NORFOLK FOOD DISCOVERY PROJECT March 2011

We were thrilled when the Country Trust approached us to see if we could host the Norwich part of this brilliant three year project.  The other half of the project is taking place in Great Yarmouth. 

The Country Trust is a registered charity which organises visits to real working farms for children with social and economic deprivation.  Their aims are to bridge the gap between urban and rural communities showing the working countryside to children, their teachers and families from city areas so promoting interest and understanding of the land, the countryside and food. 

The Norfolk Food Discovery Project aims to encourage children and their families to eat and enjoy heathly, locally produced food in a holistic, intergrated project. 

The children will visit us here at HFG Farm Shop twice a term to plant seeds/plants, learn to look after their piece of land and harvest their crops.  Volunteers will be trained to maintain the land between visits.  The children and their families will learn to prepare and cook the food they have grown.  Local chefs will help them with this.  The children will visit farms at different times of the year seeing agriculture on a larger scale.  The children will meet local food heroes and sell their produce in playground markets and enjoy a celebratory harvest feast for their family and community to enjoy.

You will see that we now have 8 allotments and a polytunnel in our field beside the farm shop. Gentlemen on the Community Pay Back Scheme (Norfolk Probationary Service) dug the allotments and put the polytunnel up.  Children from all three school involved - Lakenham, West Earlham and Mile Cross Primary Schools - have visited twice already and have planted lots of fruit bushes, trees and vegetables.  Its all tremendously exciting and the children are having a ball! 

Sarah Hawes, teacher at West Earlham Junior School says "The West Earlham Junior School is so excited to have the opportunity to work with Norfolk Food Discovery.  It's going to give the children a fantastic sense of pride and achievement"

Have a look at the allotments next time you visit us at HFG Farm Shop!  Pictures to follow soon.

Saturday, 11th June 10am-4pm HFG Farm Shop SUMMER FOOD SPECTACULAR meet the local producers and taste their wares, lots of activities for the children including food trail, face painting, farm animals, farm machinery BBQ, ice creams, refreshments and cakes.   A day of family fun! (Entry and activites free of charge)  Thank you all for coming and for all the lovely feedback.  The day was a real success!  See our photos on FACEBOOK.

Tuesday, 28th June - 10am-2pm 57 ten and eleven year olds from Woodland View School in Spixworth will be coming along to our farm at Ludham to meet with Eric Edwards MBE, Norfolk reedman to learn more about Norfolk reed and thatching, the gamekeeper and the owners of the highland cattle on our marshes. The children will walk through the wet woodland and along the river bank then across the farm where they will see the potatoes, peas, and cereals growing, have a look in the potato store....we'll have  apicnic at some point too!  We hope everyone has a great day and that the sun will shine for us!    Our thanks to the Broads Authority Sustainable Development Fund for their support in helping to finance the visit.

Thursday, 30th June we are delighted to announce that Derrick Anderson, known to all as 'Andy' will receive his Long Service Award at the Norfolk Show.  Andy has worked on the estate for 60 years and continues to grow our veg on the field beside our farm shop - a very valuable employee....congratulations Andy! Well deserved - we're all thrilled for you.

Monday, 4th July Spixworth Brownies will be visiting HFG Farm Shop in the evening.  They will do a trail -  learning about buying 'local' and do a fruit and veg quiz with lots to taste!  It should be fun!