Organiclea - a workers co-op growing food and communities in East London. The Cropshare scheme enables small scale gardeners and allotment holders to make use of their surplous produce.
1. Cropshare at Organiclea
Producing and distributing food and plants locally,
and inspiring others to do the same.
2. Organiclea: A worker’s co-op in East
London. We grow food, we sell food, we
inspire others to do the same.
“…An outet t share
l o
crops wit There's
h.
nothing l it nowhere
ike ,
else.”
Cropshare: The opportunity for gardeners
and allotment holders to sell their surplus C ropshare grower
fruit and vegetables
Producing and distributing food and plants locally,
and inspiring others to do the same.
3. The S ellers
– Parent: teacher: professional gardener: editor:
retired: community worker
– Growing 4 years; 40 years
– 1 5 regular producers
The Outlets
– Street stalls
– Midweek box scheme
The Buyers
• East London Residents
• Range of incomes
• Retired: employed: unemployed: students
• About half are growers, half not
Producing and distributing food and plants locally,
and inspiring others to do the same.
4. June to August 2011
Producing and distributing food and plants locally,
and inspiring others to do the same.
7. The S ystem
• S talls: pay for what we sell
• Box S cheme: can generally incorporate surplus so plans
and ‘orders’
• Producer receives 60% , Organiclea 40%
75% of S t l C ust
al omers
say t ‘ul ra l ’
hat t ocal
Cropsharers sign a Wholesome Food Association pledge prod uce is one of the
most import aspect of
ant s
“...a low-cost, grassroots alternative to organic certification t st l
he al
for those growing and producing food for sale locally. It is
not a set of enforceable standards and it is cheap to be
part of. Growers pledge that they are sticking to a set of
organic principles and agree to open their space to anyone
wishing to visit and see their conditions. “
Producing and distributing food and plants locally,
and inspiring others to do the same.
8. Admin: on the S aturday stall
Producing and distributing food and plants locally,
and inspiring others to do the same.
9. Admin: monthly tallies
Producing and distributing food and plants locally,
and inspiring others to do the same.
10. What do we all get?
“For many years we've
•Produce gets used; avoids waste been sharing our skills,
but up to now not
•Financial gaining financially.
•Increased sense of community Cropshare brings the
potential for financially
•Pride benefiting from our
growing”
•Positive interactions
•Growing skills C ropshare grower
•Health
•Sharing cooking and growing skills
Producing and distributing food and plants locally,
and inspiring others to do the same.
11. Challenges
• Takes time to administrate and co-ordinate
• Small quantities; checking growing sites
• Difficult to plan ahead: focus is on surplus, not commercial
growing
• Confusion of allotment holders – is it legal?
• Growers not easy to communicate with
• Less ‘new’ growers involved
Producing and distributing food and plants locally,
and inspiring others to do the same.
12. The Future
• Seek funding for ‘community’ aspect
• Create pathways for ‘new’ growers learning through other
Organiclea projects
• Match experienced current cropsharers with new growers
• Streamline systems; keep it informal
• Arrange seller/
buyer visits
Producing and distributing food and plants locally,
and inspiring others to do the same.
13. Cropshare Guidance for Cropsharers:
www.organiclea.org.uk
Selling Allotment Produce
www.organiclea.org.uk (click on resources – publications)
Cropshare Guidance for workers:
box@organiclea.org.uk
Wholesome Food Association:
http://www.wholesomefood.org/
Producing and distributing food and plants locally,
and inspiring others to do the same.
