A Stroud community farm is celebrating the launch of its brand new composting facility built with timber from a Slad Valley wood.
An opening event on 1st September at Stroud Community Agriculture invites everyone to a day of creative activity with a folk choir, a local poet and decoration of the new structure. There’s also a singing workshop and a chance to find out more about the links between compost, food and landscape. Visitors can also find out more about the Farm and how to get involved, through volunteering or having a weekly veg share.
Poet Adam Horovitz, visual artist Emily Joy and singer Pearl Legay-Clarke will lead the creative parts of the celebration which will include an opportunity to take part in singing, writing or decorating the compost bays. There’s also soup made from the vegetables grown on the farm and details are at www.stroudcommunityagriculture.org.uk.
It’s all part of the Growing Places project which focuses on nature, farming, community and the arts in the Stroud area. Run by local artists’ group Walking the Land, the project invites people to get involved in a wide range of creative projects, finishing with an exhibition at the Museum in the Park in February .
It’s widely agreed that a greater link with nature is good for our well being. At the same time, doing something creative is also seen as beneficial for lots of people. Growing Places aims to combine these two and in addition recognises the value of good locally produced food.
Because of the cost, it’s not easy for everyone in the community to have access to locally grown food nor is it easy for everyone access to the surrounding countryside. Recognising this, the project is working with lots of schools and community groups, particularly Stroud’s community food hubs .
Earlier this year larch trees from Follywood in the Slad Valley were felled and sawn into planks. Now they’ve been used to build a new set of compost bays at Stroud Community Agriculture. This in time will lead to healthier soil and better vegetables.
The September launch of the new compost facility will feature the Trinity Hub and Dursley Folk choirs led by local musician Pearl Legay Clarke whilst a visual artists will work with a group decorating the new structure. At the same event poet Adam Horovitz will read some of his soil and compost works and lead a writing workshop exploring the links between soil, landscape and food.
Andy Freedman, one of the Growing Places organisers says, ‘The project has a broad definition of the arts which also includes rural crafts, cooking and growing as well as painting, writing and music. Growing Places aims to create opportunities and to build connections between artists, community groups and landowners which will continue after the project finishes next March.’
Chalford based artist Rachel McDonnell is another member of the Growing Places team: ‘Two exciting opportunities for both artists and the community are part of the project this autumn. The Loom Wall will incorporate creative responses made by groups walking in the area, combined with work by artists working in stone and glass. In the woods there will be a Gingerbread House where young and old visitors alike will be immersed in the wonder of weaving a story and the astounding intricacy of the world around us.’
Icelandic artist Olaf Eliasson, who recently exhibited at the Tate, has donated lighting for use in the Gingerbread House
Twenty community groups, organisations and schools are involved in a variety of arts projects from walking, drawing and singing, exploring compost, storytelling and there will be a Gingerbread House in the woods where a series of artists will be resident and running workshops.
Most of the activities will take place this autumn in an area on the edge of Stroud covered by the partner organisations Oakbrook Farm, Hawkwood, Stroud Community Agriculture and Follywood The project is supported by Cotswold National Landscape as part of the Farming in Protected Landscapes fund. An exhibition at the Museum in the Park will coincide with a conference and the launch of a directory.
Allotment growers , farmers and composting experts have so far contributed to this creative project which aims to bring people closer to the food they eat. People of all ages have taken part in the Growing Places workshops at the Common Soil open day, the Museum in the Park, Hawkwood and Oakbrook Farm.
Art walks, workshops, tree planting and storytelling are some of the creative activity days which will happen just outside the town. Stroud Community Agriculture, Oakbrook Community Farm, Hawkwood and Stroud Woodland Co-op are all partners in the project and other farmers local to Stroud who are interested in regenerative agriculture.
By using art to engage people with the natural beauty of this area, Growing Places will also explore examples of farming which restore the land, and grow healthy food while working with nature.
Richard Keating, co-founder of Walking the Land says ‘Within Growing Places we’re delighted that there are a number of connected elements with opportunities for the whole community including schools, local groups, walkers and anyone keen on the countryside to get involved. By the end of the project we plan to have a directory of artists, landowners and groups so local communities can continue the connections with arts, food, farming and landscape.’
The project also includes the Community Family Tree. Here woodblock printing will be used to commemorate peoples’ involvement with tree planting and woodland management along the route of a walk and to create an online map for future generations to visit.
A series of walks will explore the areas and create a Growing Places Map to celebrate farming and woodland management which increase biodiversity.
To find out more: www. walkingtheland.org.uk/growing-places
How to get involved with the farm www.stroudcommunityagriculture.org
