Frequently asked questions

The box scheme section of the website has full details of our different bag sizes and types, how much they cost, the pick-up arrangements and how to join the scheme or sign up for a one-month trial.

About Growing Communities

What's in the bags and where it comes from

Payment questions

Holiday policy

General problems with the pick-up and bags

Cost

About Growing Communities

Why should I get my veg from Growing Communities?

When you sign up to join the box scheme, you are doing much more than buying fresh, organic fruit and veg. You become a member of Growing Communities, which is a not-for-profit social enterprise working to take our food system back from the supermarkets and agribusiness and put the power where it should be: with communities and farmers.Flowers and bees
We believe this is the way to create the sustainable, resilient food systems that will see us through the challenges of climate change and peak oil.
It has become increasingly clear to us that community-led trade is vital to this process of creating real change in the food system. While it’s really important that more people get involved in growing food, if we don’t also change the systems that trade the food then those new small producers will follow the same fate as many of the small farmers who have gone out of business over the past few decades – trying to sell their food through a system that puts them at a permanent disadvantage or being completely dependent on subsidies from a rapidly shrinking public purse.
Growing Communities’ box scheme and the Stoke Newington Farmers’ Market support local, sustainable farms by giving them a regular guaranteed income and helping them to create jobs in their communities. When Chris and Iain from Stocks Farm in Essex started at the market in May 2003 they both had full-time jobs and ran the farm in their spare time. They now employ ten people on the farm and have planted several new orchards. More recently, Martin Mackie from Ripple Farm told us that supplying the box scheme and the farmers’ market helped to save his business during the very challenging winter of 2010/11.
As we are not-for-profit, any surplus we make goes straight back into furthering the aims of the organisation. We have created urban market gardens and a Patchwork Farm in Hackney, where we grow produce for our ultra-local salad bags and train apprentice growers, who then go on to tend their own growing sites. We are also running a start-up programme to help other groups across the country set up box schemes like ours that support sustainable local farmers.

What does membership mean for me?

As a member of Growing Communities, you are part of our efforts to create a sustainable, re-localised food system that can provide local people with real, practical alternatives to the current damaging food system.
Box scheme membPick up vegers are encouraged to attend our Annual General Meeting and have a say in how the box scheme is run and you can become a member of our management committee. Every week in your veg bag you receive a newsletter with details of what’s in the bag and where it was grown, recipes for the more unusual produce and news about the scheme.
As the scheme is collection-only, it cuts down on food miles and allows you to meet your neighbours when you go to collect your veg.

How is GC structured?

Growing Communities is a social enterprise - an organisation that works to bring about the environmental, social and economic change it desires directly through its trading activity. As a social enterprise, any surplus we make is invested back into the organisation.

Our legal structure is a company limited by guarantee. While we do not have charitable status, we do have an organisational structure that is based on a charitable model, with members who elect a voluntary management committee that has ultimate responsibility for the organisation. We have about 20 part-time members of staff. All our core income is self-generated but we have recently received external funding for our Patchwork Farm programme and the Start-Up Programme.

How did Growing Communities start?

