Welcome to the website of Diss Community Farm, we are a community group, based in and around Diss who have come together to produce food collaboratively in an ethical and sustainable way.

We are always looking for a few more members. See the About us and How to join page for more information.

We have a field in Winfarthing, together with three polytunnels; where we meet to work weekly, including harvesting whatever is ready. Whoever is working that day takes home a box of freshly harvested vegetables. Very little money is involved.

Many apologies if the website looks a bit odd today. I’m working on re-vamping it so please bear with me while changes are made, it’ll be worth it in the end!

We have signed up to have HelpX volunteers come and stay to help out with all the work at Diss Community Farm.

What is HelpX:  HelpX is provided primarily as a cultural exchange for working holiday makers who would like the opportunity during their travels abroad, to stay with local people and gain practical experience. In the typical arrangement, the helper works an average of 4 hours per day and receives free accommodation and meals for their efforts. Helpers often live with the host family and are expected to join in and offer a helping hand with day-to-day activities.

“I have found helpX to be brilliant. We have met some wonderful people who have been a great help to us at our farm and we have enjoyed the interaction of helpers visiting us from all over the world, bringing new ideas and a new view of life. It’s hard work and its fun!!”  (Jayne UK host)

We are looking for people that would be prepared to host a HelpX helper for a week or two, or more if you wanted.  You would need to give them a bed, meals and when necessary transport them to Winfarthing.  I have already been contacted by a few volunteers that are keen to join us over the Summer, so if you think you could help us by hosting someone then please let me know.  Thanks Ange.  email:  disscommunityfarm@yahoo.co.uk

Last Thursday 8 of us took a minibus excursion to Stroud to visit Stroud Community Agriculture. They are a similar project to ours but have been going for quite a few years. See the photo gallery for some highlights.

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I hope I’m not the only DCF member who used to watch Mrs Merton or that joke will fall horribly flat.

<tumbleweed>

Anyhoo – The Communications team are in the process of coming up with a logo to represent Diss Community Farm on this website and our wider correspondence too. Pictured are a couple of draft designs which Patrick has come up with. They’re handpainted sketches at the moment, he’s very open to feedback and would love to hear any suggestions for either fine tuning the 2 existing designs or for completely new ideas to play with.

Please vote in the poll and leave us lots of comments.

We could do with a bit of help in publicising our impending Quiz Night. Below is a link to an electronic version of a poster, please print it off and put it up anywhere you can think of – local shops, noticeboards, schools, village halls etc the more places the better!
DCF_quiz_night_poster_version_5

Six people turned out this sunny bank holiday Monday to work on the vegetable pilot project in Winfarthing.  The morning was spent clearing the wheat that has regrown, and it’s now nearly all gone!  Canes were put up for beans, spinach planted out and wind protection created for courgettes. Michael kindly donated about 50 strawberry plants which will be a wonderful addition to the veg.   (see gallery for more pics)

Before leaving the more tender plants were tucked up for the cold nights ahead with some fleece.  After lunch work continued at Gabbi’s site in Gissing where cabbages, celery, broccoli and kale were potted on, these will be taken over to Winfarthing to planted out.

After chatting with David Mitchell, the owner of the land in Winfarthing we were excited to be offered more land to use from July this year, this means that Gabbi can start planning and preparing to grow winter crops.  David has also confirmed that we are able to use the site for 2012, enabling us to have an overlap between the pilot project and the long term project when we have identified a permanent site.  We are really excited by this prospect and very appreciative of David’s support and generosity.

If you want to volunteer we would really appreciate some help every Monday and on the next farm work day on Sat 21st May.

The Livestock Project is still in need of a few things. We have had very kind donations from various members already but if anyone has (or sees on Freecycle) any of the following we would be very grateful: