The Farm > Local Food Project

Background

West Craigie Local Food project is a new initiative based at Craigie's farm. John, the farmer, has given over 4 surplus acres of his land and a poly tunnel to the project to develop a sustainable growing project that can supply his farm shop and café with fresh high quality locally grown produce. The project is overseen by a project manager, Yvonne, and we have a steering group comprising people from NHS Lothian, North Edinburgh Trust, Criminal Justice Social Work, Bridgend Allotments Project and interested others who volunteer their time. Tom and Kirsty are the project workers and we are currently advertising for another 4 gardeners through the Future Jobs Fund run by Edinburgh Council. A development worker and an administrative assistant will join us in September and we have a growing number of volunteers.

The project was set up to support people on community sentences and prison leavers do some meaningful work and at the same time get support for any difficulties they may be facing in their lives. This group often have high levels of need; they may be unemployed, have accommodation problems, low literacy levels, poor mental health and addiction problems, some of which lead them back into offending. Our experience is that the people who come benefit in several ways; by being in the open countryside, by learning new skills which can lead to employment and getting help to sort out some of their problems, while at the same time the environment gains by increasing the supply of locally grown produce. Visitors to Craigie's farm gain by being able to eat and buy freshly harvested vegetables in the shop and café.

The project has 4 main aims:

• The development of a sustainable gardening project supplying vegetables to a range of local outlets
• Provision of training and employability skills to individuals serving community sentences and ex-offenders interested in achieving horticultural skills
• Provision of personal and social development to prevent re-offending and integration back into community and the enhancement of social capital
• Improvement in mental and physical well-being and healthy eating

Funding
At the moment the project has very limited funding but is hoping to attract more funding to employ more staff as it develops. If you have any suggestions about sources of funding please let us know.

Activities
The project will expand next year to offer organic growing classes to aspiring as well as experienced gardeners.

Getting involved
If you would like to get involved in any capacity contact John through the web site or at the farm or email Yvonne.dalziel@btinternet.com ; or come and visit us from 10.00- 2pm on Tuesdays or Thursdays and speak to Tom or Kirsty, the project workers. We need interested people with skills to join our steering group and volunteers to help in the poly tunnel for a few hours, harvesting and weeding. We also need accountancy skills in the project and marketing experience. You can also contact Yvonne on 07747 606053.