Holiday reflection

I recently celebrated my 60th birthday… I know, I don’t look a day over 59! Rather than enjoy a party in the company of friends who would have said “you don’t look your age” or more likely, “you need to start taking it easy”, I went to the highlands where I enjoyed an amazing break with spectacular views and balmy late summer weather… miracles do happen.

Normally, when I return from a really good time away, I can get that – back to work – Monday morning – feeling. This time I was nearing Suffolk after driving several hundred miles and thinking “I wonder how the farm is doing… whats been going on…” This project is not only good news for the service users who will be attending, it is very good news for all of us who are involved.

Having said that I want to add that some days I wake up and think “I can’t do it. The workload is too much. Where will the money come from?” But after a few hours in the fresh air, working alongside others who are keen, dedicated and enthusiastic, all those worries disappear and equilibrium is restored. What seemed impossible is immediately back on track.

In the last update I mentioned a competition to win £25,000 from The OneFamily Foundation. The voting finishes on this one 3 November (next Tuesday). Currently we have 93 votes – the winner has about 1000. Its impossible to catch up I hear you say. No – what seemed impossible can be immediately back on track.

There are almost 250 people of this mailing list. Some of us (93 to be precise) have voted but many haven’t yet. If we all vote and get 4 or 5 friends to do the same – who knows?

The project with the most votes wins the money. Please therefore go through the following process and help us compete.

• Follow the link to the Pathways page on the OneFamily website (https://foundation.onefamily.com/projects/pathways/)
• Register on the website using an email address (or Facebook) (or register multiple email addresses)
• Activate your account by following the link sent via email from OneFamily – the link takes you back to the Pathways page where you are able to vote.
• If you’re not redirected back to the Pathways page once registered then just follow the original link to the Pathways page (above) and vote there.

Please do make the effort, it may take a few minutes but the difference it could make for our work will be enormous.

31 October

The fireworks are scheduled, the bonfire is being prepared, the food is being prepared for the BBQ, the weather is due to be good… what better way to embrace autumn than a work party at the farm followed by an evening of warmth, great food and excellent company plus a Tim Wicks spectacular?

Saturday 31 October is the day (this Saturday)
Bonfire will be lit around 4.30
BBQ will start around 5 – 5.30
Fireworks should be lit about 6 – 6.15
… bring the family, bring your friends (no charge but we will have a bucket on hand for contributions). We look forward to seeing you.

Geoff

£25,000 vote now on

Having had such support and success with the Aviva funding bid we have been entered into a competition to win £25,000 from The OneFamily Foundation.

This is a straight forward, winner takes all, vote. The project with the most votes wins the money. We therefore want to encourage everyone (and your friends, relatives, neighbours, work colleagues, people you meet on the street…) to go through the following process and help us secure this incredible sum.

• Follow the link to the Pathways page on the OneFamily website (https://foundation.onefamily.com/projects/pathways/)
• Register on the website using an email address (or Facebook) (or register multiple email addresses)
• Activate your account by following the link sent via email from OneFamily – the link takes you back to the Pathways page where you are able to vote.
• If you’re not redirected back to the Pathways page once registered then just follow the original link to the Pathways page (above) and vote there.

Please do make the effort, it may take a few minutes but the difference it could make for our work will be enormous.

Jobcentre Plus

Having hosted a team from the local DWP a couple of weeks ago the Great Yarmouth Jobcentre were not prepared to be outdone! They arrived en masse last week, despite a dreadful weather forecast (which fortunately turned out to be wrong) and worked their socks off (or plastic bags inside wellies!!).

A new gate was erected and huge areas of overgrowth and vicious brambles were cut down and moved to the increasingly large bonfire site ready for 31 October (see below).

Thank you so much guys, a great day and a wonderful challenge to the DWP for next year.

The fruit of our labours

As mentioned in the last Update, we have just passed our first anniversary and we celebrated with – yes – another workparty! The sun beamed down (as usual) and not only did we get loads done but we also enjoyed a wonderful, home-made autumn pudding made from fruit picked on the farm. Sorry to anyone who missed out but it didn’t last long once the vultures descended…

We had a great day (again) as over 25 people worked in groups to clear the entrance area (see below), dig trenches and lay drainage pipes in a couple of the barns, treat invasive weeds, strim large areas of overgrowth and even thin some of the wooded areas.

