Torganics Community Supported Agriculture

Shiny New Website :)

2009-04-09T06:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our friend Martin Mills, we have a new website, on which you'll find more info about Torganics, and you'll also be able to download the latest newsletter and subscription forms etc. Please check the site at http://www.torganics.co.uk/ - we'll be putting some pictures up there soon, and some more information about CSAs and Torganics in particular

April news

2009-03-31T03:38:00.000-07:00

Our first newsletter is now available - please let us know if you'd like a copy.

We've decided that we were a little ambitious to consider starting the veg boxes in early April, considering the birth of our baby is imminent! So, as we've communicated to our paid-up members, we've delayed the launch to June, which will also give us a bit more time to sort out the lottery grant, website, administrative procedures and the rest of the work behind the scenes.

Volunteers are very welcome on Wednesdays - please do let us know if you're thinking of coming up though, it helps us to plan work and make sure the right tools are there if possible

We've been selling lots of salad and coriander, through Fruition Greengrocers, Bridies Yard food coop and the SOL market stall. The salad bags contain a mix of unusual oriental leaves including mizuna, pak choi, winter purslane, rocket, red and green mustard leaves.

There's still time to sign up for the scheme, with a full share or a half-share option. If you are interested, send us an email to torganics@hotmail.com and we'll send you the subscription forms and more information. You can also sign up as a member without taking a vegetable share, this will entitle you to continue to receive information through the newsletter and come to our social events on the farm later in the year

First stage Lottery bid successful!

2009-01-20T10:04:00.001-08:00

We just had word that we're through the first round of the Local Food Lottery bid - now we've got lots more forms to fill out :)

Publicity for meeting

2009-01-16T05:53:00.000-08:00

Well, the posters are going out, and the flyers, and we've sent out press releases to local media and community groups. So far the Mendip Messenger have said they will carry a piece about Torganics, next week, and the Fosse Way have already sent a reporter up to the farm, who interviewed Colum and took some photos - so look out for that next week. They're interested to follow our progress beyond the meeting too, which is great news.

We'll be at the Farmers' Market on 24th January in Glastonbury, with an information stand and sign-up forms - come and say hello!

Thanks so much to everyone who has been helping us put this together so far - it's wonderful to feel such strong community support gathering!

2009-01-12T08:54:00.000-08:00

Publicity has started for the Public Meeting on 28th January. We've put some posters and flyers up around town, and several local newspapers will be carrying our press release in the next week or so. Any help in distributing news of the event, particularly to local schools, primary care trusts etc, would be really welcome - if you would like copies of the posters and flyers, drop us an email (torganics@hotmail.com) and we'll arrange to get some out to you!

2008-12-19T06:49:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately our grant application to Somerset Grassroots was turned down :(

Their feedback was that we hadn't been established long enough (they look for at least a year in business), that our core group/management committee could be strengthened, and that it's not ideal for the project manager to be on the core group.

Ah well, we can always try again next year if the fund is still running!

Pics of recent work on the site

2008-12-04T10:20:00.000-08:00

A beautiful December day, perfect for some photos of the new pond, just beyond the polytunnels, and some fencing work being done around the field. Mendip hills in the background too!

A mulch has been laid down on the field next to the polytunnels, in readiness for new cultivation next year.

Public Meeting January 09

2008-11-25T02:29:00.001-08:00

Torganics CSA will be holding a Public Meeting on 28th January, in the Small Hall of Glastonbury Town Hall from 7.30-9.30pm

Dan Keech, from the Soil Association, will be speaking, alongside Colum Pawson, our grower.

This is a chance to hear more about our plans, ask us any questions, volunteer and sign up for the harvest!

More details coming very soon - in the meantime please let us know if you would like to come by emailing torganics@hotmail.com

We hope to see you there!

Film trailer

2008-11-24T05:21:00.001-08:00

Our friends at Canalside CSA sent on this link - it's a trailer for a new film by Jean-Paul Jaud called 'Nos Enfants Nous Accuseront'. It makes for frightening but very interesting viewing and certainly reinforces the belief that there is just no doubt that organic farming is the only way forward.

http://www.nosenfantsnousaccuseront-lefilm.com/

Click on the link, wait for the page to load, then click on 'Voir la bande-annonce'

The site

2008-11-24T03:52:00.002-08:00

This is the field next to the polytunnels at the CSA site, Paddington Farm on the outskirts of Glastonbury. Plans for next year are to cultivate this area, which until now has been pasture. Some drainage improvement and wind protection work on the northern boundaries (willow hurdles) also need to be done over the winter.

The polytunnel - crops of coriander, broad beans and winter salad are in the ground now, and the central path has been dug out with the soil piled up to make raised beds. Colum's in the picture here, with our friend Caz from Canalside CSA in Leamington Spa (http://www.canalsidecommunityfood.org.uk/) - one of the projects which inspired us to start Torganics.

Work's begun :)

2008-11-24T03:43:00.000-08:00

Torganics Community Supported Agriculture is a project set up for the people of Glastonbury and surrounding area, to provide fresh organic produce locally and also opportunities for those involved to get their hands dirty, helping Colum the grower on volunteer days and taking part in seasonal celebrations of the harvest, throughout the year's cycle.

For more information about CSAs - the history, concept and other similar schemes in Britain, go to the Soil Association website here http://www.soilassociation.org/csa

We'll be posting up some photos of the site as it is, and updates on work there as well as the public meeting we're hoping to hold at the end of January in Glastonbury, where we will be explaining the idea behind CSAs, as well as inviting membership and subscription to the scheme.

We have a core group who are supporting Colum in the set-up, and anyone who would like to help out on the land is invited to let us know (torganics@hotmail.com) - Wednesdays will be our volunteer day for now.

Apart from the growing work, we are applying for a Somerset Grassroots grant, and for money from the Big Lottery's Local Food grant scheme - we hope that if we get this funding, it will cover some of the initial set-up costs.