Lauriston Farm Limited (www.lauristonfarm.co.uk) is a newly formed Charitable Community Benefit Society which manages the farm’s 210 acres of Demeter certified biodynamic land. It is situated on the Blackwater Estuary in Essex and runs to the sea wall and over the wall into the salt marsh. We are heavily orientated towards conservation as 90% of the farm is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Currently there is a thirty strong herd of Shetland cattle and some two hundred North Ronaldsay sheep. We also have natural bee hives, a small vegetable garden and one acre of woodland. We run educational activities including walks and workshops and have a strong volunteer program and are looking to build the farm community. We plan to introduce Berkshire pigs and Ixworth chickens as well as cultivating seven acres of permanent pasture for animal feed and vegetables. We are also expanding our social farming activities to include day experiences for adults who have mild to moderate learning difficulties. The successful candidate will ideally have at least two years practical biodynamic farming experience, especially with animals, and possibly some form of recognised qualification. All the basic agricultural skills such as tractor driving, fencing, water work and livestock husbandry are needed. Experience of living and working in a Camphill or similar community and integrating adults with learning difficulties into the farm work would be helpful. Working as part of the Society’s Executive Team, you will lead the day-to-day agricultural work with our agricultural team which includes the Farm Director, volunteers and co-workers. Self-contained accommodation suitable for an individual or a couple comes with the position as does breakfast and lunch. There are other opportunities on the farm in the garden, the kitchen, education and working with adults with learning difficulties which may suit a partner. It is also possible to accommodate a family but this will need discussion. Remuneration can be discussed depending on individual circumstances, but we generally pay the National Living Wage when accommodation is included. An application with CV is required by April 11th 2017 with interviews later in the month for a mid-June start. For further information please contact Spencer Christy (Farm Director) Tel: +44 (0) 1621 788348 Email: spencer@lauristonfarm.co.uk Post: Lauriston Farm Limited, Lauriston Farm, Goldhanger, Essex CM9 8AH, UK
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A very busy Thursday has seen a doubling in the pledges to buy Community Shares in Lauriston Farm Limited. We now have secured pledges for 4,220 individual shares which equates to 21% of our initial target of 20,000 shares. One investor today described how he felt the farm was opening up and enabling him to have a greater involvement in it. Another said she just has to see the work continue and grow. Speaking of growing, have a look at this video of Meadow Rusty - a pedigree rare breed Shetland bull we recently borrowed from the Essex Wildlife Trust - as he first arrived on the farm. Why not come on one of our Open Days and see Rusty in real life?
We are very happy to report that within one hour of going live our first shareholder has signed up through the Crowdfunder website. We hope this will be the first of many as we reach our into the community.At 14.58 GMT today the new moon for February occurred and at the same moment, harnessing the energy this gives to new initiatives, the Lauriston Farm Social Farming Initiative went live. For the next six weeks there exists the opportunity for individuals to become community shareholders in our newly formed Charitable Community Benefit Society. We are also hosting Open Days every Saturday and Tuesday during this period with all the details available on our website - www.lauristonfarm.co.uk. We are looking to create a warmth body around the work we do here at Lauriston Farm as well as a £35,000 investment from community funding. The first £20,000 of this will be matched by the Just Growth Programme through a loan and a grant giving the Social Farming Initiative the funds it needs to get going and develop day experiences for adults with learning difficulties at the farm.
On February 1st 2017 Lauriston Farm Limited was registered as a Charitable Community Benefit Society. It is a very exciting step for us as we launch our Social farming Initiative. Volunteers and employees form the Board and Executive and we aim to start trading on April 6th. Very soon you will be able to become a member of Lauriston Farm Limited by buying Community Shares in the Society. The photo below shows some of the team at Lauriston.
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