RHUBARB FARM Update for August

We submitted our planning application at the beginning of July. With 39 accompanying documents (as we were asking for polytunnel, car park, signage, erection of sheds and containers for office space) we were relieved it was deemed complete and we will get a decision by 10th September. We had to take a deep breath when we paid the planning fee of £1,965 and are now well in the red! On 5^th August we have two graduate interns starting work with us for 8 weeks – awarded to us free by Nottingham University – we are really looking forward to them helping us with more preparation for becoming operational. We are also going through a commissioning process for £48,000 of Working Neighbourhoods Fund money, which is being arranged through the Bolsover Local Strategic Partnership. Success in getting this funding, the signing of our leases, and a positive outcome to the planning application will mean we can employ our first staff and actually become operational on our 8 acre site. We envisage this should be in late September/early October. Then we can get our portaloos on site, as funded by the Vegware Community Fund. The biggest hurdle after this is getting funding for fencing – we need 905 metres of close weld mesh, for the security of our buildings, polytunnel and crops.

The gardens have benefited from the help of a number of corporate team challenges throughout July. These have focused on tasks including Rabbit fencing the vegetable gardens, and developing features that will be shown in the Beechgrove Garden programme to be filmed between 9th and 11th August.

We have followed up project work resulting from the Transition Town launch. This involved collating data harvested at the event and attending meetings. A Transition Food Group is now meeting fortnightly with representatives of organisations from around the area and as such is a valuable networking opportunity. An audit of sustainable food initiatives is in the process of being prepared. Members of the Transition Town food group are now being proposed as trustees for the CFH, hopefully leading to appointment at our AGM on 14th July.

Over the summer, with p from Vegware, Green Up Your Act Education will be providing a range of eco workshops for the Young Peoples Center in Brighton. The center is a free space for young people to come to socialize and chat to volunteers who can provide help and support. We hope the added green input will inspire and empower the centers visitors.

Rhubarb Farm have been awarded the professional help of a surveyor, planning consultant and solicitor to work on our lease and planning application and we are now poised to submit our planning application for fencing, structures and polytunnel for our site. On 18 June the Derbyshire County PCT organised a seminar to promote our work to commissioners of services and senior decision-makers in the Bolsover area (where our site is) and 60 people attended, including 4 volunteers and a Rotary Club funder from our previous project. They wowed the audience with positive reports of the importance for them of being on a therapeutic horticulture project. We are also now being asked for jobs, volunteering opportunities and placements for people with learning disabilities by local people living around the site, who have embraced RHUBARB FARM even though we’re not operational yet.