Press release:

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) today (30 June 2008) announced the first of three winners of the annual Dame Sheila McKechnie Award. Community Supported Farming (CSF), Rural Arts in Science Education (RAISE) was selected from over 40 applications from across the UK by a panel of judges that included the Food Standards Agency's Chair Deirdre Hutton, broadcaster Jon Snow (Channel 4 News) and Professor Tim Lang (on behalf of City University). < ....read on>

South Devon Community Supported Farming group (CSF):

• Organises community crop planting, weeding and harvesting days
• Offers other low or no-cost family-friendly events such as fungal forays, bug hunts and rural skills training events
• Helps re-connect communities in South Devon to the land and farms that surround them
• Acts as resource pool for seeds, tools, equipment, labour and knowledge for rural activities & businesses
• Supports a network of mutually supportive land projects

What's In It For You?

• A share of any harvest is yours
• Wildlife and educational walks in unusual parts of countryside
• Meeting like-minded people on great days out, and lovely picnics in beautiful surroundings
• Increased knowledge and enjoyment of your local landscape
• Enjoyment of family-friendly neighbourhood farm celebrations, festivals, talks and walks
• Training in organic or even biodynamic crop growing
• Training in traditional land-skills such as hedge-laying, hay-making and conservation management
• Informative talks and activities at little or no cost

Land owners or managers wishing to be part of the scheme should call Christian on 01803 865631 for further information on participating as a site.