Ever wanted to grow your own vegetables but didn’t have the space? Want to make sure your children are accessing locally grown fresh produce every day? Worried about how many food miles your fruit and vegetables have clocked up before they hit your plate? Want to take part in something that is fun, healthy and contributes to the community?

Well now is the chance for you and your community to make fresh produce grown locally a reality. Wolsingham is the latest rural community to have the opportunity to set up a ‘CSA’- Community Supported Agriculture enterprise -but we need your help.

What is a CSA?
A small group of local residents have been meeting to talk about the feasibility of starting a new initiative that will provide Wolsingham and the surrounding community with regular locally grown fruit and vegetables. The scheme will see fruit and vegetables grown on a local farm providing a supply of really fresh, ‘home grown’ produce for the local community

The initiative is called a 'CSA' - Community Supported Agriculture enterprise - but volunteers are needed to make sure the project takes off. The first step has already been taken with a local farmer making land available for the group to grow vegetables and crops on.

"A successful community supported agriculture project brings so many benefits on so many different levels. It gives members a real connection with food, land and the community." Jon Perkins, Owner, Low Luckens - a successful and established CSA

Now volunteers are needed with the skills and commitment to help set up a core group to run the Wolsingham CSA. These members will help decide what is to be grown, set budgets and help with the administration of the scheme. Members can also offer support in many ways from helping on the land on a regular or occasional basis, organising a social event, or simply agreeing to buy a regular share of the produce.

An afternoon of free workshops was held on Saturday 15th of September to provide people with more information about how CSA schemes work and what is involved. This included members of successful CSA projects from around the country talking about their experiences and providing guidance.

One of the speakers was Nick Weir, founder of the successful Stroud Community Agriculture programme. He believes a good CSA can really add to the community it serves.

"Our CSA has given us a lot more than the best-tasting veg we have ever had. It has provided regular farm days, picnics, camping weekends, apple juicing parties, bonfire nights and harvest suppers. It also means that we know the people who are growing our food and we can trust them," he explains.

Following the workshop, which was attended by 56 local people interested in developing the scheme, a steering group has been set up and the project is off the ground. Wolsingham Community Agriculture would love to hear from you if you’d like to get involved or just to learn more about what they’re doing, buy produce, offer advice, inspiration or funding / investment contact us.

This project is supported through the Enterprise Agency by the Wear Valley INTERBIZ Network a local Supply Chain Development programme supported by Neighbourhood Renewal Funding via the Local Strategic Partnership.