About Us
Our Community Project
Woodhouse Community Farm is a local food project with a focus on education and training. It is a 'not for profit' social enterprise
(a 'co-operative').
Our aim is to develop the farm into a centre where people can improve their skills in growing, making and cooking good food.
Our plan is to turn one of the old farm buildings into a Food Studies Centre where people will be able to learn about everything from seasonal foods and healthy eating to all aspects of cookery. Its teaching kitchen will use farm produce and ingredients from other local sources.
As part of our efforts to secure local food production, some of the farm is being rented to a farmer who has set up a Community Supported Agriculture scheme. Under the scheme, people buy a 'cut of the crop' and help with labour intensive task such as picking crops, pruning and planting fruit trees (for more details see The Walled Garden at Woodhouse Farm).
During the week, we hope the farm will be used by schools, colleges, youth groups, care farm projects. We also intend to run food courses where people of all ages and cooking abilities can improve their food growing and cooking skills.
Other countryside and craft courses will run too. Regular events will be held to enable people to visit and enjoy the farm at weekends.
We have already run successful care farming projects at Woodhouse, helping people with mental health issues, such as depression and stress, to rebuild their confidence and social skills through carrying out farm tasks as a team and cooking and eating together.
There will be plenty of opportunities for you to get involved if you wish, from helping manage the farmland, and adjoining woods, to helping organise the courses, helping with events, and much more.
Structure
Woodhouse Community Farm Limited is an Industrial and Provident Society for the benefit of the community. It currently has six trustees and a legally-qualified secretary. The not-for-profit model was originally developed by Co-Operatives UK to help brother and sister Ben and Charlotte Hollins raise £800,000 to prevent their farm, Fordhall in North Shropshire, from being sold from beneath them (www.fordhallfarm.com). They won and are now actively encouraging and advising the trustees of Woodhouse Community Farm Limited.