Building a local produce market garden. Small scale growing supporting our community, soils and nature on the Roseland, Cornwall.
by Furze Down Market Garden in Veryan, England, United Kingdom
Furze Down Market Garden produces veg, micro greens, fruit, flowers and herbs on 0.5 acres of land on the Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall. Based at Bosgever Farm (home of the goat in Cornish) near Veryan. We are small scale, no dig and wildlife friendly. We aim to connect our community through good veggies grown in great soil creating a sustainable localised food system which is both wildlife friendly and reduces carbon emissions.
With your support, your money will helps us to;
2021 is open for applications – we aim to supply fresh veggies and fruit to families through our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) veg box scheme, direct to local businesses and at market.
If you are interested in joining our CSA (veg box scheme) or simply would like more information feel free to email us with your contact details so we can notify you when membership opens at [email protected]
Across the county we’ve discovered some fantastic people doing amazing things. After a long search, we’ve found suitable land to rent near where we live. The time is now, we need your help to transform 0.5 acres of permanent grassland to a market garden that produces great tasting fruit and veg all on your doorstep.
2020 has opened our eyes to the fragility of our food system, reliable produce grown by people you know locally is so important. This creates a localised food system that is self resilient, builds nurtured soils through the way in which we operate, reduces our carbon footprint and is nature friendly.
Can we do it? Hell yes. We've been growing veg small scale for years but now its time to scale up.
Healthy, happy soils are fundamental to producing the food we eat. Although tilling and chemical inputs have improved yields in 'big agriculture', intensive farming practices have eradicated soil fertility and quite literally washed the soil from the land, we have about 30-40 years left!
This is bad news for nature, soils and as a massive carbon store real bad news for our fragile global climate as well.
So heres the good news :) have you head of the 'no dig method' ? (if you grow your own veggies you can do this too, we all can). Across the UK and the world small farms are using this attractive way of growing great tasty, chemical free veggies, sustainably for local people.
In short - it avoids digging limiting disruption to roots and soil life. Micro organisms, worms and fungi thrive benefitting your veggies creating healthy nutritious food and soils that lock up carbon. It also means less intensive management and less weed pressure too!
Goats and pigs have already been hard at work turning, poopin’ and rooting around on the land so we have a great soil foundation and access to great manure. Making our own compost, we apply a thick well rotted layer to our beds, lush and teeming with life.
No dig is friendly to soil and wildlife. Imagine hundreds of small producers farming in this way. Our landscape would be rich in natural capital, corridors and safe havens for wildlife. Not the desolate green wastelands we see across our farmed landscape. Consumers would have food sovereignty and a connection to where their food comes from, direct from farm to fork.
We farm to organic standards, but as of yet are not certified. So as a minimum we use zero pesticides, zero additives and zero fertilisers. We rely on a whole ecosystem approach to keep pests under control. Wildlife friendly farming means companion planting, crop covers and utilises birds, beetles and bugs to feed on unwanted pests like aphids and slugs. Ethical farming is at the core of what we do.
Thank you. Every microbe of help is greatly appreciated.
‘Think globally, act locally’ - Not only are you helping us, a new family business in Cornwall. You are helping another small scale grower be part of a farming revolution, a union of forward thinking land managers creating a localised, sustainable food system helping us grow the food from farm to fork – Cornish food sovereignty. This is nature friendly farming providing good food for local people and businesses. Crowdfunding today helps us gain vital start up capital, so we’ve come up with a few rewards, experiences and one time goodies for you.
My good lady and on farm illustrator Maxy has designed some rather swish goodies. We’ve also offered some initial great offers regarding our CSA veg box scheme and market discounts, so take a look.
If you want to chuck in a couple quid you can do that too. Thank you.
T-shirt colours and designs
Tote bag design
This project offers rewards in return for your donation