Growing Communities was set up by a group of friends including Julie Brown (now the director of Growing Communities) more than 17 years ago. Growing Communities started life as a Community Supported Agriculture scheme, which linked members up with a farm in Buckinghamshire. The box scheme started in 1993 with just 30 families signed up to it. "These were the early days of box schemes," says Julie, "and it really felt very subversive to be unloading vegetables fresh from the farm at 6am right under the nose of the local Sainsbury’s!" At the same time, Julie began organising weekend working trips to the farms supplying the box scheme so members could help with the watercress harvest, plant plum trees and pick caterpillars off Brussels sprouts.
The success of these trips helped inspire Julie to find sites in Hackney that could be transformed into flourishing organic vegetable plots with the aid of a grower and volunteers. “I stAllens Gardensarted looking for land in Hackney by cycling around and peering over hedges and under fences.” In 1997 Growing Communities got its first site: a tiny piece of land by the old butterfly tunnel in Clissold Park. This was followed by the Oaktree site on Bethune Road later in 1997 and then the Springfield site in Springfield Park. In 2004 we set up a new growing site at Allens Gardens on Bethune Road, Stoke Newington, to replace the Oaktree site, which became a housing development.
Meanwhile, the box scheme continued to grow and in 1999, Growing Communities moved out of the coordinator’s garage and into its current offices at the Old Fire Station Community Centre in Stoke Newington.
“We always wanted to be about more than just veg,” says Julie, so in 2003 Growing Communities set up the UK's first all-organic farmers' market: the Stoke Newington Farmers’ Market.  Initially the market took place next to Growing Communities' office at the Old Fire Station, but a need for more space led to a move to William Patten School on Stoke Newington Church Street in April 2005 and then to St Paul's Church on Stoke Newington High Street in 2011.

What’s happening in the future?

We have recently launched our Start-Up Programme and are working with a number of groups interested in setting up new community-led organic box schemes across the UK based on the Growing Communities model. We have developed a toolkit that start-ups can use to help them get started running a box scheme and are providing training workshops and regular support.

Why does the farmers’ market have meat stalls?

We believe that animals have a part to play in a sustainable agriculture system but that the scale and nature of most current livestock systems result in negative effects on the environment, animal welfare and human health. There is a case for the sensitive inclusion of livestock in an ecological farming system, and in the human diet.

All the meat on sale by farmers at the market comes from small farms with high environmental and animal welfare standards. We define these as mixed farming systems, grass-fed livestock and farms that are aiming to reduce their dependency on bought-in animal feeds.

The farmers’ market aims to support small sustainable farmers from around London, and by having meat produced on mixed farms at the market, we are doing just that.

Higher Alham Farm cheesesHigher Alham Farm (right) is a small dairy farm selling unpasteurised cows’ and buffalo milk, yoghurt and cheese at the market, along with small amounts of meat.

Using sustainable, organic farming methods, Chris and Iain Learmonth of Stocks Farm (above) rear organic chickens, sheep and beef cattle and grow over 16 varieties of apple on their orchards. Sheep graze in the orchards that supply apples for the box scheme and farmers’ market from autumn until spring, and the chickens help to keep down the population of parasites that live on the sheep.

Hook and Sons from Hailsham in Sussex sell raw, unpasteurised butter, cream and buttermilk as well as rose veal at the market, while the Bath Soft Cheese Company offers a choice of hard, soft and blue organic cheeses made from cows' milk.

We appreciate that some members of Growing Communities prefer to be vegetarian or vegan – and the box scheme sells only fruit and veg, with eggs from Stocks Farm available to buy at the Leswin Road pick-up for those who want them.

Do you sell fish at the market?

Yes, Channel Fish sells fish caught from the small fishing boat, Our Betty, which is based at Shoreham Harbour in West Sussex. It is a day boat and goes out for a few hours at a time to a distance of about four or five miles from the shore.
The fish are caught using sustainable methods: fixed net, gill nets and lines. In the summer, most fish are line caught.
The catch varies with the seasons. The high spring tides bring increasing amounts of mackerel (an abundant fish that is an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, selenium and vitamin B12), as well as plaice, Dover sole, bass, huss and skate. Cuttlefish, similar to squid, is also plentiful in the spring. Our Betty also catches some cod, of which there are healthy stocks around Shoreham, and Vicky Ballington, who co-owns the boat, says they never reach their cod quota. They also catch brown crab, spider crab and lobster.
Channel Fish only brings to market the previous day’s catch, so all the produce is really fresh.
Vicky’s son also smokes fish to sell at the market, mainly mackerel, but also kippers, haddock and whiting. Channel Fish is planning to expand this side of the business.

