The Honeycomb Community farm Project
Project Outline
We aim to purchase land on behalf of the local community to preserve it in perpetuity as community forest gardens. When the land is secured we lease the land at £3.00 per week to members of the local community this will cover the costs of buying , planting and maintaining the site. Members will have free access to the site. The land will be planted with a wide variety of edible and useful plants chosen by its members.e.g. fruit trees, nut trees, medicinal herb trees, truffle impregnated trees, fungi, fruit bushes, vines, salad herbs and medicinal herbs.Each member has one allotement of 7 cells that they plant out and look after but they are not limited to just harvesting from that cell alone,everyone is entitled to their fare share of a wide variety of produce grown.
We aim to find land close to public footpaths and close to towns. We will pay for the land purchased and the development of each field as the money comes in from grants and through public sign ups. As soon as one field is paid for and developed we will purchase another for our members. We aim to have one field for every large town, the size and selection of towns will be determined by the amount of people from that demographic signing up. We estimate 1,000 people per town would be adequate to make a real impact however we can create honeycombs for smaller groups providing a contract of perpetuity can be acheived,we dont want to plant trees unless they are there permanently!So schools or sports field boundaries are suitable.
We will be promoting through television, radio and newspapers and creating partnerships with existing organisations with the same ethos.
We will target individual households, schools, community groups and workplaces surrounding the site to give priority of involvement to those closest to the site.
This plan is transferable from a small scale one field project to a larger scale community farm project based upon public support, funding and population of the area.
We aim to create a blue print in one town namely Penzance to create a plan that can be duplicated and altered to suit varying climates, sites, local cultivars and varieties in other towns.
The work will be done using permaculture principals,incorporating forest gardenining, organic and bio dynamic systems. We will not be seeking certification as produce is not for sale and we aim to utilise green waste and manures that may not come from soil association sites. We do not want to hamper sensible solutions to waste management and increase bureaucracy. In short we want the job done quickly, effectively and with minimal waste of resources.
What do you get for £3.00 a week
• Free access to any communal orchard where you can help yourself to your share of nature’s harvest.
• Secure existing woodland for conservation and expansion.
• Secure waterways, streams, ponds, lakes, reservoirs to restore and renew.
• Set up wild animal habitats and food reserves for birds and small animals.
• Woodland and burial memorial sites.
• A place to picnic and play
• A place to grow things and get your hands dirty
• Community farms growing fruit, veg and fungi, whilst providing a place to educate and expand from,
• Place to exercise.
• Education in cultivation, nurture and harvesting.
• Access to workshops at a reduced fee to learn new skills e.g. wood and metal work and bush craft skills.
• Social events at specific stages of the growing calendar e.g. planting, blossoming and harvesting.
• Access and involvement to similar projects.
• Priority access to workshop places events and visits.
• Email updates of news, events and availability of crops to harvest.
Lateral Links
Already Instigated
The Eco-op Onen Hag Oll Ltd (Penwith)
Penwith Organic Growers Group (P.O.G.G.)
Peace Child International
Fair Share
Penwith District Council
Cornwall Rural Community Council (CRCC)
Common Ground (Civic Trust)
The Sustainable Trust
Trelya
Woodmeet
sustainable arts
south west solar solutions
The Eden Project
links in progress
Community Service and Youth Offending Team
Penwith Volunteer Bureau
Cornwall Landscape Project
Sure Start Lescudjack
YMCA
Penwith Primary, Secondary Schools and Colleges.
The National Trust
The Woodland Trust
R.S.P.B
British Trust Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Adult Education
Land Development
Finding sites
• On internet
• Land agents
• Land owners
• Councils
• Auctions
• Recommendations
• Direct Approach
• Newspapers
Buying sites
• Agricultural Mortgage
• Outright cash purchase
Soil and site analysis
• Pre Purchase inspection
• Soil testing in lab
Water
• Rivers
• Streams
• Springs
Wind protection
• Willow and Hazel
• Straw Bails
Security
• Off road sites
• Staff on site
Soil amendments
• Non symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria
• Seaweed
• Minerals
Soil preparation
• Minimal dig
• Compost addition
• Mulching
Planting
• Plotting out the grid
• Biodynamic (In sync with the moon)
• Pre planned
Maintenance
• Caretaker gardener on site
• Helper days
Monitoring
• Photo evaluation
Access
• Walking
• Cycling
• Horse
• Tractor
• Minimise car damage
Trees and Plants
Sourcing
We will source locally where possible to minimise transport costs, to maintain local sub species and to utilise surplus produce from other projects and businesses. Other trees will be bought from the most practical source.
Selection
• Suitability to climate
• Edibility
• Availability
• Rarity
• Time for maturity
• Habitat for animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians
• Pollination
• Encroachment
• Companion planting aspects
• Aesthetic appeal
Nursery propagation
• Collection and propagation of gathered seeds
• Poly tunnels
• Irrigation
• Mesh tunnels
• Composting
• Maturing of young saplings
• Cuttings Bed
Planting
• Bio rhythmic cycle – lunar planting
• Pre plotted grid work
• Pre application of beneficial bacteria to lessen transplanting shock
• Watering and early maintenance
• Addition of soil amendments
• Mulching
Nurture
• Liquid feeds
• Watering
• Weeding
• Additional mulching
Pests and disease
• Prophylactic sprays
• Predators
• Companion plants
• Removal
Monitoring
• Photographic
• Link to website
• Barcode monitoring of visits and harvesting
Companion planting
• Wind protection
• Support
• Pollination
• Habitat for beneficial insects
• Increase disease resistance
• Nutrient supply
• Taste
• Allelopathic plants to control pernicious weeds
Schedule of work
• Youth volunteers to make a short documentary
• Arrange Volunteers to clean and tidy up site
• Take stock of what is on site
• Begin Grid work documentation
• Plan which grids we are going to develop and with what
• Confirm details of lease
• Confirm planning for orchard
• Signing up members
• Weekly Cornishman update
• Clear pathways and make safe
• Create map
• Build seating and sign posts
• Level areas for workshops
• Prepare sites for planting
• Planting
• On-going nurture, observation and evaluation
• Harvesting throughout the year
• Workshops, demonstrations and events
• Expansion and duplication
Projects for discussion
• Community orchard cultivation and consumption
• Plant identification and education
• Wild forage zones
• Eco Logs
• Mushroom Growing
• Drum making, musical instruments
• Wood Turning and sculpting
• Composting – Bokashi
• Plant pot and plastic pot recycling
• Old tools – repair and re-use
• Blacksmith and metal sculpting
• Bow making and archery
• Organic living sculptures
• Fire juggling and circus skills
• Music workshops
• Climbing wall
• Hide and seek
• Shelter building
• Survival skills
• Outdoor cooking
• Stone walling
• Quests, competitions and role play
Examples of Possible Funding
Government Funding - Defra
EU Funding
Lottery Funding
Regional Funding
Funding from charities
Sponsors – Supermarkets, Local businesses
Rare Breed Societies
Biffaward
County Environmental Trust
Ernest Cook Trust Environmental Grants
LankellyChase Foundation
Local Heritage Initiative
Pennon Environmental Fund
Silvanus Trust
Woodroffe Benton Foundation