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Dainty as a Fairy’s Frock .. Spring News
May updates from Harvest Workers Coop – Harvest News
Our latest newsletter May updates from Harvest Workers Coop went out to subscribers today: Check it out or read the text version below
News from Harvest Workers Coop
It is a joy to see freshly picked, locally grown lettuces in the shop. Martin and Sara’s Hilltown Salad Mix is going out of the door by the bag full! Picked in the morning, bought in the morning and eaten at lunchtime – what could be better! However we are into hungry gap when the winter harvest has been used and the new crops are not yet ready. The wet and cold of early Spring has certainly taken its toll but the wet garlics, new potatoes and asparagus are all signs that the new produce is a coming in.
You may well have noticed that the Harvest team has grown. Fran, Chris, Adam, Jess, Lizzy and Callum are all taking on different roles both in the shop, on the mobile shop and out in the community. Meet the two probationary new co-op members below.
Look out for our new Working Together for a Wilder Town Project. Sara says “This will be promoting environmental and social sustainability in the Okehampton area. The aim is to contribute to regenerative efforts by working at the intersection of food production, local ecology and community building for a greener, wilder and healthier Okehampton.” The next event is Pete Yeo’s walk Okehampton’s Changing Green Spaces. Martin says “There are still spaces left for this Sunday with some deep nature connection in one of Okehampton’s beautiful green spaces. Our gardens and woodlands are changing as climate changes. What will our woodlands look like with fauna and flora moving north, which plants and trees will fill the spaces as they become vacant. People by nature want to resist change, but It’s already happening.” Thought provoking stuff indeed.
Warmest of wishes 🙂
Martin, Sara, Fran, Chris, Jo and Kevin
In the Shop
We are really lucky to be working with Fran and Chris. They are working in the shop every week and starting to explore what other areas can be developed with Harvest. It is very exciting.
Chris says “I am a conscious nature lover who deeply values health and believes our mind and body are our greatest possessions. I love outdoor adventure, natural movement fitness, growing my own food, cooking and learning about human potential and living a natural non-toxic lifestyle.”
Fran says “I’m Fran and along with my partner and young son have begun a small holding. We have a couple of sheep, a few pigs, laying chickens and have planted many a hedgerow and fruit tree. We wish to develop our connection to the natural world and live closely to the land. I’m interested in increasing the accessibility of well produced food and the joys that go with it to more people in our community! I’m excited to be working with Harvest and look forward to sharing in this journey with you.”
In the next newsletter we will be introducing some other new faces!
Project News
The MOBILE SHOP is now out in NORTHLEW on FRIDAYS!
The mobile shop is stopping at Northlew on Friday mornings. Look out for us outside the Green Dragon between 10 and 12! Sadly the village’s Square Shop closed a few weeks ago. We think all communities should have a shop and so our mobile shop is starting a weekly stop. Not the same as having an everyday shop but the best we can do. Where shall we go next?
Thanks to David Blackshaw for the picture. It is Jo and Jess in the picture. Jess has started doing some work in the shop and out on the mobile as well as helping with some of our sessions.
A reminder of all the stops and times for the market and mobile shop!
The Tuesday Market
Hatherleigh Market (market stall not mobile shop) 9am to 12.30pm
The Thursday Route
Sampford Courtenay, The Square 1.15 to 2.00pm
The Beeches, nr Sampford Courtenay Station 2.15 – 2.45pm
Belstone, Car Park 3.15 to 5.00pm
The Friday Route
Northlew, by the Green Dragon 10:00 – 12:00
Community Outreach
Lizzy has been working for Harvest on developing links out in the wider community visiting a wide range of groups including parish councils, schools, National Trust, Mental Health Alliance and more! If you are part of a community group that would be interested in talking to us about projects and possibilities then do get in touch at community@harvestworkerscoop.org.uk (mailto:community@harvestworkerscoop.org.uk)
And who is Lizzy? You will have to wait for her introduction in the next newsletter!
