Rooting for Change: Community Project Sets the Foundation for Water-Saving Future

10th December 2021

Transforming an acre of bare agricultural land into a productive, organic, no-dig growing space is no mean feat. But that’s exactly what Community Roots have set out to do.

Set above the coastal town of Porthtowan, the site has splendid 360^o views of the Cornish countryside. Its exposed location does mean that the team have to battle some of Cornwall’s wilder elements. But, despite nature’s challenges, since starting in February 2021, they have carefully worked with the land to shape it into what it is today.

Three polytunnels are up and ready to grow, and a smaller propagation tunnel will keep the seedlings safe from the coastal winds. No-dig beds have been created from which they have already harvested kale, betroot, courgette and more!

One very important structure they have built is the packing shed. It’s in this humble-looking building that the heart of the Community Roots project reveals itself. It’s in here that the veg-boxes will be assembled. Each box will contain a good selection of the crops they grow and are sold to families in the community, including an option for purchasing at reduced price for those who may be struggling financially and may not otherwise be able to afford organic produce.

“Our vision is simply ‘to nourish’,” Antonia, one of the directors, explained. “We want to nourish our bodies, our minds, our community, and our beautiful planet.” No small task!

At the root of this group’s plans is one, very essential requirement. Water.

Determined to be self-sufficient from the mains supply provided by the Mount Pleasant Eco Park on which their land is located, the team made sure to have rainwater harvesting integrated into their plans from the very beginning.

By talking to like-minded people, they got word of our Water Saving Community Fund and presented their vision to us. Using the huge surface area of the polytunnels and sheds, they planned to fit guttering to collect and feed rainwater into underground storage tanks. The tanks would be fitted with pumps that would then circulate the water through a drip-irrigation system. This means that watering the plants could be done in the most efficient, water-saving and beneficial way. The more water (and so money) they save, the lower the price of the veg-boxes can be. All meaning very happy plants, people and planet! We were delighted to award them full coverage of equipment and installation.

By talking to like-minded people, they got word of our Water Saving Community Fund and presented their vision to us.

Using the huge surface area of the polytunnels and sheds, they planned to fit guttering to collect and feed rainwater into underground storage tanks. The tanks would be fitted with pumps that would then circulate the water through a drip-irrigation system. This means that watering the plants could be done in the most efficient, water-saving and beneficial way. The more water (and so money) they save, the lower the price of the veg-boxes can be. All meaning very happy plants, people and planet!

We were delighted to award them full coverage of equipment and installation.

“We were thrilled,” Antonia said. “It was just another in a long list of things that really confirmed to us that we were doing the right thing.”

They planned to source the materials from local companies, taking every opportunity to invest in their communities.

All was going smoothly until the team was struck with a few personal challenges, including the death of one of the project’s main benefactors, a wonderful 92-year-old lady who had supported them from the get-go. This understandably took an emotional toll on them all and slowed work for a while. The pandemic on top of that and other challenges was just an added complication. But the resilience, love and support for each other shone through and remarkably they have been able to put these events behind them and plant on.

Now, every Tuesday, a band of helpers varying in ages from 0-90 come together to continue to shape and regenerate the land. From sowing seeds and harvesting crops, to putting the kettle on for that all-important cuppa! The group sees every plant for all the hope and positivity it holds, and are thankful for every bean popped from its pod. They are definitely an inspiring bunch!

We can’t wait to see how this project is going to grow in the future.