2: How We Built a Community Farm

Building a community farm can take one acre or fifty. It is about first understanding what and who you have to work with which can set in motion a series of events, bureaucratic structure and networks which can take an idea and make it a reality with purpose. In Episode 2 we sit down with three people instrumental in the beginning of Bosavern Community Farm - a local councillor, a founder and the head gardener. Join us as they gather to reflect on almost 15 years dedicated to turning a once somewhat abandoned land into a community farm buzzing today with a market garden, grocery shop, workshops, allotments, veg box deliveries and a work experience hub for anyone wanting to learn how to make a community farm a reality or just chip in to see things grow. We talk about coincidences, perseverance and how a challenge like a global pandemic can highlight locally the reasons for nurturing a community farm throughout all seasons and challenges. As a side note: In 2022, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership Board acknowledged that ‘providing land and support for community growing schemes’ was a TOP priority action which everyone in Cornwall (individuals, community groups, local authorities, businesses) could and should all get behind. A full report from the University of Exeter Environmental Sustainability Institute details how these groups are tackling some of the biggest challenges of our times. The findings are available from the Sustainable Food Cornwall website together with a map showing the established community growing schemes and the smaller, new schemes sprouting up right across Cornwall!