Free family open day at Ipswich community farm this Sunday

Why it matters: The event offers Ipswich residents a chance to explore Suffolk's longest-standing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) scheme, which has grown from an empty arable field in 2010 into a working farm supplying around 100 local households with weekly veg boxes.

The details: No booking is required for the open day on Playford Lane.

• Entry is free, though a £5 donation per car is suggested. Cash only.
• The event is family and child-friendly. Guide dogs only.
• Activities include farm tours, pond dipping, crafts and refreshments.

How the farm works: The Oak Tree is a Community Supported Agriculture scheme, a model that directly connects farmers and members through a subscription-based partnership.

• Full members pay a subscription fee and commit to working an average of four hours per month in return for a weekly veg box.
• Work can include labour on the farm at Saturday work parties, harvesting vegetables, or contributing other skills. Members with carpentry skills built the farm's compostable toilet.
• The farm does not use chemical fertilisers or pesticides.

For context: Founded in 2010 by Joanne Mudhar on a conventional arable field with poor soil and low biodiversity, the project evolved into Suffolk's first Community Supported Agriculture scheme and was established as a Community Interest Company in 2012.

When Mudhar moved on, the community took on the farm, leasing the land from landowners Kiln Farm. Head grower Ryan joined in 2016 after working on a similar project in Canada, and now leads production of nearly 100 weekly veg boxes.

The bigger picture: Membership has reached a record high over the last year, with more younger couples and families joining as interest grows in eating locally, eating sustainably, and cutting food costs. A fifth polytunnel has just been built to further increase production.

The bottom line: Sunday's open day is a chance for Ipswich families to see how Suffolk's longest-standing community farm operates – and to find out how to get involved.

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