COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

A new scheme to grow organic veg boxes in Coventry has been celebrating its first harvests.



Five Acre Farm was launched in spring as a pioneering project offering Coventry residents the chance to buy shares in a local field where a dedicated grower produces fruit and veg throughout the year.

Now, the first harvests have been boxed up into weekly portions and are finding their way to homes across the city.

Jo Rathbone, who founded the scheme, said: “It hasn’t been the easiest of seasons to get started, with all the cold weather and rain, but we’ve done incredibly well in spite of that.

“People are excited about finding a different way to source their food.

“There’s a great buzz about the place.”

Five Acre Farm lies next to Garden Organic in Ryton where experts have been on hand to offer advice and support the launch.

It follows in the footsteps of a similar project in Leamington, Canalside Community Food, which has been supplying locally grown veg boxes for the past five years.

Both schemes invite members to muck in and help as much as they like with gardening tasks, but the schemes also have dedicated growers to take responsibility for producing the weekly veg boxes.

Jo said: “I think it suits people who are concerned about where their food is coming from.

“They want local seasonal produce but can’t necessarily manage their own allotment. This is a half-way house.

“An allotment is a big commitment and I couldn’t manage that myself. But this is ideal for me.

“I don’t have to think about planning, planting and tending to everything because that’s for the grower to do. So I can just go along and help whenever I want, or just pick up the food when it’s ready.”

She added: “But it’s also exciting and it’s great for people who are up to the challenge of eating seasonally and cooking with something a little different.

“You pay your money every month and don’t have to worry about where your veg is coming from.”

On Tuesdays and Saturdays the site hosts growing mornings where people can muck in with the work or go along to collect their boxes.

Veg boxes so far have been filled with lettuces, broad beans, beetroot and cucumbers, kohlrabi and potatoes.

The project has capacity for 54 shares and half of these have already been snapped up by households in Coventry, Rugby and the surrounding villages.

If you want to get involved, email info@fiveacrefarm.org.uk