Tuesday, May 4, 2021
A new volunteer’s perspective – April 2021
My Community Farm Experience –– Di Ashmore
During lockdown, like most people, I had a regular daily walk towards Maiden Castle and then back through the surrounding countryside to Poundbury. I walked past the Community Farm so many times but didn’t realise what it was. It was a friend who mentioned it and gave me the details.
I contacted them by email and went along to meet Kate one day. It was summer then and the farm was overgrown, the polytunnel cover had been ripped off, and I wondered what I was walking into. Kate showed me around the farm, the orchard, geese, chickens and bees and I thought I’d give it a go.
That was almost a year ago. I have met some amazing people and done lots. The farm is transforming before my eyes and the best bit is that the farming is all organic and really thought through. I have helped to put a new cover on the polytunnel, in quite a strong blustery wind, tended a herb garden which is now jokingly referred to as mine, put down wood chip, weeded, planted tomato plants, picked and pressed apples and have sat around drinking tea, eating cake and chatting.
The highlight for me was the potato crop. I never knew that digging up potatoes was so much fun! There is more: through TTD, my daughter and I planted 20 trees one day and I have re-visited my art skills to design the Community Farm sign which is on display at the farm entrance. No-one bats an eyelid at my artistic endeavours, when I once wove flowers on a frame of willow in the polytunnel (very much encouraged). On other days, joining several people there working to finish digging, planting or a project is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon – socially distanced outside.
At harvest time, those working share out the crop and I’ve made some fabulous meals with the farm produce. The honey is divine and I adopted a chicken and am on the egg quota. There is no understanding that you will turn up each week, we’re all busy but when I go, I always return home with a sense of satisfaction that I have done something good with my time. Community is important, sustainable food is too. The farm can’t survive without people and I’m glad to be a part of that.
Di’s farm sign
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