Who’s behind The Community Farm, and how did it all start?

The Community Farm began in 2009 when a small group of local people, including  Better Food founder Phil Haughton, came together to create an open, organic farm that involved local people in the production of local food, whilst caring for the natural world, an antidote to the harmful, industrialised, global food system.

From a bare field with no infrastructure, the farm has grown into a thriving community that benefits thousands of volunteers and visitors each year. Owned by more than 500 local shareholder members, the farm has expanded its impact over the last 15 years, but that founding spirit still guides us.

The Community Farm was created by local people for local people. What does that mean to you today?

Local people still shape everything we do. Thousands of local people spend time on the land each year, and every week hundreds of local families benefit from the food we have grown. Volunteers are at the heart of the farm and this is a place where community can grow alongside our crops. We pride ourselves on offering a welcoming environment for people to meet, talk, and work side by side.

Our community programme allows us to welcome diverse community groups, schools, and organisations who use the space for learning, connection, and to work together towards a better future. Recent beneficiaries include refugees and asylum seekers, survivors of domestic abuse and children from inner-city Bristol.

What has stayed important as The Community Farm has grown and evolved?

As we have grown, we have stayed true to our aim of creating a better local food system. Our commitment to organic principles still guides every part of the growing process, and the farm continues to prioritise benefiting local people, both through sharing the best seasonal produce and through community programmes that nurture wellbeing and learning.

Sustainability is an important part of what you do, how does that show up in the way you run The Community Farm?

Our approach to sustainability stems from our values of honesty, respect for the living Earth, trust, integrity, fairness, justice, inclusivity, openness and kindness.

Our farming operations prioritise the health of people and planet. Growing organically, means caring for the soil, supporting biodiversity and nurturing strong, healthy crops. Without harmful chemical inputs, we rely on insects, mammals and birds to keep crop pests in check, so we farm with nature, rather than against it. Growing diverse crops from seed (more than 100,000 every year!), planting pollinator-friendly flowers in the margins and leaving our hedgerows to fruit are just some of the ways we help ensure our farm is rich in nature and in balance. Amongst the wildlife we regularly see on The Farm are tawny and little owls, skylarks, song thrushes, linnets, woodpeckers, buzzards, kestrels, swallows, badgers and deer.

When we buy in food from other suppliers, we source from as local as possible and always from other farms who share our values. All the produce we sell is organic and short supply chains mean less emissions from transportation, refrigeration and packaging.

The added bonus is that this approach to sustainability also means we produce healthier food. Growing strong, organic plants means greater amounts and variety of antioxidants and micro-nutrients, as well as being better for your microbiome and gut health. And our short supply chains ensure we maximise freshness, minimising the loss in nutrients that start as soon as a crop is picked.

We also pay all members of staff the Real Living Wage or above, and work with our suppliers to pay them a fair price for their produce, far above the prices paid by mainstream supermarkets that are putting so many farmers out of business or forcing them into decisions that damage the environment.

You operate as a not-for-profit. How does that shape the way you run The Community Farm?

As a Community Benefit Society, we exist to serve our community and that guides all of our decisions.

We believe food production should never be about maximising profits. Invariably, when people look to maximise profits, something falters: whether that’s environmental standards or human rights. That’s why we will always be a not-for-profit.

What do you think sets The Community Farm apart?

We sell local food grown by local hands and hearts. Where else can you enjoy veg grown by the local community? Our veg isn’t just produce, it’s the result of people coming together spending time outdoors, learning new skills and working together towards a better future. From helping to grow nature-friendly, organic crops and then see them for sale in your local shop, it’s a true field-to-fork story. We call it Feel Good Food from Feel Good Farming.

Do you have a favourite crop to grow, or one that’s really thriving now?

The tomatoes have been planted out this week and that is always an exciting moment! Tomatoes really benefit from our short supply chains as we’re able to pick them at the perfect ripeness, ensuring the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity and juiciness that transports you to a gorgeous summer’s day (whatever the weather).

What do you hope people feel when they pick up your produce at Better Food?

When people reach for produce from The Community Farm, we want them to know that they’re making a choice that benefits their health and their community, as well as nature and the climate. We want them to know that they’re in for a treat and will taste the difference that our farming methods and short supply chains make.