Hazelhurst CSA Meeting 2010-05-10

Hazelhurst CSA > Meetings > Monday 10th May 2010

Hows it Growing?

Come along to this public meeting to hear about progress on the formation of the Hazelhurst Community Supported Agriculture Co-operative Limited organisation, and how you can become more actively involved in its future work and development.

Time and Venue

An evening meeting to be held , 7.00pm for a 7.30pm formal start, at the Grapevine Centre, at the Church of the Nazarene, Northcote Rd, Heeley, S2 3AT.

Please bring cakes and snacks to share for the first half hour, tea will be provided.

Flyers

Please print and pass around and put in shop windows and on notice boards!

• A4: Media:Hazelhurst-10-may-2010-public-meeting-v2.pdf
• A5: Media:Hazelhurst-10-may-2010-public-meeting-A5-v2.pdf

Agenda

1. Name

The Hazelhurst CSA Committee is proposing that the project should be called the Hazelhurst Community Supported Agriculture Co-operative Limited, note this differs from what was agreed at the last public meeting.

2. Legal form and rules

The Committee to propose that the project should be legally constituted as an Industrial and Provident Society bona fide co-operative and that the project should use an amended version of the Somerset Rules CSA, see the rules page for the details of this amendment.

3. Principles and Purpose

The Committee to propose the project adopt the Principles and Purpose they have agreed.

4. Working Groups

An update on what the working groups have been doing and a chance to get involved with them

Notes

The slides from the meeting are here: Media:CSA Public Meeting 10.5.10.v3.ppt.

Hazelhurst Community Supported Agriculture Cooperative — Public Meeting, 10 May 2010

These notes were sent to the list by Alison.

Record of formal decisions

The Directors Group put a set of recommendations to the public meeting, for formal endorsement.  This endorsement was sought in order to take forward the legal constitution of the organisation and its planned work.

1. Formal name of CSA organisation

The recommendation that the organisation be named Hazelhurst Community Supported Agriculture Cooperative Limited was accepted by the public meeting.

2. Aims and objects

The recommended Aims and Objects were accepted by the public meeting, subject to the inclusion of reference to biodiversity.  The wording is therefore as follows:

The objects of the coop shall be community supported agriculture which aims to grow and distribute organic, healthy, affordable food for the benefit of the community using ecological, biodiversity-supporting and cooperative principles and renewable energy, and through this contribute to a more resilient and inclusive food system for Sheffield and surrounding area.

3. Principles

The recommended Principles were accepted by the public meeting, subject to the amendment of point 3, to include reference to permaculture.  The wording is therefore as follows:

• We aim to provide land for organic food production for the explicit purpose of a community supported agriculture project, for the benefit of the local communities of Sheffield and surrounding area.
• For the medium term the focus will be on horticulture production.
• We will grow and trade healthy, affordable, organic food using ecologically sound methods, for example using permaculture methods.
• We will minimize the use of oil consumption and develop renewable energy sources.
• The project will be developed in ways that protect and encourage biodiversity and wildlife.
• It will provide local employment at fair rates of pay in safe working conditions.
• We will work to become financially sustainable.
• To pioneer a new economic model based on mutual benefit and shared risk and ensure that the farmers have a decent livelihood.
• We will encourage community involvement and engagement in food growing and distribution, promoting a sense of community around the project.
• This community will be fully inclusive. People from all backgrounds, abilities, income groups and experiences are welcome to join.
• We will promote education in projects running on the site emphasizing the importance of localised food production.
• We will be open and transparent in our affairs, making decisions on the basis of consensus wherever possible and striving towards social justice.
• We will promote community supported agriculture to other communities and farms, learn from established CSAs and in the future share our learning (both economic and farming).
• We will work co-operatively with neighbouring farms and other enterprises that share our principles

4. Rules

The use of the rules put forward by Somerset Co-operative Services CIC was recommended to the public meeting.  It was clarified that section 1.3 of the basic rules would be amended to include the CSA’s specific aims and objects.  The public meeting supported the recommendation of the Directors.

5. Other Business

The public meeting was also informed about progress by the various Working Groups of the Directors’ Committee, and attendees had the opportunity to discuss how they might be involved in further work.

6. Date of the Next Public Meeting

Monday 5 July 2010, 7.30pm. Grapevine Centre, Church of the Nazarene, Northcote Road, Heeley, S2 3AT.

Next meeting: Monday 5th July 2010