The Land Army is Recruiting
Upcoming Land Army Dates
Wednesday, 20th February 9:30-5 (Moss Brook Growers)
Moss Brook Growers are looking for volunteers to help them prepare for the upcoming year. Volunteers will assist with a variety of tasks including weeding and fertilising the newly established asparagus block, removing docks, tending to the hedge, and orchard and other jobs as needed.
A hot lunch and hot drinks will be provided. The premises lack running water and electricity so feel free to bring your own flasks as well.
Monday, 4th March 9-12:30 (Abbey Leys Farm)
Land Army will be constructing a fence and healing in 400 apple and pear trees. No lunch but tea, coffee and snacks will be provided.
Saturday, 9th March 9:30-5 (Moss Brook Growers)
Let us know if you are interested in any of the dates above by emailing chloe@kindling.org.uk and we'll email you back with more details and to confirm that you have a place.
A day out with the Land Army is quite a physical day’s work (though we'll look after you and make sure we get proper breaks!), but it's really satisfying and a great chance to get your hands dirty, experience and learn a bit about market garden/field scale food growing from the experts, and spend the day with a like minded and interesting bunch of people like you!
We'll provide lunch and hot drinks and your transport from Hulme to the farm or garden and back again. We'll meet outside the offices, just round the corner on George Parr road where there are some parking spaces. This is where you'll be dropped at the end of the day too.
Make sure you come prepared. Wear wellies, or sturdy boots/shoes, and bring drinking water, snacks (if you like to nibble while you work!) and waterproofs/clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.
The idea behind Land Army was inspired by the women's land armies of the First & Second World Wars, and offers a solution to a number of challenges faced by local organic growers, such as labour issues and costs at busy periods e.g. harvest time.
Land Army’s goals are to increase yields and income for growers, nurture a small number of committed and trained individuals that growers can call upon in times of need, as well as to give people some experience of what it's like to be a commercial organic grower and an excuse to get your hands dirty.
All the farms involved in the programme are also working alongside Manchester Veg People.
Recent events and training opportunities included:
A weekend apple grafting marathon where we undertook the mammoth task of creating nearly 500 apple trees to donate to community orchards and organic farmers across Greater Manchester.
A horticulture course taking place over four consecutive Wednesdays as part Kindling’s work to encourage more people to consider commercial-scale food growing in the North West
Youth Discovery Ventures where participants came from London, Sheffield and Holland to be part of a youth volunteering project for a week here in Manchester.
Operation garlic which involved the planting of over 5000 garlic bulbs for the Moss Brook Growers in Glazebury.
You may also be interested in:
Farm Start is a pioneering new programme that supports, mentors and provides a market for those interested in beginning farming on a small-scale commerically.
Team Activity Days providing a great way to team-build, fulfil environmental targets and learn more about local agriculture for organisations.
Read more about the Land Army project on The Kindling Trust website.
If you think you might be interested please email us.