Always on
This project successfully funded on 17th October 2023, you can still support them with a donation.
Help Rhubarb, Sussex Village Greengrocer
Hassocks, West Sussex, United Kingdom
First target reached!
Where to begin…! As most of the village knows, the brilliant shop at number 90 has...
Aim: After 9 glorious months of Rhubarb, we need your support to help it stay open. Food Standards need us to have a new floor and back door.
The beginning
In December 2022 we took the biggest leap of faith we have ever taken. With no prior knowledge of the greengrocer trade, 3 young children and a gardening business, we took the plunge and began running our local village Greengrocer.
It closed with little warning, and we knew that it would be a tragedy for it to be lost to development or housing, or worse, to be empty. As residents of the village we also knew how essential the shop was. Since taking it on we have realised just how loved it is, not only for the fruit and veg but for the community hub it is. Friends meet, news is shared, connections are made and maintained.
We love that shopping with a greengrocer allows customers to create much less waste by buying little and often.
Why Crowdfund?
The reason we are crowdfunding is to ensure the future of the shop. Over the last 58 years the building has rumbled along with little attention or updating, which gives it a lot of charm.
We have replaced many things with our own little pouch of savings such as the electrics, fridges and storage. However without an investor or business loan with extortionate fees we wouldn’t be able to do this essential work to stay open as the council have stated.
In order for it to now comply to Mid Sussex Council’s standards we must replace the floor covering which means closing for at least 2-3 days.
We must also replace the back door and treat a patch of mould on the external wall that originates from the 1890s.
Changes we HAVE to make for the Environmental Health Officer are:
Replace the lino throughout and skirting on the shop floor.
Back door repair.
Small area of mould on external wall (not near any food storage!).
On Tuesday 26th September we are meeting with the officer again. She has emailed to say she would like the are above the replaced joists to be rubbed down and redecorated where there was some damp.
Changes we would LOVE to make:
Painting is urgently needed
A vehicle that hasn’t been used for landscape gardening…!