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:

Bring a dish/plate of food  to share and prepare for a night of  humorous Brain Training!

Teams of up to 6 people

CASH PRIZE!!!

TICKETS £2 p/p Adv or £3 on the door

If you would like to purchase tickets, please email me on erika_doerksen@hotmail.com or call me on 07801 503586

Open to non-members

BAR AVAILABLE – all drinks at discount rates!

Venue: Roydon Village Hall

Use the poll below to let us know what other local food you would like to see available when you come to collect your Diss Community Farm vegetables.  Vote for food items that you would want to purchase regularly, this will help us to know which local producers/suppliers/retailers we should invite to supply DCF with additional produce.

We intend to start small and build up gradually so we will begin by trying to make the most popular items available to you first.  If you select other then please leave a comment at the bottom of this post with your suggestion.  Thank you for your input.

The DCF needs somewhere from which to distribute the farm and food hub produce from early June onwards. Distribution day, when members come to collect their produce, will likely be a Wednesday or a Thursday and will involve four to five hours. For this year’s pilot project we are hoping to find a place that is both central to Diss and free.

Do any members have a space they could offer? An empty garage or a covered area with easy access? We would also like suggestions from members of possible commercial venues who would welcome involvement with the food community, and who might even profit from it–a coffee shop, for example. We have a few ideas, but would like more, so please email yours to Penelope at pnlister@gmail.com.