Hi and welcome to our Spring newsletter, which we’re sending early to bring you advance news of our upcoming AGM. Read on for:
- lots of new volunteering opportunities
- some really great news about our tree planting plans
- the chance to buy your share of Oakbrook daffodils
- photos and the latest news of our barn construction
Firstly, here are the all important details of our upcoming AGM which will be held on
Saturday 24th March 2023 at Hawkwood College (Studio 1) from 2-4pm.
As well as presenting our annual accounts, this will be a fantastic opportunity to share the news of our plans for the year ahead and the considerable achievements of 2022. Whilst you need to be a shareholder to vote on proposals, all supporters of the farm are invited to the event for this rare opportunity to see the whole farm team together in person – with cake!
We’re also thrilled to host Marina O’Connell who will give a special address discussing the evolution of Biodynamic community farms and the progress we have made so far. One not to be missed!
Here’s a summary of other Events and Volunteer Opportunities
Orchard tree planting parties
- We are expecting to be planting trees on Sundays 12th, 19th and 26th March. Times TBD, subject to change at last minute so please RSVP to oakbrookorchard@gmail.com.
The Haven and Bee Observatory will be hosting 4 family volunteer days this Spring:
- Saturday 18th March
- Saturday 15th April
- Saturday 20th May
- Saturday 10th June
All ages and abilities are welcome. You don’t need any special skills but you should bring a packed lunch, a water bottle, sensible clothing for the weather and gloves if you have them. All days will be from 10am – 2pm. This season we will be focusing on site maintenance and improving the honey bee habitat around the Bee Garden and the rest of the farm.
If you are interested in volunteering but have a known bee allergy please contact us.
- Suitable for new entrants to the farming sector – 27th April
Supported by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Zerodig co-founder and Oakbrook tenant Christopher Upton will be giving a tour of their Oakbrook plot, and explaining both the Zerodig benefits and how to make them work on your land. All details and booking via GREAT GLOS.
For more information on any of these events, or if you have another way you would like to get involved, you can always get in touch via admin@oakbrookfarm.org.uk
Oakbrook Orchard Daffodils available
Grown right here at the farm, bright and beautiful daffodils will soon be making their seasonal appearance on sale at the dairy. This year Oakbrook Orchard is offering you the opportunity to sign up for a weekly share of daffodils.
They come as a mixed bunch of at least 10 stems with varieties changing over the weeks, including not only classic yellow daffodils, but also mixed colours, multi-headed stems and some lovely scented flowers. The daffodils are grown in the grass and wildflowers under the orchard trees and are totally organic and biodynamic.
A 5-week share, starting first week of March, costs £10. Bring a bit of springtime sunshine into your home (or work) with a weekly bunch of daffodils! To sign up or find out more contact Jessie:
oakbrookorchard@gmail.com.
Tree Council funding received!
We were over the moon to find out that our recent application to the Tree Council for planting across the farm was successful! Special thanks to Jessie who pulled off an incredible feat to coordinate all parts of the application at short notice.
Thanks to this grant we are now able to fund
- a small area of basketry willow to go in our Haven field used by educational and community groups
- 70 apple and pear rootstock to be grafted and planted out as the third stage of Oakbrook Orchard
- 300 hazel for woodchip coppice to be used by Zerodig market garden
- 340 mixed broadleaves for an experimental line of tree hay for Stroud Micro Dairy
This will be the start of a truly groundbreaking development. While we all know that trees are wonderful things, it is the interactions that occur when trees become part of the agricultural system that starts to create magic. Each part of this development will have knock-on benefits for the rest of the farm residents, environment and climate.
Most excitingly, this is merely a taste of things to come – the Tree Council have also been supportive of our intention to develop a more ambitious proposal for a later funding round to implement over the next few years. For now, we have lots of trees to plant this Spring – so if you are interested in joining us please get in touch.
On Friday 24th Feb, Zerodig hosted a visit from ‘Wild Youth Collective’, a local group dedicated to supporting the physical, mental and emotional needs of young people through working collaboratively outside with nature.
Around 25 volunteers aged 16-25 helped us move a large compost pile and lay out a tarp in preparation for our new polytunnel.
An update from the OCBS Board of Directors by Sarah Fotheringham
After a long, cold winter the barn, much like the rest of life on the farm, has burst into action with the arrival of the warmer weather. Our contractor Tony has done a wonderful job this February to progress the project and the results speak for themselves. OCBS and the Zerodig team are excited to move into our respective units in the Spring, and we will have more news to follow about the new community space available for hire.
We still have several units available for the right tenant. We are welcoming enquiries from potential tenants looking for agricultural workshop or storage space and have multiple finance options available If you know of a business looking for a home, please share this message.
There will be more to say about our construction work, both the barn and other improvements to signs, gates and tracks at our AGM on 25th March. Please keep this date free as it will be our first face to face meeting of the year and there is lots of exciting activity to share.
We are very keen to have one more Director to work with us to continue supporting our farmers and growers to create real sustainable regenerative food, farming and education initiatives. Come and join us.We currently have 4 Directors who share the job of keeping the course of the farm on track, as well as taking key decisions affecting finances and land development. We are also responsible for holding the relationship between our different tenant land users and our landlords the Biodynamic Land Trust.
We also currently have 4 Threadholders who give support to the Directors on specific areas, currently land management, bees, biodynamics and fundraising. This is an unelected but equally essential role for the farm, best filled by those who want to support Oakbrook with their expertise without taking on the workload of Directorship. There are currently opportunities for new thread holders to join the team around construction, publicity, tree management…
…and as ever we are so willing to hear new ideas and projects that you might want to bring to life! If you’re curious about what the farm could bring to your CV you can get in touch for an initial chat.
That’s all from us for now, we hope to see you at our AGM on the 25th. Until then, enjoy the Spring!
Leigh and Sarah, Oakbrook Farm
