groundspring network

Nearly 40 beginning and experienced farmers, growers and woodsmen gathered and made camp at Ruskin Mill in Gloucestershire to share challenges and celebrate experiences on the land, ground the network within the community of entrant land-workers and forge a path forward together. 

 

Opening the gathering, Sophia, Lucy and Ella, co-founders of the Groundspring Network, outlined the story of the network so far, and shared their reasons for why they feel it is needed.

 

Following a colourful and hearty lunch prepared by experienced cook and beginner farmer  Eve, a session of ‘open space technology’ provided a loosely structured forum to glean ideas and issues from the group. The subsequent discussions in smaller groups were full of deep thought, passion and creativity.

 

The discussion topics and some of the issues raised were;

• Groundspring as a complete portal

• The media approach and image of Groundspring

• Groundspring as an apprentice link / furthering of WWOOF experience

• Wildfarming and Agroecology

After discussion time the groups reconvened and each fed back to the larger group, with opportunity to air ideas, identify priorities and welcome offers of action within Groundspring as it moves forward. It was evident that there was a lot of enthusiasm and commitment from the larger group, with the discussion continuing for hours until the chill of dusk and good smells of cooking called us inside.

 

Key actions identified from the Harvest Fire Open Space were;

• Connecting the group online/sharing contacts

• Developing the Groundspring Network website

• Forming and sharing a geographical map of beginner farmers and growers

• Creating events in the near future to continue the personal connections

 

Some words reflected within the circle at the end of this very engaged and formative process were ‘inspirational, excited, abundance, hopeful, invigorated, community, affirming,…onwards!’

 

Coming in from the cold, we were nourished by more of Eve’s delicious cooking, homebrewed elderflower champagne from the Old Tree Brewery and local Severn cider. After eating we went back outside and gathered around the warming fire. Amongst further juicy conversation and lots of new connections, it really felt that Groundspring’s own fire was lit.

 

Sunday morning brought games in the sunshine, an informative farm walk around Gables Farm and a team clear-up. Many hands do make light work!

 

Thanks to the Ruskin Mill Trust for letting us use your beautiful space, Jonny and Alice for the farm walk, the Land Workers Alliance and the Blackbird Trust for funding, Eve for mega catering skills, Old Tree Brewery for your brewing mastery and all of you for coming along!

 

It was a fun, exciting and productive weekend, but there are many more people that we’d love to get involved with this network and there are many many more people that we’d like to develop it for. If you feel drawn to helping this establish and grow (by attending and/or publicising future events or with skills you can offer), or want to get our updates then please do get in touch!

 

groundspringnetwork@gmail.com