm being a part of the community.
A resilient local food system has never been more important.
We have gotten to a point in this country where we are so disconnected from nature and our food production, that we have also taken to agricultural practices that are damaging to our soils, our climate and the nature around us.
Popularity in no-dig systems and small scale farming is becoming a talking point, but there is still not nearly enough attention in the movement to make a big difference. We want to change that. Our growing spaces will be no-dig - meaning the soil carbon is increased year on year with no fossil fuel used to till or plough the land. Our energy on the site is completely renewable, and with over 1500 trees planted already this year we are on target to become carbon negative (not just neutral) in the future. This is important to us.. We use sustainable small scale farming methods, yes means more manual labour - but doesn’t mean less efficiency compared the yields! By working with nature rather than against it, we don’t simply take everything nature has to offer and give nothing back.
It is so important to us that we do three things and that they work in harmony:
1.) Produce great local food for local households and families.
2.) Create a community hub that allows people to get outside and learn where food comes from.
3.) Farm in a sustainable way that gives back to nature more than it takes.
These are our key missions & priorities, and your donations and support can help us do just that.
Fanfield Farm is run by me: Emily and my husband Chris as well as our lovely lab Lexie… and with a little help from our new rescue Kittens (called Fruit and Veg!)
We spent last year producing for markets in and around Southampton in Hampshire, and this year made the leap with the help of the Ecological Land Cooperative to start the new farming venture that is Fanfield Farm. We moved to East Sussex in November last year and are absolutely in love with it.
Since we arrived it has been a tough winter with not one but four storms hitting the farm, and a lot of our initial infrastructure being destroyed. And now, we find ourselves in the middle of a global pandemic!! However this hasn’t gotten us down, and we have almost recovered and rebuilt ready for the growing season with seedlings popping up everywhere.
Wherever you live, your donations will help with our vision for a better food and farming system, whilst looking after the environment.
For those that are in East Sussex, we are producing organic vegetables that could be delivered to you door as a veg box customer and you can join us in our community enterprise to learn from each other and build local resilience.
We will also have a whole host of rewards available with the different levels of support. You can find them below.
We have a load of exciting rewards and goodies for you, to thank you for your support:
We are also offering farm tours and open days for our supporters. PLUS if you are green fingered yourself, and you select one of the reward levels we are happy to open direct regular conversations where you can ask questions and receive consultation on your own growing needs, no-dig practices or sustainable farming.
Want to find out more about the project? We are producing regular content, as well as information on our CSA Veg Box Scheme and Volunteering sessions info can be found over at: https://fanfield.farm