March 28, 2009
Signs of new life are evident within our group, not just on the vegetable patch.
Alex Harris, Camel Community Supported Agriculture’s minutes secretary, is about to go on maternity leave. So we are seeking a volunteer to take her place.
We need someone to take the minutes at meetings of our core management group, write them up and distribute them. This is not an onerous job as we share out correspondence tasks among the group. You just need to have some basic computer literacy and an ability to keep things short!
Meetings take place every two to three weeks, normally on a Wednesday at 6.30 p.m. in St Mabyn.
We’d be so grateful if someone could come forward. If you’d like to volunteer, please get in touch with us at camelcsa@btinternet.com or phone our chairman Ron Muckleston on 01840 230127.
March 25, 2009
All this hard work is starting to make a difference!
A big thank you to all Camel Community Supported Agriculture members who turned out in the sunshine last Sunday to plant potatoes, onions and shallots.
Please come and help out again this Sunday 29 March between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to get more seeds in the ground.
Mark Norman, one of our team of expert growers, says:
“There’s another bed of onions to plant together with broad beans and peas. We need to prepare another bed for sowing carrots and parsnips. Look out for broad beans and Jeruselem artichokes just peeking through.
“We have more seeds to sow in the polytunnel. Seeds sown in the tunnel three weekends ago are doing well. Some have been moved into the greenhouse for slightly cooler and less humid conditions with maximum light.”
Remember to bring wellies and waterproofs (just in case) as well as drinks and snacks. And don’t forget a pair of gardening gloves! If possible, bring a selection of tools – wheelbarrows, rakes, spades, forks and trowels.
We look forward to seeing you. You’ll be sure to get a warm and friendly welcome.
Watch this video of our first volunteer day.
If you would like more information or have any questions email Alex at alex@olivetreeevents.co.uk or call Antonina at St Kew Harvest on 01208 841818.
Click here for directions to the site.
March 19, 2009
Above: Some of the stalwarts who turned out on Camel CSA’s first volunteer day
Now’s the chance to get to know your onions!
We urgently need your help this Sunday 22 March to plant potatoes, onions and shallots on Camel Community Supported Agriculture’s site behind St Kew Harvest Farm Shop at St Kew Highway.
Jeremy Brown, of the growers’ team, has taken advantage of the dry sunny weather to form a number of new vegetable beds.
It’s now up to us volunteers to turn up on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to get the seed potatoes and onion sets into the ground. We also need to spread a lot more of the compost kindly donated by TT Compost at St Teath.
Please remember to bring wellies, gloves and waterproofs (just in case). If possible bring wheelbarrows, rakes and forks as well.
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
If you would like more information or have any questions email Alex at alex@olivetreeevents.co.uk or call Antonina at St Kew Harvest on 01208 841818.
Click here for directions to the site.
March 12, 2009
We’ve started to get stuck in! Camel Community Supported Agriculture’s first vegetables are now in the ground. We’ve planted several rows of broad beans and Jerusalem artichokes, guided by our team of expert growers. Parsley, cabbage and calabrese seeds are all germinating in the poly tunnel.
We’re inviting volunteers to come along and get involved every Sunday morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on our site behind St Kew Harvest Farm Shop at St Kew Highway.
Remember to bring wellies, waterproofs, drinks and a snack. And don’t forget a pair of gardening gloves! Also bring any tools, ideally wheelbarrows, shovel, spades, forks and rakes. You’ll be made very welcome.
Find out more from Alex at alex@olivetreeevents.co.uk or Antonina at St Kew Harvest on 01208 841818.
Click here for directions to the site.
March 3, 2009
Now it’s your opportunity to get stuck in!
Camel Community Supported Agriculture is planning an exciting Open Day for all our members at the beginning of June but right now we need lots of help to get the site ready for planting.
We would love for you and your family to come and help out and get stuck in. Our expert growers will be at the site behind St Kew Harvest Farm Shop every Sunday from 8 March onwards between 10am and 1pm preparing the ground, setting up the vegetable beds and getting those first plants in the ground.
Why not come and join us this Sunday? It will give you an opportunity to get involved from the start, learn what’s involved with preparing a vegetable plot, what’s on the planting schedule and also work up a good appetite for Sunday lunch.
Please bring wellies, macs, drinks and a snack. Also bring any tools, ideally wheelbarrows, shovel, spades, forks and rakes.
We look forward to seeing you there!
If you would like more information or have any questions email Alex at alex@olivetreeevents.co.uk or call Antonina at St Kew Harvest on 01208841818.
Click here for directions to the site.
March 2, 2009
Exciting news for Camel Community Supported Agriculture!
The Brown family of St Kew Harvest Farm Shop have very generously offered to let us have the initial two acre plot of land rent free until July.
TT Compost Ltd at St Teath has kindly agreed to donate 30 tons of compost. Cornwall Farmers has offered discounts.
The Co-operative Group has granted us £1,400 to cover further land rental.
We are busy formulating funding bids to the Lottery Food Fund and the Local Action Group. So far we have completed Stage 1 of the Lottery Local Food grant process.
Camel CSA’s team of expert vegetable growers has begun preparing and planting the land. The first vegetables should be ready for distribution to our members by the middle of June.
February 5, 2009
Who are we? We are a group of people interested in helping to produce our own food using organic farming principles.
Where? We are based at St Kew Highway in north Cornwall on land around St Kew Harvest Farm Shop. The project welcomes new members from within approximately a 10-mile radius of St Kew.
What is a CSA? Camel CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It is all about connecting people with the land where their food is grown.
Volunteers work with experienced farmers and growers on land managed by the group to produce food they can share with their families. A CSA is committed to the community by providing employment, education, recreation and supporting local farmers and producers. Our CSA is non-profit taking so all money is ploughed back into the project.
What are the benefits?
- You will be eating fresh, healthy and nutritious food from just a few miles away
- You know where your food comes from and the people who grow it
- You get to enjoy fresh air and fun (and exercise!) by sharing in the work and the harvest
- You get a say in how your food is produced and the chance to take advice and learn from professional growers
- You can help to make your community a better, healthier place
How does Camel CSA work? Each member has an equal vote in how the group is managed. Members can also purchase a weekly share of the produce, which can either be collected from the site in St Kew or at drop-off points that we hope to establish in surrounding areas.
When we are successful with our funding bids, we will use local professional growers to develop the main site and provide advice and assistance to any volunteers who participate. Initially a small site is being developed with voluntary help to start the growing process. Any extra vegetables needed for the boxes will be bought in from farmers in the area.
How much does it cost? Membership is £24 per year. Weekly shares in the vegetable harvest will be available for members. Small box (feeds 1-2) – £5; Medium box (feeds 2-4) – £8; Large box (feeds 4+) – £15
