Fruit & Veg, Community Supported Growing, Pickering, North Yorkshire

Sally and Finn are experienced growers and landworkers, looking to create a new hub for local produce at the base of the North York Moors.

With Finn growing up in the area, the couple recently made the decision to put down roots here. They feel there is a missing link to engage people locally with food production, and wish to use their knowledge and experience to start a new enterprise near their home in Pickering.

They are looking for up to two acres of land with the potential to become a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) site. The project would be led by their experience and practical skills, while being shaped by and involving the local community.

In her work, Sally currently provides nature-based learning and engagement projects in the third sector. She has a wealth of growing experience from working and volunteering with Regather Farm in Sheffield, contributing to their successful veg box scheme. She is part of a growing and seed-saving community in the North York Moors and has established a thriving garden in her new home.

Whilst Sally is passionate about vegetables, Finn has a passion for fruit. He is an active member of the Northern Fruit Group, offering community apple-pressing events and grafting workshops, and regularly volunteers with Leeds Coppice Workers and Fruit Works Co-op. Finn has also cared for a small orchard and vegetable plot on a local family’s sheep farm for nearly 10 years, where he also helps as a farm hand alongside running a successful business as a filmmaker and community artist.

With the right land offer, Sally and Finn are ready to adapt their plans to the site and make the most of its potential. Together, they would develop a growing system that primarily aims to create opportunities to engage people with local food, as well as growing produce to sell.

They hope to host a range of activities, including apple pressing and community growing workshops, aiming to connect with the land and become more excited about where their food comes from. Ideally, the land would have — or have the potential to develop — suitable access, water and parking to allow their CSA model to thrive.

Sally and Finn are well-networked in the agroecological growing movement and have been learning from similar projects in this space for many years. They now feel ready to grow something rooted in their local area, working towards a resilient local food system, and sharing the joy of food with their community.

This is a wonderful opportunity for a landowner to work with a motivated couple who are keen to get more people onto the land and make the most of a small site.

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