Latest news with #communityfarm
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Farm 'tackling loneliness' appeals for more volunteers
Volunteers running a community farm are appealing for more people to help with this year's harvest and join its men's Village Farm, in Somerset, grows free food for schools and food banks, and it also operates a Men's Shed, which aims to tackle loneliness. After a bumper crop of fruit and vegetables from last year's heavy rainfall and the recent hot weather, more help is needed to process the produce. Jack Helme, the market garden assistant, says it is "lovely" to have such a biodiverse site and those who volunteer hope to build community resilience "by taking care of nature and each other". Mr Helme says farms were traditionally somewhere that people would "gather together and connect to the land" but said that idea had been "lost a bit"."We're really trying to build community resilience, and it's great to do that with all the people that benefit in many different ways here," he said. Volunteer Derek Logan said it is "important that we get new members". "People come and go, so we're always looking for volunteers to come and join us."
CBS News
31-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Pittsburgh farm thriving thanks to volunteer work
Described as one of Pittsburgh's "best kept secrets," a 23-acre farm is growing, educating, and feeding families. Located in the St. Clair community, the Hilltop Urban Farm's planting and growing practices are based on the community's desires. "We have a few that really love hot peppers. Another that really likes collards and okra. So, we really try to accommodate whatever we're growing," said Director of Farm Programs Liz Metzler. The farm began in 2019, and there are only seven workers: four full-time and three seasonal. That's why the farm workers say they heavily rely on volunteers like those from UPMC. "This year, we've had about 500 volunteers, just in this calendar year. One hundred thirty of which were UPMC volunteers from different divisions," said Youth and Volunteer Program Manager Sophia Sanders. They have their community farm program, where everything they grow makes its way to local food pantries. "Last year, we grew over 7,500 pounds from this field. And this year, we're hoping to double that," said Metzler. Farming can be a long, dirty process, but it's one that kids who volunteer here enjoy, no matter what they get their hands on. "The kids love to dig for worms. It's kind of a cliché that you think, but then they come in and they're helping to weed or they're helping to plant," said Sanders. Executive director of the farm, John Bixler, says it's a wonderful program. "People come up here and they're just blown away. And like right now, it's quiet. You're three miles from Downtown Pittsburgh." The KDKA Drone Team flew over several acres of the farm, showing what's planted, the orchards, and areas that have yet to be touched. It's proof that the farm has room to grow, and they hope the community will grow with them.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cambridge CoFarm hopes to build community barn
People behind a community farm hope it will continue to grow with plans to build a community barn. CoFarm, on the edge of Coldham's Common in Cambridge, was created by Gavin Shelton five years ago to "rethink" climate change, biodiversity loss and health inequalities. He said the community barn would not only be used to help with the practical running of it, but would also act as a community space. A public consultation is expected to be held in October, before a planning application for the work is formally submitted in December. Since it was created, Mr Shelton said more than 2,000 people had worked on the site and it had donated more than £125,000 worth of produce to food hubs across the city. "If you look at the drivers behind biodiversity loss and climate change, you realise our food system really has the biggest impact on biodiversity and also has the biggest impact on climate change," he said."If we reorganised our food systems, it really is key to tackling the big issues of our day, like climate change." Mr Shelton said while helping the environment, the farm aimed to improve health and wellbeing by promoting healthy eating and having people work at the site. Tom Foggin, director at RHPartnership architects, told a Cambridge City Council meeting it was a "quite ambitious project". He said the building would have a "minimal impact on the environment". The Local Democracy Reporting Service said that during the planning committee meeting Labour's Katie Thornburrow said councillors would need more detailed information about how the development could be allowed to be built on green belt land. Naomi Bennett, Green councillor, asked if discussions had taken place with the highways team at Cambridgeshire County Council regarding the impact of creating a new access to the farm which she said was in a "very busy corner" of Barnwell Road. However, Mr Shelton said the farm was working with the team on the plans and said proposed parking at the site would also be for blue badge holders to ensure it was accessible. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CTV News
25-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Urban Farm offering opportunities for connection
Calgary Watch A community farm gives newcomers with agricultural backgrounds a chance to embrace their identity as farmers.