Events coming up
The Great Big Green Week Eco Fair in the Charter Hall Saturday 17th June
Celebrations in the Park Sunday 9 July
Taw River Dairy Open Day Sunday 16th July
The Okehampton Show Thursday 10th August
Harvest will be at these events with a mixture of information stalls (did you know last year Harvest won first prize for the best trade stand at the Okehampton Show?) the mobile shop and, excitingly, some drop in food workshops – bike powered smoothies and fermented vegetable pots anyone!! More information about all of these in the shop and in the next newsletter.
Our Next Events
Family Workshop : SPRING BLOSSOM
Saturday 27th May 2pm – 4pm EcoHub
Pay what you can (suggested £5 / family) Booking essential through the Harvest Shop or email
* Seasonal Cooking & Celebrations
* Fireside Storytelling
* Gardening
* Natural Craft
Working Together for a Wilder Town : Okehampton’s Changing Greenspaces with Pete Yeo
Sunday 28th May 11am – 3:00pm
Join us for a circular walk exploring how we may understand and relate to the climatic & floristic changes happening around us, guided by Pete’s informed, fascinating and spirited approach.
Pete Yeo is a reconcilation ecologist and nature mentor.
This event is part of our Working Together for a Wilder Town program of events kindly funded by Devon Community Foundation.
All About Calendula with Diana Lee
Wednesday 7th June 7:00pm – 8:30pm at the EcoHub
Calendula is an amazing herb – find out more about it’s history, how you can use it and how to make a useful salve.
Diana is a Registered Medical Herbalist who trained with the IRCH (www.irch.org) and qualified in 2008. She is also qualified in Bach Flower Remedies and recently as a Mycotherapy practitioner She lives near Holsworthy on an organic smallholding where she uses permaculture and forest garden principles.
£10 (£5 reduced rate) including herb tea, calendula cake and a salve to take away.. If you can’t afford either but would still like to come just let us know.
Please book by email to hello@harvestworkerscoop.org.uk or call into the shop.
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We are a not for profit workers’ co-operative made up of farmers, educators and storytellers.
We grow and source good organic food for our little farm shop in Okehampton.
We create opportunities for our community to explore all things food and farming and to celebrate Good Mood Food!
It would be lovely to see you in the Harvest Farm Shop
Monday – Saturday 9:00 – 5:00 in Red Lion Yard or Tuesdays at Hatherleigh Market or out on the mobile shop on Thursdays and Fridays
Do keep an eye out for all our latest happenings on our website, in store, or on social media
Family Workshop January Wassail Harvest News
Our latest newsletter Family Workshop January Wassail went out to subscribers today: Check it out or read a text version below
Hello there
Just a quick note to say that this Saturday 21st January 2:00 – 4:00pm it is the first Family Workshop of 2023…
FAMILY WORKSHOP – Wassail
- Singing to the trees and banging pans!
- Seasonal Cooking
- Fireside Storytelling
- Natural Crafts
- Gardening
Please bring an old pan to bang if you can.
Our Family Workshops are for all ages! They are for families to create and play together so all children must be accompanied with an adult. Simple seasonal refreshments are available.
We would welcome a £5 donation per family to help us keep our family workshops going
The workshop is at the Growing Our Future Eco Hub which is next to Okehampton College at the Courtney Road entrance.
Family Workshops are part funded by Devon Community Foundation
Please email hello@harvestworkerscoop.org.uk if you would like to book. It would be lovely to see you!
Very best wishes
Kevin and Jo
Harvest Workers Coop
December updates from Harvest Workers Coop Harvest News
Our latest newsletter December updates from Harvest Workers Coop went out to subscribers today: Check it out or read the text version below
News from Harvest Workers Coop
It has been a busy November with several interesting partnerships developing and the the exciting possibiity of a new member for the Coop. Find out more about all this below!
Community is always central to what we do. It was great to see the Okehampton community out on the streets for Edwardian Evening. The challenge is to keep our community strong and together as Winter’s chill bites.
We look forward to seeing you in the shop with all its seasonal produce. There is no better sight than a crate of freshly picked cabbages crisp and full of goodness. Maybe we will see you at the last two events of the year this weekend with our Family Workshop on Saturday and Seasonal Wreath Making at Hilltown on Sunday.