31 October

These workdays really have become key times for building relationships and having fun together whilst making huge improvements to the site as a whole. We regularly have guests who have visited in the past and not been for a while and, without fail, they are taken aback by the changes we have made and the way the facility is being improved.

The next planned work party is Saturday 31 October when we will finish the afternoon with a BBQ and a very large bonfire… we may even have a rather special firework display if Tim can get a new supplier in time. It is likely to be a really special time not to be missed… bring the family, we look forward to seeing you.

Geoff

One year on

Next week marks the one year anniversary of us taking possession of the farm! Its hard to imagine that its only been a year when you look around and see what we have achieved. 12 months and over 2000 volunteer hours. Even now it is easy to focus on the work ahead and feel a bit daunted but today is a day for looking back at what we have done and feeling very proud.

The support from all of you has been so good and the way the farm looks now is a testimony to every splinter, blister and aching muscle. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I was recently sent a few aerial shots taken during the construction of the new link road. The one above was taken in December 2014 and gives a very clear view of one of the key benefits for when we officially open… we are a little piece of the country in the heart of the town.

4 October 2014 was our first ever workparty on the site. What a day. So much excitement and hope for the future. The early video footage captured some of that so well. We are marking the anniversary with another workparty on Saturday 3 October. Last year we had over 30 people, who knows what will happen next week?

Things are moving so fast, work is progressing really well in the polytunnel, some of the barns are being prepared for new plumbing and electrics, additional animal enclosures are being built and garden areas are being designed and laid out. Life on the farm is never dull and you are all welcome to exert some energy, stroll around the grounds, make tea… drink tea… even just watch others work. We love being together and we love working towards a shared vision.

DWP

Hot off the press, we have just finished a wonderful day with a great group from the local DWP (Department of Works and Pensions). This is their second day on the farm – we are still talking about what was achieved a few months ago! Yesterday was no different… gates put in, fences erected, walls cleaned, trenches dug. Fantastic day – thank you all so much – here’s to the next one. (Apologies to Social Services for not giving you the write-up you deserved after your day with us – you were all brilliant as well… I’m sure you knew that already.)

Charity shop

I don’t often mention the charity shop (London Road South) but I should. The shop has been open for over 10 months and is a huge help in supporting the work of the farm. You can help too – we are after donations. We have been building a good reputation in Kirkley as the charity shop with ‘classy’ items. If any of you have bric-a-brac, DVDs, crockery etc please let us know as we would be very happy to receive it, even if you just want to pop in (Tuesday – Thursday) we would love to see you… 100% of the sales goes back into the work of the Care Farm.

Thank you all – I keep saying it and I will continue to say it. We really are so grateful and your support means so much.

Geoff

A family affair

Last Saturday started with a fair bit of rain and a small handful of people… I received a number of txts asking if we were still meeting at the farm to which the answer was “Some of us are here so feel free to come if you can.”

There was plenty to do inside the polytunnel and in the barns but, as the day went on, the sun came out and being in the fresh air started to appeal to lots of others. We had a number of families join us (including dogs) and at one point I counted more than 20 people working together on the ground in front of the tunnel, chatting, pulling weeds, making tea, eating cake (plus one lovely demonstration of sheer freedom as a couple of youngsters were enjoying the delights of a very muddy patch).

Whilst the outdoor activities were progressing well some serious demolition and trench digging was being carried out preparing the ground for water and waste pipes. Our smallish pile of hardcore grew five or six times bigger as the day went on and a very thick concrete floor was removed. I have promised the guys that we will have a hydraulic breaker on site next week rather than only having sledge hammers!

Everyone is so enthusiastic about the progress we are making and, with autumn creeping up on us quickly, we are maintaining momentum whilst we can and opening up again next Saturday (19 September) to continue with the fun.

We want to say a sincere ‘Thanks’ to all of you for your interest, your support and your hard work. This project simply wouldn’t happen without you and we look forward to welcoming as many as can make it in a few days’ time.

