The application is out now for our 2020 FarmStart training programme.
Our 'Do you want to be a Farmer' information event on October 2nd was fully attended with lots of interesting questions and the application is now live. If you missed this and are interested in applying you can download the application below. There is further info on FarmStart and where to submit is included in the application and the deadline is midnight Sunday, November 17th.
It’s the exciting time of year when we invite all who are interested in our FarmStart training programme to our Do You Want to be an Organic Farmer? event. We talk about the challenges and joys of farming and the FarmStart training programme format - which is a year of supported growing based in Stockport. There will also be time for a participant led conversation, with the opportunity to ask questions to Helen the FarmStart Co-ordinator, and a FarmStart’er who will have nearly finished their year.
The Kindling Trust are recruiting!
Community Food Hub Coordinator – based at Woodbank Food Hub, in Stockport
We are seeking a highly motivated and organised individual, with experience of project development and management, as well as community engagement, to work with the existing team at Woodbank on this innovative project.
When we began the community consultation process, which shaped the early development of Woodbank Community Food Hub, one of our priorities was to identify opportunities for partnership working with existing community groups and organisations working in Stockport. One of the first organisations we made contact with was Signpost Stockport for Carers, who are an independent charity providing free, confidential information and support to unwaged carers in Stockport. Eighteen months later, we are very proud to say that this relationship is still going strong.
On Sunday 9th June, hundreds of farms will be opening to the public so they can get closer to farming and see for themselves where their food comes from, how it is produced and learn more about farming and the fabulous job it does. Tucked away, in an unexpected corner of Stockport, Woodbank Community Food Hub provides a taster of what a better food and farming future looks like.
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of the incredible Martin Wolfe, pioneer and father of agroforestry in the UK, who died earlier this month at his home in Wakelyns Farm.
We are seeking a highly motivated and driven individual, with experience of developing and delivering community cookery sessions, to join our social prescribing team at Woodbank Community Food Hub. The role also involves working with our growers to develop seasonal recipes, find ways to use any produce gluts etc, as well as supporting the development of the Veg Box People veg bag scheme and other related work.
Veg Box People and Manchester Veg People are two co-operative organisations that work closely together to deliver a model of a more sustainable and fairer food system for Greater Manchester.
January is a particularly exciting time of year for us as we welcome a new influx of people on the FarmStart growing training programme hosted at Woodbank Community Food Hub. This year we have a number of people looking to follow on from the growers of years past, expanding the growing area and supplying Manchester Veg People as well as the quickly growing Veg Box People. Andrew (left), Nick C (centre), Nick G (right) and our fourth FarmStarter answer some questions to get to know them better...
"I saw something pop up on Facebook early last year and signed up to volunteer with the Land Army at Woodbank. It was a number of months before I was able to attend my first one but once I did I was hooked. I volunteered with the Land Army almost every other weekend and sometimes during the week after that. After talking to Chris and Helen about the future plans for the community farm I knew I wanted to be more involved and felt that I had something to offer to support the development of that plan.