The visitors of the Young Peoples Center in Brighton are learning how to make a recycled plastic bottle structure to house their rhubarb and tomato plants. The warmth from the shelter will enhance the plants growth. When ready the vegetables will be prepared and cooked giving the participants an extended knowledge of growing and enjoying seasonal food, and recycling.

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.