ABOUT
who we are
Groundspring Network is an open collaborative of, and resource for, beginners in ecologically and socially sustainable land work and food production in the UK.
We are totally grass-roots, from the seed idea of three biodynamic farming apprentices who wanted to connect with fellow entrants but had no way of doing so. We are as strong as the contributions our members make.
Our network germinated in October 2014 at a small, sold-out event in Gloucester, and from then we’ve been met with enthusiasm and collaboration from entrants and fellow organisations in the sustainable food movement. Our outreach includes talking at conferences and AGM’s, collaborating on working parties and working on training programmes for entrant horticulturalists.
who we represent
Groundspring members are at the beginning of a journey, fiercely enthusiastic and committed to small-scale, community-connected, agroecological landwork and food production. We come from many different ‘camps’ – including organic, biodynamic and permaculture - as well as producers who don’t subscribe to any particular denomination. We are not exclusively ‘young’, but we are all new, in our first decade of working towards a more resilient food system.
We welcome and seek to bring together all those starting out as urban veg growers, rural beekeeping collectives, bakers, CSAs, medicinal herb growers, millers, coppice workers, dairyers, cheese-makers, meat producers, educators and more. We are only as strong and representative as the Groundspring members themselves.
We are allied with the Landworkers’ Alliance, a spokesbody of UK small scale and family farms campaigning to enable a viable future for small scale farming.
what we do
Groundspring aims to signpost the resources available to beginners throughout their journey from entrant to expert, via our website, social media and newsletter. This includes apprenticeships, jobs, events, training courses and land offers.
We have arranged socials for young farmers and hope to hold more - be that festivals, working parties or organised training events to encourage beginner and aspiring farmers to meet each other and connect face to face. There are unknown reservoirs of strength and nourishment in meeting, sharing and celebrating with those on a similar journey and having fun! These convergences enable supportive friendships, regional business collaborations, co-operatives, machinery shares and other beneficial relationships to take shape.