Secure Sutton Community Farm's Future

Sutton Community Farm is London's only community-owned fruit and vegetable farm, cultivating both food and connection on our 7-acre site in South London for the past 15 years. We're passionate about growing fruit and veg in harmony with nature while fostering stronger, more vibrant communities.

We're launching this urgent crowdfunder to secure £50,000 to keep our vital work going after an unexpected funding setback. Your support will ensure we continue growing organic food, training future farmers, and building climate resilience in our local area.

Our Climate Action Impact

Last year alone, we produced 14 tonnes of organic fruit and veg and nourished over 650 households, while providing a welcoming space for more than 300 volunteers to connect with nature and each other.

Our work addresses climate challenges through three key approaches:

Prevention:

• Growing 40+ types of organic fruit and veg without chemicals, reducing ecological impact
• Building healthy soils that sequester carbon and enhance biodiversity
• Creating a short supply chain through our organic online farm shop that minimises food miles and carbon emissions
• Supporting the livelihoods of other organic farmers, strengthening climate-resilient food systems

Adaptation:

• Our nature-friendly growing practices enhance the land's ability to withstand extreme weather events
• Improved soil structure better absorbs heavy rainfall and retains moisture during drought periods
• Diverse crop varieties increase resilience against climate-related crop failures

Community Resilience:

• Training the next generation of climate-conscious growers and farmers
• Our community volunteering programme builds vital social networks of climate-aware citizens with practical skills
• Our local food system creates security against climate-related supply chain disruptions
• Ensuring food security knowledge remains within our community for decades to come
• Partnering with local food banks to ensure fresh food reaches those most in need

Through your support, we're not just feeding people today - we're cultivating a more resilient, climate-prepared community for tomorrow.

The Challenge We Face

We need your help urgently. We've just learned that the business investment loan we built our five-year plan around won't be coming through. This unexpected development requires immediate action to keep our farm on track toward sustainability.

The next six weeks are critical. By raising £50,000 through this crowdfunder, we can bridge this sudden funding gap and continue the momentum we've built in year one of our business plan, which has already seen expanded marketing efforts and a new website launching in September.

Did you know that the typical UK farm received 40% of its income through government subsidies last year? And how much did Sutton Community Farm receive? Zero. While asking our community for financial support isn't easy, we believe it's essential to build a viable community enterprise that can thrive independently. And we hope you agree!

Your Donation Creates Lasting Impact