Behind St Gluvias church, what was once an empty field is now a thriving hub of community, crops and hope. Loveland is one of three branches of the Falmouth Food Co-op, an organisation that aims to provide wholesome, local and healthy food, for those most in need, in an environmentally friendly way.
Founded in 2021, the work has bloomed into many facets, almost entirely achieved by volunteers. I spoke with Finley, the lead co-ordinator and permaculture specialist on the work they do.
“I am the grower at Loveland, so I work here running the market garden, growing and selling produce to Falmouth and Penryn… I started work here maybe to two and a bit years ago. Just straight out of uni. I created and designed the plot, everything, started from scratch.”
There are two main growing sites; the market garden grows food for local restaurants and cafes, and the community garden, open for anyone to come along, get stuck in, and grow what they like. The produce is shared amongst the volunteers, trusting that no one will take more than they need.
The market garden also produces food for the Falmouth food co-op free “meals on wheels” to anyone who feels that they need it, no questions asked. The organisation has given out over 60,000 meals to those most in need since the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
Harmony with nature is paramount, and Finley tells of how their farming methods are non-destructive to the environment, and even regenerative.
“We’re using people power rather than fossil fuels… It's hyper local, I'm only selling to around a 3-mile radius from the field, and we’re growing a massive diversity of around 40 different crops.”
Typically, farmers use mass mono-crop, which Finley explains is damaging our eco-systems over time.
“One type of crop and one variety is reliant on being nursed with fertilisers and pesticides to keep it alive. There’s no diversity there.”
A lack of diversity in vegetation, flowers, etc. means that there is no room for wildlife to survive, and without wildlife and insects, the quality of the soil suffers, in turn effecting crops, and the wider ecosystems.
“When you grow loads of different crops… it's using different depths of the soil and different nutrients… we're adding health to the soil.”
The impacts of the site and the community extend to wellbeing. Loveland work with GP’s and other organisations to offer tailored support for people who are struggling with their mental or physical health, what’s known as “social prescribing”.
Welcoming volunteers from all backgrounds and circumstances, they accommodate for any personal needs with hugely positive results. Volunteer Lizzie stated:
“To me, Loveland is like a lifeline to people. The Dracena centre suggested that I come here to help me with my recovery because mentally I was very ill and physically very ill... It’s very accepting, nobody expects too much of you, so basically it helps you grow… I love this place because it gave me my life back.”
The group welcome volunteers on a drop-in basis with no need to schedule, 10am – 1pm Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you would like to get involved, contact them via email at: grocery@falmouthfood.coop
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