Warmest of wishes 🙂
Martin, Sara, Jo and Kevin
We are looking for a new member of the team …
A NEW MEMBER
Do you want to be part of creating a better food system? Are you interested in being an active member of a small workers’ co-operative based in Okehampton? Would you like to help increase access to organic food and explore regenerative ways to raise awareness about the key role farming and food plays on our health, the environment and the local economy?
We are looking for a passionate, flexible and committed person to join our team. This will initially be as a trial co-op member for 10 hours a week in our farm shop with an opportunity to increase your hours if you are interested in growing your role within our organisation. You will play an active role in strategic planning and practical decision making using consensus and will also have the possibility to become a full member of our workers’ co-op after a successful trial year.
Download the full job description and application details
Please pass this onto anyone you know who may be interested
CHRISTMAS OPENING
We are still waiting for some of our suppliers and producers to confirm their deliveries so there are a couple of dates we are not sure about.
Saturday 24th OPEN
Sunday 25th CLOSED
Monday 26th CLOSED
Tuesday 27th CLOSED
Wednesday 28th tbc
Thursday 29th OPEN
Friday 30th OPEN
Saturday 31st OPEN
Sunday 1st CLOSED
Monday 2nd CLOSED
Tuesday 3rd tbc
Wednesday 4th OPEN
and ORDERS
We will have lots of the normal seasonal vegetables in the shop so do please come and choose your own as we will be busy with lots of boxes to pack. Do drop us an email or pop into the shop if there is anything special you would like reserved for Christmas! Please use measured quantities as “Enough sprouts for 6 people” can be a little hard to interpret 🙂
NEW ARRIVALS
Just in .. HODMEDODS .. uk quinoa, pea flour and green split peas; McGs .. apple juice and cider vinegar; Bundy’s CALENDULA Creams and more!!
STORIES of PARTNERSHIPS …
… in the LIBRARY
We really enjoyed our two sessions at Okehampton Library. Sara had a roomful of sauerkraut makers and Kevin enjoyed the storytelling and celeriac coleslaw down among the books. We will certainly be looking at doing some more sessions in partnership with the lovely people at the library very soon.
… between FAMILY WORKSHOP and COMMUNITY FEAST
Our Family Workshop certainly had a cooking theme with soup, pumpkin pie, mincemeat making, apple pie, apple drying and more. It was lovely to take some of the food down to the Community Feast in the Ockment Centre. We will have to do some more collaborations like this!
… within the HEALTH and WELLBEING NETWORK
It was good to join in with a meeting of Nutrition group of the Health and Wellbeing Network whose aim is to “extend Nutrition activity across the Primary Care Network using existing organisations and resources to develop community responses especially intergenerational projects” Representatives from the medical team, College, Family Centre, West Devon CVS were all discussing practical food initiatives. Very exciting and we will let you know how all this plays out.
… in the COMMUNITY with the MOBILE SHOP
A reminder of the stops and times for the market and mobile shop!
The Tuesday Route
Hatherleigh Market (market stall not mobile shop) 9am to 12.30pm
Sampford Courtney, The Square 1.15 to 2.00pm
The Beeches, nr Sampford Courtney Station 2.15 – 2.45pm
Belstone, Car Park 3.15 to 5.00pm
PLEASE NOTE THAT AT THE BELSTONE THE SHOP WILL BE CLOSING AT 5pm UNTIL THE SPRING AND LIGHTER EVENINGS
ALSO PLEASE NOTE THAT IN THE NEW YEAR THE MOBILE SHOP ROUTE WILL BE MOVING TO THURSDAY
Our next events
Family Workshop : WINTER WARMER
Saturday 10th December 2pm – 4pm EcoHub
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Pay what you can (suggested £5 / family) Booking essential through the Harvest Shop or email
* Seasonal Cooking & Celebrations
* Fireside Storytelling
* Gardening
* Natural Craft
Town to Farm Workshop : NATURAL WREATH MAKING
Sunday 11th December 11am – 1:30pm / 2:30 – 5pm at Hilltown Organics
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£25 per person (reduced rates available) Booking essential through the Harvest Shop or by email
Make your own natural wreath to take home
Thank you for supporting Harvest Workers’ Co-op
We are a not for profit workers’ co-operative made up of farmers, educators and storytellers.
