As we embark on our third year of FarmStart-ing, things are looking pretty exciting. We’ve got a brand new co-ordinator in the form of experienced organic grower Alex Firman; four new TestCroppers; and some major improvements to the programme that’ll not only benefit our FarmStarters but also the other projects nationally that are supporting new farmers and growers.
Latest news
Make the most of an amazing training opportunity this Spring. Learn how to set up an organic food growing business from the growers themselves.
There is no better way to start your farming year than at the Oxford Real Farming Conference. The event, held in the first week of this month, consisted of two inspiring and energising days of socialising and hearing from all sorts of speakers involved in the UK’s new agricultural renaissance.
The Oxford Real Farming Conference coincided with the famous Oxford Farming Conference and aimed to counterbalance the latter’s free market ethos and ‘sustainable intensification’ agenda.
At the end of last month, Kindling organised Making Food Fair, a one day conference exploring food poverty and fairness in the food system overall. Kindling volunteer Becky Mallows gives her views on the day.
By Autumn 2014 course participant Jennie Savage
"Informative and inspirational, we'd highly recommend it to others looking to develop their understanding of commercial growing”.
Applications are now open for 2015 Test Croppers – the first year of our FarmStart programme introducing people to a new career in commercial organic vegetable production.
Apologies, we are aware that due to a glitch with our website/email server changeover some of our emails have been ending up in spam. If you have not recieved final details of the agenda and travel advice for Making Food Fair on Saturday 22nd November, please read on.
Venue and Directions
While it’s been almost exactly a month since the brilliant and inspiring Nourish Scotland conference 'Our Common Wealth of Food', we thought that a little look at some of the highlights from it might whet your appetites for our own Making Food Fair event - at which we will welcome Pete Ritchie, Scottish farmer and Nourish Director.
Oldham primary school children served us up with all manner of pumpkin treats last week as they competed to produce displays and a pumpkin recipe that will end up on the school’s Autumn menu. The winning school will be visiting local suppliers Moss Brook Growers, to see where their pumpkins come from.
We are steadily progressing with our long-term plans to establish a large farm, ‘Ecommodation’ and social change centre somewhere close to Manchester, and last month we carried out a survey to start gathering thoughts and ideas from friends, supporters and Manchester residents.