Food & Farming

Objective:

To supply fresh, local, healthy food to the town and involve the community in food production whilst retaining a commercially viable farming enterprise.

Response:

Our plans for farming at the eco-town are still evolving.  However, what is certain is that we will increase food grown for direct human consumption, focus on foods that are best consumed fresh, increase biodiversity, be leading edge either in technology or environmental production and engage the community either in production or by increasing public access and education opportunities.

Summary of strategies under consideration:

Farmworld
Farmworld is central to our vision for food and farming within the eco-town.  Farmworld is an information centre and demonstrator for the eco-town and will be open to the public as a visitor centre.  It enables people to learn about every aspects of the eco-town including growing food, renewable energy generation and the commercial farm itself.  There will also be a farm shop with an opportunity to buy seasonal produce.

Community gardens and orchards
These will be located as small areas throughout the eco-town to maximise their social impact and impact on both the landscape and bio-diversity.  The community gardens and orchards will allow all residents to be involved with food production.  The community gardens and orchards will also be located alongside other community facilities to provide the opportunity for everyone to become involved with food production. 

Local production of fresh food
The Co-operative Farms will build green houses to supply fresh fruit through an extended season (between April and November).  There is also the possibility that our currently mothballed dairy farm on the site could be brought back into use.  Free range eggs and milk produced on the farm could be distributed to homes and local stores in the eco-town as part of a vegetable and fruit box scheme.

Energy crops
Our energy proposals are still evolving but one opportunity is for the growth of biomass on-site for use in the combined heat and power plant.

 

The Masterplan