Geoff

Celebration

What a treat. Over 60 people were able to get along to the celebration BBQ a couple of weeks ago and enjoy a great afternoon of eating and catching up with each other. We even managed to fit in a tour of the ‘estate!’ before the rain came (dead on the forecast time of 5pm). Those of us that tasted this lovely cake (and ate one or two of the amazing burgers on offer) will be looking forward with anticipation to the next social event with some anticipation.

Thanks to everyone who came along and a special thanks to those who cooked, baked and cleared up… the team effort is what makes such days an absolute joy.

We have accumulated over 1750 hours of volunteer work so far in the 11 months that we have had possession of the farm. In October we are looking to have another celebration (date to be confirmed but probably around a bonfire on Saturday 31st) which will be a chance to look back over what has been achieved and hopefully, launch the official opening…

Having the polytunnel finished has been a huge asset as we now have somewhere to work even if the rain falls… it is also a great talking point for anyone who sees it whilst driving down the new road – I have had so many people tell me “its looking like a real farm now”.

Recent work

We have had some very productive work days recently. A few weeks ago a highly enthusiastic team came along from Social Services and worked very hard preparing the site for the goat pen and finishing off bridge number two – leading to the pig enclosure (it might not be long before we have a third crossing!).

A good day was had by all – I think the phrase most heard on the day was “This is so different from my usual day’s work”.

The usual Saturday work parties continued and culminated in the completion of the goat pen just over a week ago. The enclosure is finished, the shelter is in place and the donated grass seed is starting to grow so the animals (when they arrive) will have a nutritious first meal. With a finished polytunnel and now a goat pen we are really starting to look and feel like a farm!

The next step

One of our wonderful volunteers recently said to me “A day’s physical work here is so satisfying and knowing what we are working towards is so inspiring”. I often feel like Tom Sawyer when people leave after doing a day’s, or even a few hours, work and say “Thank you”. It is us who want to thank all of you. What we have achieved so far is amazing and we really are so grateful.

We have a work party planned for next Saturday (12 September) part of which will involve indoor work so the weather is not critical (that means it will be blazing hot). If you have any time that day please do come along, it will be great to see you… and you WILL enjoy it!

Geoff

It’s up!

After hours and hours of work by so many wonderful people, the polytunnel is covered. We still have to fix the doors and the irrigation system but it’s covered and just about ready for action.

What an achievement. Thank you to everyone that held on to the precious polythene on Saturday and thank you to everyone who couldn’t be there this weekend but has been part of the process over the last few months, from digging footings to piecing together the frame, doors and side vents. An incredible effort and something to be proud of every time you drive down the new road and see it in all its glory.

Someone, who shall remain nameless, said last week “By the time you get that tunnel finished it’ll make a great Santa’s grotto”. An amusing thought, and one that may be taken up in a few months, but I’m very pleased we beat that deadline.

Celebration

The last bbq, a few months ago, was a great success. Despite some heavy downpours many people were able to see the farm for the first time. We want to mark the latest progress with another one of Carl’s special meat feasts and we are having a weekend of activity: Saturday 22 August – workparty (10am – 4pm or any time within those hours); Sunday 23 August – bbq (2pm onwards).

Note: attendance on Sunday is not dependent on working on Saturday. We are keen to have as much help as possible at the workday but we would love to see you at the barbie no matter what (it would help with catering if you can drop me a line to say that you are going to join us).

Thank you

We are moving ever closer to the opening and the real job of serving local vulnerable people. An amazing thought when we look back at what the site was like last October. Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement, we are so grateful and hope to be able to say it in person in a couple of week’s time.

Geoff

Aviva funding

As many of you will by now know, we were successful in our funding bid with Aviva, who sent a film crew along to be with us when the result was announced. You can view their short film by clicking on the image above.

The next step

The recent rain storms have hindered our progress over the last few weeks. We have arrived on site a couple of times, ready to tackle the final stages of the polytunnel construction, only to be foiled by strong wind and or heavy rain… at least the pond is now full. Although we have quite a bit more work to do on that before we wanted it to be full!