We grow and source good organic food for our little farm shop in Okehampton.
We create opportunities for our community to explore all things food and farming and to celebrate Good Mood Food!
It would be lovely to see you in the Harvest Farm Shop or out on the Mobile Farm Shop
Monday – Saturday 9:00 – 5:00 in Red Lion Yard or Tuesdays out on the mobile shop
Rainforest at Hilltown
Martin has written a piece about seasons, weather, food and rainforests. It is well worth reading.
The rain clouds and storms roll in pretty regular, the barn is being buffeted by gales as I write. If you don’t work with the seasons and climate here, you may ‘die of a cold along with the devil’ as the local Northlew saying goes.
Martin Godfrey
Harvest’s Mobile Farm Shop and Markets!
Harvest Workers’ Co-op who run Harvest Farm Shop in Okehampton are taking a mobile shop selling organic produce including delicious fresh produce from local organic farms to YOU! We also visit local markets.
Do get in touch if you are interested…
We look forward to seeing you on the mobile shop or if you are in Okehampton pop into the Harvest Farm Shop in Red Lion Yard, opposite Grants Coffee Shop!!
Market : Every Tuesday
Hatherleigh Market in the Community Centre (market stall not mobile shop) 9am to 12.30pm
The Route : Thursday
Hatherleigh Market (market stall not mobile shop) 9am to 12.30pm
Sampford Courtney, The Square 1.15 to 2.00pm
The Beeches, nr Sampford Courtney Station 2.15 – 2.45pm
Belstone, Village Hall 3.15 to 5:00pm
Why are we doing it?
We want to raise the profile of and access to local organic food, support local food producers and give a different choice to supermarket shopping. We feel that the mobile shop can strengthen communities and give opportunities to bring people together. We are a group of local regenerative growers and educators who like meeting and talking to people.
Huge thanks to Devon Social Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme for their help with this. Both financial and through training and providing a network of amazing individuals who want to make a difference in the world.
Healthy Start Veg Bags and The Milk Project
We are working with Devon County Council to offer up to 3 FREE fruit and veg boxes in March to families in the Okehampton area who are recipients of the government’s Healthy Start scheme.
Healthy Start provides financial support to put towards the cost of fruit and veg, pulses, cows’ milk, and formula – you can find out if you are eligible and apply online for the scheme on the Healthy Start website<https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/>.Your first box from us will contain a range of organic seasonal fruit and vegetables along with a free information booklet that includes tasty and nutritious seasonal recipes, to get you started with your delicious local produce!
You can also have 2 litres of local Taw River Dairy milk each week through the Milk Project scheme
Want to sign up?· Email hello@harvestworkerscoop.org.uk or pop into the Harvest Farm Shop in Red Lion Yard· Simply show us your new Healthy Start card or a Healthy Start voucher when you order·
Boxes can be collected from 10th March· You must be eligible for Healthy Start and live within the Devon County Council area. If you enjoy your boxes, you can continue to order a Healthy Start box or simply buy fruit and veg from us as often as suits you, where we will also provide you with nutritious seasonal recipes to try!
If you are still receiving Healthy Start paper vouchers and not yet signed up to the card, apply now<https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/> to make sure you don’t miss out! Everyone must re-apply for the scheme, even if you are already receiving Healthy Start.
We are very friendly … do pop in and ask any questions or message usPlease pass this information onto anyone who you think might be interested
Oxford Real Farm Conference
Oxford Real Farm Conference
As growers and activists, one of our highlights of the year always comes early. The first week of January is the Oxford Real Farm Conference. This is a gathering of the agroecological farming movement in the UK where farmers, growers, activists, scientists and all those interested in fixing our broken food system get together to learn form each other, to discuss, collaborate and bring about change.
With close to 5,000 attendees the ORFC has grown immensely in the last few years as increasing numbers of people are becoming determined to get together and make change happen, it is where the food revolution is brewing!
