For the last 34 years St Werburghs City Farm has been passionately connecting people to food, the environment and the local community. What they are doing embodies the spirit of Bristol Food Connections and deserves to be shouted about. We caught up with director Kari Lucas to do just that!
Please introduce yourself
Hi there – I am Kari Lucas, I have been working for St Werburghs City Farm for the past 2.5 years. Before that I worked at Swansea Community farm – and it was there that I fell in love with the city farm scene in terms of what the stand for, what they do and the important role they play within the community. I can’t hide the fact that I am hooked!
What’s the story behind the city farm?
St Werburghs City Farm is a green oasis in the heart of Bristol that connects people to food, the environment and the local community. Over the last 34 years the Farm has expanded across three sites and developed a unique range of services that welcome and engage with some of Bristol’s most disadvantaged residents. From work experience for disaffected youth; volunteer opportunities for people from deprived areas; training placements for adults with disabilities; play opportunities for children facing disadvantage; free activities for families on low-incomes; educational trips; community events and an award winning cafe, St Werburghs is more than just a Farm. Last year alone we engaged 7,000 beneficiaries through 50,000 hours of activities and attracted more than 40,000 visitors to our open access farm site, adventure playground and award winning Cafe.
Our vision is to be a truly inspirational city-centre farm that supports an informed, skilled, healthy and cohesive community to lead healthier, happier and more sustainable lifestyles.
How is the farm connected with food?
City Farms largely exist to reconnect people in urban areas to food, and in particular, the story from which it gets to our plate. On the surface, we are a visitor centre where people can get up close to a range of farm animals, including our Gloucester Old Spot piglets, pick apples from the trees at Boiling Wells and enjoy a delicious meal at the City Farm Cafe made with produce grown or reared in the local area.
However, the most important work we deliver is behind the scenes by offering regular placements for young people marginalised from mainstream school and adults with learning difficulties. Monday to Friday, we engage people in the roles and responsibilities of a small working farm, from mucking out, feeding, leading animas to the paddock and other seasonal tasks such as hoof trimming, sheep shearing, lambing etc. We also offer educational visits to local schools and nursery groups, in which we explore why we keep animals on farms, what the production process is and our responsibilities within the food chain.
What do you think other cities could learn from Bristol’s food community?
Bristol has a fighting spirit to educate people about seasonal, locally produced and ethical food. So many projects show that food can be grown and reared in the smallest of places – our Farm site is less than 2 acres and the sausages are the bets I have ever tasted!
Where do you like to eat out in Bristol?
The City Farm Café’s farm-reared pulled pork and black bean burrito with St Werburghs leaves is divine. My other favourite is having some cheeky tapas at the Lido who pride themselves on local produce.
If you could change one thing about the way we think about and eat food, what would it be?
Rather than going to the supermarket, trudging up and down the fluorescent lit isles and coming home with the same food each week – why not spruce up your cupboards and excite your tummy by visiting a few independent producers in your area instead. If you are counting the pennies, give yourself a budget and see what you can get with it. I can guarantee that your taste buds will never look back!