Tag Archives: CSA

Snow, and then a thaw

A very big thank you to Lucy, Gemma, Kirsty and and Tom for their help yesterday harvesting all 24 CSA veg boxes just as soon as the snow had thawed. We harvested for everyone on the same day to replenish everyone’s vegetable supplies, and to be 100% sure we didn’t get caught out by the ground being frozen up again!

Preparing the boxes

 

CSA members hard at work packing sprouting broccoli

What a lot of boxes!

And work on the farm hadn’t stopped during the cold snap! After a busy morning moving muck and weeding the polytunnel, CSA members relaxing over a cup of tea and an impromtu shared lunch on the working party on Saturday 11th February.

 

Relaxing after a busy morning

 

Many thanks to Tom and Kirsty for the great photos!

Posted in community supported agriculture, general news, harvest | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Our first Community Supported Agriculture Meeting! Saturday 29th January

Many thanks to everyone who joined out first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) meeting on Saturday.

It was a lovely, positive session with lots of enthusiasm, and a a quick tour of the farm despite the bitter weather!

Eric talked to us about the Forest Garden at the Oak Tree and the principles behind it.

Eric who designed the Forest Garden showed it to us

Joanne show us the comfrey patch, which helps with nutrients. The plants don’t look at their best in January – things look rather more lively in August.

Joanne on the delights of Comfrey Bocking-14 and activating it

and as we were on our way back to warm up from the chilly January weather we took a look at the herb garden to be.

The herb garden to be

Posted in community supported agriculture, general news | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Community Supported Agriculture Scheme details on our website

If you are tempted by a regular, good value supply of vegetables along with the opportunity for some friendly healthy outdoor exercise with other friendly folk in the East of Ipswich I’ve updated The Oak Tree website with details of our new Community Supported Agriculture Scheme.

Posted in community supported agriculture, general news | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Vegetable CSA Meeting on Monday 25th Oct at McGintys

Anyone who is interested in the vegetable community supported agriculture scheme to start next year at The Oak Tree, or who would like to come and help planting the Forest Garden this winter is invited to McGinty’s pub in Ipswich town centre on Monday 25th October:

from 7.30pm to 8pm to arrange planting the forest garden
from 8pm to 9.30pm to discuss how the veg CSA will be organised.

Feel free to contact Joanne (see The Oak Tree home page for my contact details) if you’d like any more details.

Posted in community supported agriculture, general news | Tagged , | Leave a comment

New projects at The Oak Tree

In addition to the Community Supported Agriculture scheme planned for next year discussed here on the Transition Ipswich forums I’m talking to the local council about putting two acres of allotments on The Oak Tree. There is a real shortage of allotments in the local area, big housing estates were built in the neighbouring town of Kesgrave recently with _no_ space for allotments, and landowners in the town who hope to receive £1m per acre for house are reluctant to make land available (which is perfectly understandable, but sad that we get trapped in this loop). Once again there is something seriously wrong with our planning system if we are to have any hope of local food in the future.

Kesgrave residents are really doing all they can to secure alloments though! The Oak Tree isn’t huge at 12 acres, but as an ex allotment holder myself it would be good to make this possible for thirty or so plotholders.

And local people, both customers and members of transition ipswich have kindly offered to come along and help with planting the forest garden this winter – an amazingly wonderful thing. There really is change in the air, people want good food from their local area, and they are prepared to help make it happen.

Posted in community supported agriculture, general news | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment