The Southside Farm project began its journey in 2019 when we started looking for land and talking to the south wye community about our plans. In the autumn of 2020 we applied to Hereford’s Stronger Towns Fund to support our project and three years later in the summer of 2023 we took over our new 19 acre site!
The ‘CSA’ Market Garden
The farm grows vegetables following the principles of a community supported agriculture enterprise (‘CSA’). A local and sustainable supply of tasty organically (we are awaiting certification) grown fresh produce supporting the environment, biodiversity, climate and the community. Learn more about how our veg box scheme works.
The CSA growing areas take up most of the new farm site and incorporate around ten acres of growing areas (we’re not growing on it all yet!), heritage orchards, four polytunnels, a packing and store shed (coming soon) and picnic areas.
Children’s Education Garden
Our new Children’s Education Garden connects our young visitors with nature and where their food comes from, how it’s grown, when it’s in season and how it’s picked, prepared and cooked. We offer a programme of pre-school, primary, SEN and secondary school workshops, together with holiday workshops and volunteer opportunities. Learn more here about our education programme.
Together with the market garden, our education garden will in the future offer adult educational opportunities including accredited courses, short course, apprenticeships and gardening clubs. We currently run a Tuesday volunteer day.
The Southside Project
The Southside Farm is part of the Southside Project. As part of the project our partners and neighbours Belmont Wanderers Football Club start construction on their new 3G playing pitch and clubhouse in early 2025. We will be constructing a Packing & Store Shed and Cook Studio building in 2025 and 2026.
The Cook Studio and indoor learning space will host a programme of schools cook workshops, family cook sessions, after-school clubs, adult education, private cook classes, events and parties. All using our own fruit, veggies and herbs picked directly from our farm.