If I’ve learnt anything over the last few months it’s that you can’t hurry nature. Working on the farm is nothing like working for a corporate client – and that is why this work is so therapeutic. We have to work with the seasons and within our resources and at the pace that works – not just rush around like I’ve done throughout the rest of life.

We are attempting to ‘finish’ the polytunnel (as well as tackle a number of other necessary jobs) this Saturday (8 August). If any of you are free for an hour or two please come along – the more the merrier. The rumour is that we are having summer now.

Chosen By You Given By Us (Green Tokens)

We are doing well with the Green token voting at ASDA.You may know that we have been selected to be one of the charities featured in their ‘Chosen By You Given By Us’ (Green Tokens) voting throughout July and August. When you visit ASDA please collect your Green Token and use it to vote for us on your way out. The voting station is on the far right as you enter the store. Please encourage your friends to join in.

Your support

We are so grateful to all of you who have given up valuable time to help. Without your help and support this project would not be happening. If you can come along on Saturday 8 August please do… Apparently, summer is now officially about to start!

Geoff

The polytunnel saga

A bit like the frog that always jumps half way to the pond bank and never actually reaches land, It feels like the polytunnel is one of those structures that will never actually be completely finished. Having said that, every week we get a little closer! On Saturday, work did not stop on this amazing structure and whilst the casual observer might be hard pressed to see the progress – it was a highly productive day and we actually achieved a huge amount. We all left a lot more tired but highly fulfilled.

I’m sure it will be up-and-running after the next day together (Saturday 25 July) he said hopefully.

Drainage and woodland clearing

The recent heavy heavy rain helped us to identify a drainage weakness in the main field. A ‘seagull pond’ appeared near to the bridge as water poured down to that quarter from everywhere. On Saturday we saw some sustained effort being put in to recreate the channel tunnel. A drainage ditch was dug from the unwanted surface water towards the brook… despite the rain on Sunday the pond had turned into a puddle and the excavations seemed to be working well – a great achievement.

The other thing about the weather at the moment is that weeds and nettles are growing almost as fast as they are being cut down! Saturday’s gardening team made great inroads on this front and we managed to create a huge clearing in the wooded area near the proper pond. Thanks to everyone who cut, sawed, raked, bundled, dragged and burnt. A real team effort and the results look impressive.

Chosen By You Given By Us (Green Tokens)

We have been selected by ASDA to be one of the charities featured in their ‘Chosen By You Given By Us’ (Green Tokens) voting throughout July and August. When you visit ASDA please collect your Green Token and use it to vote for us on your way out. The voting station is on the far right as you enter the store. I’ll report on how the voting is going over the next couple of updates so please make the effort and encourage your friends to help as well… Every little helps (whoops, wrong slogan). Thanks.

Training and supporting

We have had so much interest in the work of the farm from local agencies and services as well as individuals and their families. We are convinced that the facility we are bringing to life is going to be, not only a great asset to the community but also timely in regard to other services being cut. We have had enormous help in putting together the policies and procedures necessary to keep everything we do ‘on track’, safe and effective and we are deeply grateful for the hours of work that this has taken, and indeed the hours/days/weeks it has saved us.

As the day we officially open is approaching quickly we are looking at training and equipping people who are able to help us with service-users during the week throughout the autumn months. If this is something you are keen to pursue please let me know.

As always we would like to say thank you to all of you. Without your help and support this project would not be happening. It is a great feeling to know that so many wonderful people are willing to give up their precious time to help us serve vulnerable people in our community. If you can come along on Saturday 25 July please do… the sun is always shining in our corner of the world and the welcome will be even warmer.

Geoff

Aviva funding

The big news for this update is that we won our bid for the Aviva Funding. This is wonderful news as we now have the money to invest in bringing a number of people with dementia onto the farm. Case studies show that the services we are offering are beneficial in so many ways, by having structured, therapeutic activities we aim to improve the wellbeing of many, many people. Thank you so much to everyone that voted for us – and got others to do likewise. We feel highly honoured to now be in a position to offer some real help.

