May 2024 Newsletter

Spring finally arrived! Our fields and pathways are slowly drying out. Breaktimes are starting to happen outside in the sunshine and the polytunnels are heating up. The much-needed sun is doing our vegetables the world of good, and our volunteers are surely feeling the benefit too. We are nearing the hungry gap for this year, and its all hands-on deck to prep beds and sow seeds ready for our summer crops.

 

Veg for Sale

Sign up for a veg box here

Our farm shop is open Mondays – Saturdays from 10am-5pm

Sennen farmers market, Tuesday mornings 9:30-12:30, Sennen Community Centre, TR19 7AW

St Just farmers market, Saturday mornings 9:30-12:30, St Just WI Hall, TR19 7HA

 

Twist & Sprout Podcast

Our brand new podcast Twist & Sprout has just launched.

Subscribe through our website or via your usual podcast platform of choice to receive each of the monthly episodes as they go live.

In episode 2 we hear from some of the people involved in establishing Bosavern Community Farm in the early days. Essential listening for anyone setting up a new community asset or community growing scheme.

 

Hungry Gap

As you may recall, the proceeds of the 2023 Harvest Open Day went towards a ‘Hungry Gap Fund’ to better prepare the farm for this  difficult time of year. Staff and volunteers have spent the winter months renovating veg beds between the elephant garlic and rhubarb patches. These beds have been named our ‘Hungry Gap Beds’. The funds raised were  used to purchase thick black plastic to suppress weeds. The beds have been mulched and composted, ready to be planted with broad beans, radishes, spinach, and carrots. We also have potential to install riser sprinklers over the beds to better prepare us for the Hungry Gap.

 

Trees

Our Tree Care and Planting group were hard at work over the winter and early spring months planting shelter belts in our fields rotated for crops and chickens. In total they have planted 850 trees to date! These shelter belts will provide our crops with much needed shelter for years to come. The group has now finished their planting season and will focus on Tree Care, which involves looking after previous plantings by clearing dead/damaged saplings, mulching, bramble clearing and removing or replacing guards and stakes. Thank you to the Tree Care and Planting volunteers for all your hard work.

If you are interested in joining the group, they meet at Bosavern on Sundays at 2pm.  Everybody welcome!

 

Chicken fencing

Our chicken fields are being refenced thanks to a grant from FIPL and this should last another ten years.

 

School visits

In 2024 we have begun a programme of educational visits with local school, funded by FIPL. We have already held successful visits with St Just, Sennen, and Newlyn Primary Schools, and are currently running 6 curriculum linked sessions with Kites from Cape Cornwall Secondary School based around the topic of habitats.

 

WEA

In February and March, we ran some growing courses in partnership with the WEA, led by experienced permaculture tutor Jodie Tellam. Participants have really enjoyed the courses we have ran so far, although attendance has been low.

 

Wildflowers

Nick Hall and the Wildflower Project team have also been hard at work over February and March. They have secured an order with the National Trust for 600 wildflower plants that will be planted around the local coastline to provide vital habitats for pollinators. We also have plants for sale at the farm shop.

 

Health and Safety

We have installed our new defibrillator on site, on the wall outside the egg shed, thanks to funding from St Just Parish Council. And so far for this year, staff and volunteers have completed First Aid, Fire Safety, Brushcutter and Tractor training, all funded by FIPL.

 

Wellbeing Workshops

On Saturday 20th April, Yvonne Thompson ran her first wellbeing workshop here at Bosavern centred around creating positive energy. Participants found the workshop super supportive and helpful. Yvonne is running another workshop on Saturday 15th June. ‘One of the best training events I have attended’. ‘The discussion around shared parenting and celebrating differences was particularly helpful for me’. ‘Felt very safe and private when I wanted it to be’.

 

Wanted Items:

  • Stair carpet
  • Wipe-clean surface eg Melamine, marine ply or kitchen worksurface, to use as compost toilet surround
  • Empty egg boxes
  • Serviceable wellies, age 8 upwards & adult sizes (none with holes please)
  • Straw hats & beanies
  • Delivery van!

 

Volunteer roles: