Mandala Garden Project - Additional Polytunnel

Aim

Build an additional polytunnel by 2026, allowing an earlier start to and supporting the expansion of Mandala Garden crop share deliveries.

The Mandala Garden Project, now in its 5th year, is a mandala of activities, rooted in the principles of permaculture; Earth care, People care, Fair share, and Co-creation with Nature and Regenerative Agriculture.

The project is based on 4 acres of land, situated between Forres and Nairn, in the beautiful Scottish Highlands.

The heart of the Mandala is an organic / biodynamic market garden, running a community supported agriculture scheme (CSA), the Mandala Garden crop share.

In 2024 the vegetable production field was doubled to 1.2 acres and now additional polytunnel space is needed to extend the availability of affordable fresh produce over a longer period of the year and to a larger number of people. An additional 30ft x 60ft (20m x 9m) polytunnel would allow for an earlier crop share start with indoor spring crops. It would also expand the propagation space, as well as provide a space to hold workshops, thus contributing to the sustainability of the Mandala Garden Project.

A heartfelt thank you to all of the supporters of the Mandala Garden Project - the volunteers, crop share members and the contributors to the previous Crowdfunder in 2022. The raised funds made possible the deer fence protecting the community orchard/market garden and the compost toilet has a magnificent view! 

We had put in funding bids for the additional polytunnel, but have been unsuccessful in securing the money. We're now running out of time! That's why we're crowdfunding in order to build the polytunnel in time for the 2026 growing season. 

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

CSA is a mutually supportive partnership between growers and consumers in which the risks and responsibilities are shared.

Most members of the crop share know the garden and the garden team well. Some even volunteer regularly. In return for committing to buy a regular share of the harvest, we are delighted to offer fresh, organic and biodynamic, high quality, local vegetables, fruits and herbs. It’s a pleasure that the CSA scheme makes it possible to offer all these for a very fair price – so everyone benefits!

For the last five seasons Mandala garden has been growing and selling weekly produce boxes/shares. Currently, more than 50 local households benefit, and there is much demand for expansion of the scheme. Members of the crop share are also automatically members of the budding Community Orchard.

The founder of Mandala Garden Project, Ute Wegener, is a professional grower and landscape manager. Ute manages the project with the generous support of a small team of committed volunteers, a regular group of local volunteers, and WWOOFers (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms).

This project successfully funded on 22nd November 2025