Polytunnel

The polytunnel construction has been a mammoth task and we could not have achieved it with the help of so many people (especially the master-builders – you know who you are). Firstly we had to dig 20 holes, 20 inches square and 20 inches deep… in almost solid clay! The day after the initial holes were dug it poured with rain and a number of them were filled again. A second shift of digging was then carried out during an amazing day when 18 hard-working volunteers from the local DWP office who worked tirelessly to erect fences, cut through trees and bracken and… dig holes. The footplates were then put together and positioned in exactly the right places and at the right depth before the holes were backfilled. The metal frame was then put together and slotted into place. Next was the staging, bracing and door frames… this all sounds fairly simple when its written in one paragraph but the process has taken weeks to get this far.

If any of you have driven along the new link road and glanced across our field you would have seen the sight of our very large meccano construction. All we have to do now is finish the doors and side ventilation… then the simple task of fixing the poly cover… lets hope for a very (very) still day. Shouldn’t be a problem in East Anglia!

The Bridge

We now have a bridge going across the brook at the bottom of the field. This means that we can now cut the grass in the top field and bring in more hay. We had 156 bales a couple of weeks ago, this field could produce over 300. I’ll let everyone know when it has been baled and hopefully we can get a number of us together to bring it all into storage.

I am so grateful to everyone that has given their precious time in volunteering in so many different ways. The comments I receive each week about how much we have achieved is honestly humbling. Thank you. I am also aware that we are having fairly regular work days especially now that the weather is on our side. During these summer months there are many things to do and events to attend so, although I am keen to maintain our momentum, I also want to say that you should only come along if the timing works for you. We love being together but we also understand when other commitments are pressing. Therefore, please come along to the next work party if you can but also have a great time elsewhere if you can’t make it.

The next together day is Saturday 11 July – the sun will be out – the wind will be non-existent – the BBQ will be sizzling… hope to see you there.

Geoff

I have never really given much thought to hay, nor to the process of bailing it and storing it. However, when its your first ever batch from your own field and the work is done by a group of people you know well, the feelings change completely. On Friday 12 June, on a lovely sunny afternoon, Jakey said that we needed to get the hay bailed and into storage, as the rain was coming. The forecast was fine and we had planned to do the work on Sunday afternoon but Jakey insisted, so after a few quick phone calls to get the required help, everyone arrived and the physical work started (a lot more physical than you might imagine). 156 bales were duly stored away just a minutes before the rain pored down! Why hasn’t Jakey got a job for the meteorological office?

To smell that barn, full of newly mown hay is the smell of teamwork. It was a fantastic moment for all concerned and a date to remember – another first for the farm. Thank you to all those that responded to the cry for help.

On Saturday 20 June we had another workparty and what a day. Almost 30 people came during the course of the day and we achieved so much. An area near the front gates that has almost completely been cleared by students from Great Yarmouth College over the previous couple of weeks, was tidied up, the last few bushes were cut down, piles of stuff was burnt and large amounts of rubble was removed. This area is now ready to plan out as it is to become our ‘Sensory Garden’. A complete contrast from the overgrown wasteland that used to welcome people’s arrival.

At the last work day a few weeks ago, three small storage areas on the far corner of the barns, beyond the dairy, had been knocked into one to form a kitchen. The three rooms all had quite different floor levels and on Saturday those floors were broken up and the hardcore removed so that we can lay a new, flat base. This was an immense amount of hard graft and we are so grateful for those heroes that just continued to bash and chip and carry all day. Incredible dedication.

The other momentous occurrence this weekend was the erection of the polytunnel frame. Its true that the most important part of most jobs in in the planning and setting out. That was never more true than with this construction. The positioning and levels of each footplate was crucial and took more than half the time spent on the whole thing. By 5pm we had the most beautiful site of a 28 x 54ft skeleton all ready to be kitted out and clad. I was getting so excited by the end of the afternoon, just walking around the site and seeing all the areas that had been progressed. You really are an amazing group of people and I am so privileged to be part of this great charity.

I am so excited I’ve had to attach another photo just to show the naked beast that will soon be the maternity ward to young vegetables!

Next weekend (Saturday 27 June) we are getting together again. We got so close to completing the polytunnel that we are aiming to finishing it then. There are lots and lots of jobs still to do so please do come along if you can spare some time… it would be great to see you.

Geoff