Its’ growing popularity is catching the attention of more and more organisations working within a wide range of sectors which are increasingly getting worried about how the food system is damaging our health, communities, economies and environment and so they are taking part wanting to be part of the solution. While ORFC attracts and welcomes anyone interested in bringing about meaningful change for a fairer and healthier food system; its core and the majority of people attending are grassroots actors of the agroecological farming and food sovereignty movement.
This year again the topics of food poverty, local economies, community resilience and social justice were at the centre stage of the debates; and so was the worry of further damage to health, environment and communities from a system that puts profit before people and is inherently undemocratic and non-transparent. But the ORFC brings together a huge diverse and inspiring range of projects, initiatives and solutions to get the transformation going, from the ground up. It’s 3 days of a huge feast of ideas, enthusiasm and determination, I always leave fully charged for the year!
We need to change the food system. It is causing too many problems without anyone being accountable and it’s on autopilot with a course of destruction. We need to move to a food system that has the overall health and wealth of all as its core. At ORFC, I heard from so many of those building this alternative food system based on justice, joy and solidarity that I can’t but remain positive and get back to work on our little corner of Devon. At Hilltown Organics and with Harvest Workers Co-op we’ll keep feeding the fire, we need to increase the opportunities and support for a different way to farm, to trade, to generate health and well-being, to regenerate our land, our soils and our souls. Join us in 2022 in creating a better food system for all!
The infographic is by @seobhanhope_illustrates
Fungi, the next agricultural revolution
Organic farming needs no artificial inputs of fertilisers and sprays to grow all the food we need. These harmful chemicals damage and degrade soil releasing carbon. All of earth’s soils have all the nutrients plants need to grow strong and healthy when soil is “alive”
At Hilltown Organics, fungi play a key role in growing all the range of crops on our challenging soils on the edge of Dartmoor. Fungi cycles nutrients, keeping carbon in the soil and holding onto precious moisture during dry periods. A single handful of “healthy” soil contains in excess of 500 species of fungi. Fungi dominate the total biomass due to their collective mass in a healthy soil. It is a network of cells living within and throughout all living landmasses on Earth and are able to breakdown rock particles with their strong acids releasing vital minerals for plants missing in today’s industrial food. Industrial farming with chemicals kill off ecosystems in soils so is dependant on adding further chemicals to keep their crops alive.
The mycelium of the soil fungi is a vast body in organic soils. If mycelium networks were unravelled, 8 miles of these cells would be found in a cubic inch of soil (Source: Mycelium Running). Fungi helps to increase nutrients available to plants, improve water efficiency, reduce erosion by acting as a cellular sponge, and promote root growth by adding oxygen to the soil and releasing nitrogen, phosphate, and other micronutrients. They also provide resistance to some plant pathogens unique to organic soils. Mycelium also has a “cushioning” effect able to resist a certain amount of compaction from agricultural equipment and is also an important food source for many beneficial soil invertebrates which will be food to support declining animal and bird populations further up the food chain.
COP26. Soil degradation is one of the big climate change drivers we don’t see being mentioned very much by governments and media, industrial agriculture has severely damaged soils with its chemicals over decades releasing its carbon once locked up as “humus” from precious organic matter built over centuries. Damaged humus is broken down and released as carbon gas. It has been very sad that world leaders have given soil barely any attention at COP26 with no agreements on mitigating soil damage, instead it has been a triumph for agrochemicals and fuel industry, which governments keep protecting such is their strong and powerful lobby.
What can we do as individuals? Get behind and support organic farmers who always put soil health first building soil fertility naturally. They are leading the way in sustainable food production and carbon sequestration. New tools on the market, refractometers, confirm that organic food contains greater amounts of trace minerals than industrial food due to the rich life in their soils. Brix measurements is a direct correlation between a plant’s Brix value and its taste, quality, and nutritional density.
One last fact. Fungi is important to our general health and wellbeing, not only do they provide plants with key nutrients but they also nourish our health. Getting out in nature, in the chemical-free meadows and woods helps get billions of fungi spores on our skin, hands and face, which are beneficial for us providing some skin care and protection from germs and pathogens.