BBC Suffolk article

Oak Tree volunteer Rona Sharpe and Joanne showing off their pumpkins!

Community Supported Agriculture Scheme details on our website

If you are tempted by a regular, good value supply of vegetables along with the opportunity for some friendly healthy outdoor exercise with other friendly folk in the East of Ipswich I've updated The Oak Tree website with details of our new Community Supported Agriculture Scheme.

IAASTD interesting article

Interesting article from The Ecologist on how smallholders using methods similar to those I use at The Oak Tree are being ignored by policy makers.

It mentions the IAASTD report (International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development ) also mentioned enthusiastically by Tim Lang at the recent Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival Conference. According to the report The IAASTD was initiated in 2002 by the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) so this is the voice of the establishment if ever there was one.

This is a pretty long document, and I must admit I haven't read it all. But when I get confused or lazy about reading about food policy I leave it to the expert, I search for Tim Lang's opinion. He always seems to talk sense, and I like his approach.

In this article of Jan 2010 he says In 2008, the World Bank initiated IAASTD countered those who believe in GM as the new magic bullet, arguing that sustainable food systems could be built around supporting the social not just ecological infrastructure of small farmers.

I am in contact with my local MP, Ben Gummer, about these issues, so I'll pen him a note to draw this to his attention.

Joanne on Radio Suffolk Today

Joanne talking to Jon Wright of Radio Suffolk, broadcast today.

Vegetable CSA Meeting on Monday 25th Oct at Mcgintys

Anyone who is interested in the vegetable community supported agriculture scheme to start next year at The Oak Tree, or who would like to come and help planting the Forest Garden this winter is invited to McGinty's pub in Ipswich town centre on Monday 25th October:

from 7.30pm to 8pm to arrange planting the forest garden
from 8pm to 9.30pm to discuss how the veg CSA will be organised.

Feel free to contact Joanne (see The Oak Tree home page for my contact details) if you'd like any more details.

New projects at The Oak Tree

In addition to the Community Supported Agriculture scheme planned for next year discussed here on the Transition Ipswich forums I'm talking to the local council about putting two acres of allotments on The Oak Tree. There is a real shortage of allotments in the local area, big housing estates were built in the neighbouring town of Kesgrave recently with _no_ space for allotments, and landowners in the town who hope to receive £1m per acre for house are reluctant to make land available (which is perfectly understandable, but sad that we get trapped in this loop). Once again there is something seriously wrong with our planning system if we are to have any hope of local food in the future.

Kesgrave residents are really doing all they can to secure alloments though! The Oak Tree isn't huge at 12 acres, but as an ex allotment holder myself it would be good to make this possible for thirty or so plotholders.

And local people, both customers and members of transition ipswich have kindly offered to come along and help with planting the forest garden this winter - an amazingly wonderful thing. There really is change in the air, people want good food from their local area, and they are prepared to help make it happen.

Community Supported Agriculture at The Oak Tree

We're thinking about setting up a CSA at The Oak Tree. Nothing to do with the child protection agency, everything to do with growing stuff with like minded people, and securing me a very basic income. I've written more on the Transition Ipswich forums please do get in touch here, or there, or by email, if you could be interested.