Hi, I'm Ella.
I took on a dilapidated walled garden on the estate here in Wimborne St Giles two years ago and have been gradually transforming it into a cut flower farm. So far I have created 79 beds using no-dig methods, a wild flower area with a pond, a pollytunnel and lean-too propagation tunnel, workshop, and compost bins made from pallets.
Im super exited for this year as, now most of the groundwork is done, i feel that the business can start to take off. My plan is to do a mixture of wholesale flowers, Pick-Your-Own, DIY buckets and workshops. I really want the farm to become a creative space with a variety of workshops throughout the year, including floristry, different types of art forms and maybe even meditation days. I feel the farm has the potential to be a really special space.
I would also love for the farm to be used to help others who, like myself, have struggled with mental health. I know how healing tending plants and being surrounded by beautiful flowers can be. However, there are a couple more structures the farm needs to make this, the workshops and Pick-Your-Own possible.
So what is the funding for?..
Firstly, a composting toilet!
I know, its not very glamorous, but it is important if I am to have people within the walls for a period of time. The toilet I would like to get is made in Wales, where they use sustainably sourced wood and where plastic is used this is from recycled materials.
cost - £2199
Secondly - last autumn I purchased a gazebo, with the idea this would be used to hold workshops under... within 2 months this was completely destroyed by the ever worsening winter storms!
With the help from a friend, we are going to build a replacement with a wooden frame and solid roof. This will be 3mx5m so will have plenty of room for tables to be arranged for the workshops. I will be covering labour costs by helping out on my friends garden project, so it is the cost of the materials I need to raise money for.