Oxford City Farm installs classroom kitchen after Crowdfund appeal

Oxford City Farm reached the £40,000 needed at the end of May to fund moving a modular classroom offered to the charity to its site in Florence Park.

The money covered the cost of the relocation and will also fund the transformation of the building into a fully-equipped teaching resource for people to prepare and cook fresh, healthy food grown and picked on site.

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Tweeting a picture of the structure being lifted into place last week, the farm commented: “Our new building is being installed today.

"This is such an important moment for the farm and we want to say an enormous thank you to everyone who has helped and supported us to get this building. We are so excited. Thank you all so much.”

Tree planting at the farm in February. Picture: Ed Nix

Oxford City Farm, which signed a 40-year lease in 2017 for its Cornwallis Road site, has become a well-established community resource.

Speaking in February about what the teaching kitchen would mean for the urban farm, Lucie Mayer, who came up with idea in 2008, said: “We have done so much with so little in terms of resource over the last three years, positioning ourselves as an important community resource.

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"Most of our teaching has been delivered outdoors or under canvas.

“Gaining access to a warm and dry, indoor teaching and cooking space that can be used all year round – rain or shine – would be a game changer.”

She added: “If we achieved our goal, the new building would enable us to build the knowledge and skills of people, of all ages, across our community, giving them the confidence to grow, cook and eat fresh healthy food.

“If we are able to secure it, it will represent a huge leap forward.”

Lucie Mayer at the farm. Picture: Ed Nix

After the major hurdle of getting a long-term lease was cleared the pace accelerated on transforming the 2.5-acre plot.

A planning application was approved by the city council in June 2018 to allow the group to build a toilet block, sheltered outdoor kitchen and temporary office at the site.

Water and electricity were also connected at the East Oxford plot that September, with produce grown at Oxford City Farm also starting to be used by nearby pub The Jolly Postboys to make its soups.

Animals were next on the wishlist for the farm, with a chicken run built and the birds added to the site last summer to go alongside bee hives, with sheep also now at the green space.

The community team also added a paid director, Martin Ousley, in November.

The farm’s website explains it offers everything from community workshops and education sessions to simple access to open green space in the heart of the city.

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It states: "We see it as our mission to promote environmental awareness, community cohesion and wellbeing by offering learning and practical opportunities for people to interact with the land, farming and animals."

It adds: "Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. They come to learn new skills, share knowledge, meet people, be inspired and feel part of a meaningful project and a connected community."

Visit oxfordcityfarm.org.uk.