Sign up for veg bags from local market garden project

Since starting in April last year, Eves Hill Veg Co. has harvested more than a tonne of vegetables from its one-acre market garden (on two acres of land) in Booton.
 

 
The project is now supplying the Dial House in Reepham, the Walpole Arms in Itteringham and All Things Nice in Cawston, as well as Norwich FarmShare – a weekly vegetable share scheme that collects on a Thursday from Norwich Men’s Shed. Fresh produce can also be collected weekly from the farm via a veg bag scheme (details below).
 
Eves Hill Veg Co. is primarily a market garden, growing vegetable staples using traditional gardening and organic growing techniques. The project is part of a wider movement to establish community growing sites that benefit the local community.
 
Eves Hill Veg Co. is currently run by volunteers, but the aim is to create livelihoods through local distribution of produce and running social participation programmes that is hoped will be funded by grants (or longer term through any profit made by the organisation).
 
But how can a market garden create social benefits? “One of our veg bag customers recently told us that her daughter is finally eating vegetables because they actually taste like something,” explained the social enterprise’s founder Hannah Claxton.
 
“A regular volunteer calls her visits to the farm ‘a little bit of bliss’; she loves her connection to the big out doors in a new way. Another volunteer told us after 18 months of living in the area this was her first opportunity to connect with local people over the planting of salads.
 
“We have a 12-year-old volunteer who comes with her mum and who, unbeknownst to her, will grow up knowing how to sow a seed, how to plant out vegetables and how to look after a garden.
 
“One volunteer brings her children aged one and three with her, and while she quietly works they roll in compost and eat tomatoes straight from the plant and lose their wellies.
 
“Recently, we hosted an apple day at the Kerdiston orchard. The older generation knew all the varieties and were excited to be reunited with them from back when the orchard was pick-your-own.
 
“The younger generation knew only Granny Smith and Braeburn (neither found in this orchard of English traditionals) – they delighted in the experience of picking, eating and tasting what is an important part of our heritage. Over financial reward, this is at the heart of Eves Hill Veg Co.’s principles.”
 
For further information, contact Hannah Claxton 07876 354363 or hannahclaxton@googlemail.com
 
How you can get involved:

  • Sign up for a weekly veg bag (small £6 or large £10), salad bag (£2), organic apple bag (£2).
  • Volunteer for the odd hour or regularly: Wednesdays 10.30 am – 4 pm, Fridays 10.30 am – 1 pm. There are also monthly Saturday work days; the next is Saturday 29 October from 10 am – 4 pm and most likely the last Saturday in November, when the ground will be prepared for planting garlic and broad beans.
  • Do you have a skill you could share with us? Could you help us do our accounts or to build a website? Do you have old tools or gardening kit you no longer need and would like to donate or sell? We are currently looking for large tarpaulins, a walking rotavator and a very, very long hose.
  • Enjoy our produce at the Dial House in Reepham, the Walpole Arms in Itteringham or buy a bag of salad from All Things Nice in Cawston.

 
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