Welcome to Southampton City Farms Garden!
The Farm has a beautiful Garden full of fruit, vegetables, plants, and flowers. Our Garden Project is run by our wonderful Garden team, our day service, and our youth groups. All groups on the farm play an active role in the gardens development, from youth groups sowing seeds, to volunteers planting them out, to day service adults watering them daily, the whole team is part of the magic of the garden.
The purpose of our garden is to:
What do we do with our produce?
The purpose of our garden is to:
- Educate people of all ages on how to grow fruit and vegetables without using chemicals, as well as how they can take this skill home to grow their own food. We do this through Garden activities throughout the year, workshops, and training.
- Inspire people of all ages to get outdoors and involved in all aspects of gardening. We do this through offering volunteering opportunities, supported work placements, and free activities on school holidays for young children - all centred around inspiring the community to grow their own food, to get outdoors, to eat healthily, and to even pursue a career in horticulture.
- To improve mental wellbeing through gardening. The therapeutic outcomes of gardening, both mentally and physically, are well documented, and we see every day the way the garden can offer a safe, inclusive, and productive space for people to be calm, to work, and to give a boost.
What do we do with our produce?
- 40% of our produce each year goes to community organisations and farm shops to enable increased organically grown healthy food to be available to the community, while also raising a little money to support the garden project.
- 40% of our produce is fed to our animals! Some of our animals such as the pigs enjoy a daily amount of fresh fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy diet.
- 20% of our produce is given to families in need through holiday clubs, youth groups, and our day service. Through our supportive activities, we often work with families who wouldn't always have access to fresh fruit or vegetables, so our produce goes a long way to helping over 100 families in the community each summer. As well as this, working with partner organisations, our produce is used in the food given to our Holiday Clubs. The young people help pick the produce, process it, and even sometimes cook their own lunch (pizza is always a favourite!).
Garden Shop
The Farm currently has a small Garden produce shop, where we sell seasonal fruit and veetables to the public - all with the aim of raising money for our garden project.
The shop is at its busiest August - October, and often has the following produce for sale:
The shop is at its busiest August - October, and often has the following produce for sale:
- Tomatoes
- Luffa
- Pumpkin
- Squash - including butternut squash and courgettes
- Cucumbers
- Flower cuttings
- Berries
- Apples
- Pears
- so much more!
Who do we partner with on our Garden Project?
Aldermoor Community Farm
We sell some of our produce in Aldermoor' s Farm shop at an affordable rate - to offer fresh fruit and veg to the community, while also supporting both community projects.
Aldermoor Farms bio:
"We are working as a community to create a sustainable and inspirational market garden and shop, nurturing the potential of our community and our land. Our community is open to everyone who wants to join in"
Check them out here:
https://aldermoorfarm.org.uk/
We sell some of our produce in Aldermoor' s Farm shop at an affordable rate - to offer fresh fruit and veg to the community, while also supporting both community projects.
Aldermoor Farms bio:
"We are working as a community to create a sustainable and inspirational market garden and shop, nurturing the potential of our community and our land. Our community is open to everyone who wants to join in"
Check them out here:
https://aldermoorfarm.org.uk/
Bitterne Box Company (Bitterne veg box)
Operating both a shop and a veg box scheme, Bitterne box company use some of our fruit and vegetables in their veg boxes which are then distributed to the community.
Check them out here:
https://bitternebox.co.uk/
Operating both a shop and a veg box scheme, Bitterne box company use some of our fruit and vegetables in their veg boxes which are then distributed to the community.
Check them out here:
https://bitternebox.co.uk/
Mayfield Gardening CIC
Newfields help us maintain our gardens and site through their day service!
Newfields Gardens is a community interest company providing activities, skills and learning for adults with disabilities and mental health issues.
Check them out here:
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/directory/service/5885?keywords=wheelchair&page=1
Newfields help us maintain our gardens and site through their day service!
Newfields Gardens is a community interest company providing activities, skills and learning for adults with disabilities and mental health issues.
Check them out here:
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/directory/service/5885?keywords=wheelchair&page=1
