Successive governments seem to have ignored the plight of the food industry, farming, and food security. 20%+ of NHS spend is on food related disease, farm incomes have dropped dramatically and the UK import’s 60% of the food we eat.
Our UK Food Policy has not changed since after World War 2. The conservatives invested in Henry Dimbleby to create a new National Food Strategy then ignored the findings and recommendations.
Is now the time for Farmers to take over? And are people ready for a better way to buy food than from the supermarkets and big business?
We think the answer is yes. We believe that people have lost trust in the supermarkets and are looking for an alternative, and if farmers can sell direct they can get 100% of the retail price instead of the current average of less than 10%.
Our solution is Community Food Parks where people are encouraged to buy-in to a journey towards buying and cooking what is fresh, tasty, and in season. And perhaps even grow food as a CSA or at home and ‘Crop for the Shop‘ . Once proved, the concept could be duplicated all over the UK.
Our Community Food Park overall mission is to build sustainable, healthy, inclusive, caring, communities, around food by reconnecting people with where their food comes from, and encouraging trade, communication and buy-in. All helping create a more enlightened society that make better food buying, health, and lifestyle, choices.
Franks Farm Courtyard
Our first Food Park is called Frank’s Farm after my great grandfather Frank who bought the farm in 1920 when most farms; 1. grew a big variety of food for local people 2. were an important asset to their community and 3. were net zero
Frank’s Farm has these 3 goals and as we build up the park, customer numbers and circular economies, (such as composting or feeding insects with waste), we can, in time, achieve net zero and make savings to pass on to our customers. Unlike supermarkets where cost usually increase if the try to reduce carbon.
To achieve our mission we have selected a range of enthusiastic, artisan, food retailers (butcher, baker, deli, barista, cafe, creamery…) and set up an open, agroforestry, regenerative, ‘mixed farm’, to supply the shops. To make people ‘think’ and cook, we want to sell ‘essential’ veg cheaper than Morrisons 4 miles away and provide recipes, demos and a cookery school.
We also encourage Buy-in and differentiation from the supermarket with initiatives like ‘Crop for the Shop’, foodie events, Community Supported Agriculture, school visits, and courses. And promote our plan to become net zero by 2030. This includes avocado and citrus poly tunnels, vineyard, orchards, chicken tractors and a herd of Rare Breed animals to produce meat for the butcher and milk via automatic milking and vending machines as well as for cheese and ice cream from our on site cheese and ice cream makers.
Franks farm on the BigBarn Local Food Map
A big part of Buy-in includes getting our most effective influencers, children, to discover the ‘better way’ at school and why the 200 fruit trees we planted this year all have a tag with a different local child’s name added during recent school visits. We also want each local school to own one of our cows, beehives and sheep: Videos here: https://bigbarn.co.uk/food-education
Once we have proved the concept our long term goal is to use our BigBarn local food map and social networks to help set up Food Parks linking to their local schools all over the UK. Any farmer with land around a farm shop or even farm buildings can duplicate what we have done. And join us by working together for mutual benefit and sharing ideas and best practice to achieve our mission.
Please come and visit Frank’s Farm and register for our newsletter for updates. We even have a parkrun to encourage healthy people to visit. Or help your local farmer set up something similar in your area. We think that there should be a Community Food Park every 20 miles all over the UK!