EMMA STONER / SCHOOL FARM - THE FIRST FROST OF WINTER

‘This winter I have been making regular visits to School Farm, a community supported agriculture project in Dartington, Devon. A CSA is a partnership between farmers & consumers which benefits the community and the environment. Members commit to buying a share of the harvest for a full growing season. That way farmers know exactly how much veg to grow. Food waste is reduced and so is the carbon footprint of the farm as consumers get their veg boxes from a local pick-up point. Community Supported Agriculture projects are found to be better for biodiversity as they grow seasonal produce, reducing the use of pesticides. Overall, they are eco-friendlier and more sustainable than mainstream farms. 

Robins are a frequent visitor to School Farm, following the volunteers around as they dig up the earth and hoping to catch a worm or two! This happens all year round and they are the only birds which do this. In the wild Robins follow larger mammals to source food in this way. It’s wonderful to see how biodiversity can flourish in this habitat.

Before Christmas I photographed the team picking Brussel Sprouts and leeks for the festive veg boxes. There was an abundance of food and I enjoyed cooking up some leeks myself on Christmas day! When the frost hit this January, I headed straight for the farm. The light is always incredible this time of year and it was magic to be there and watch the sun come up and creep across the sleeping cabbages. They were far too frosty to pick on those mornings so the volunteers worked hard on hedge laying and other activities. This week is the beginning of seed sowing, planting vegetables and crops for the year ahead. February is a great time for a winter sow and the plants are kept indoors for a while to improve their chance of survival.

I'm really enjoying spending time with Dan and his team working the land. I’ll be continuing this project through the seasons, capturing the first buds of spring through to sunflower season, the autumn harvest and the first frosts of next winter.’ Emma Stoner