What's in the bags and where it comes from

How much produce do I get in the bag each week?

Small veg bag: as a rough guide, the small veg bag (left) has 6-7 varieties of veg, which usually includes (approx) 500g potatoes; 300g carrots; 225g onions (every other week); 150/200g mushrooms (every other week); plus a green and other items.
Standard veg bag:  this has a total of 8-9 items, including (approx) 900g potatoes: 450g carrots; 450g onions; plus 2 greens, mushrooms every other week and additional items.

What’s the weight of the bag each week?

The weight of the bag really depends on the produce we include and its relative cost. So for example £1 worth of salad weighs far less than £1 worth of potatoes. The other factor to bear in mind is the season. At the beginning of the season the cost of new potatoes, carrots, peaches etc is greater, so you get a bit less for your money.

How much do I need to order?

The small veg bag is aimed at 1-2 people, but obviously some people eat more vegetables than others. Standard veg bag is generally for 2-4 people.

Where do you get your produce?

We’re committed to ordering as local as practicable. Our salad bags are grown on our own Soil Association market gardens in Hackney, our potatoes and apples come from small farms in Kent and Essex and our oranges come from cooperatives in Italy and Spain. Last year, 62% of our vegetables and 23% of the fruit in our fruit bags came direct from local farms while overall 88% of our vegetables came from the UK. We never buy air-freighted produce or produce from heated greenhouses. Only our Fairtrade organic bananas come from outside Europe. There are certain times of the year where UK produce isn’t so readily available. This is particularly the case in the UK ‘hungry gap’ – a regular time each year where the stores of last season’s vegetables (potatoes, onions, apples etc) have run out and the new season produce isn’t ready. At that time we buy in produce shipped from Europe via our wholesaler. At other times of the year farmers may experience freak weather conditions (prolonged droughts or frosts) that have depleted their harvests, meaning we have to source extra produce from further away (in the UK or Europe).

Why is there European fruit in the bag?

The UK fruit season is much shorter than the veg. For example the apple season is generally mid-August to late March (depending on the yields) and similar for pears. In the summer we can usually source organic UK plums and some cherries but a lot of other organic UK soft fruit isn’t produced in large enough quantities or produce (such as strawberries, raspberries) is too delicate for the bags. 
So we're in the position where we still need to find 3-4 items for the small fruit bag each week and 5-6 items for the standard fruit bag each week – throughout the year. Where we can't source UK fruit we get fruit shipped from farms in Europe to supplement the bags. Kiwis, for example, are relatively inexpensive and plentiful.  The only exception is the Fairtrade bananas, which are shipped from the Dominican Republic. Between March and July there is hardly any UK fruit available so we rely on produce from elsewhere. We do not buy air-freighted produce or produce grown in heated greenhouses. 
When we recently checked the availability of organic fruit in supermarkets and local shops, they were found wanting: in a recent check we could only find 1 out of 5 items in our standard fruit bag. We believe there is an argument for continuing to provide access to organic European fruit and all-year-round bags for those that want it. However, some people on the scheme get the fruit bag only at certain times of the year (when the UK apples and pears are around) and make the commitment to go without fruit for the rest of the year.

Can I ask not to have a certain item in the bag?

Unfortunately we are a small box scheme and we don’t have the resources to organise and offer bespoke bags. However, if you collect from the Old Fire Station, you can use the swap box at the pick-up point.

Why do we get so many potatoes, carrots, onions and other roots?

Part of the reason we order the staples is because they are locally available for most of the year, which means we can guarantee there will be some UK-grown produce in the bags throughout the year.

Payment questions

Why do you ask people to pay up front for the month?

We’re not for profit and so we operate an up-front monthly payment system to minimise the amount of time and money spent on administration/chasing payments and therefore spend more money on furthering the aims of the organisation. Standing orders, up front, provide a stable, guaranteed flow of money for our farmers, workers and rent. 

Why standing order and not direct debit?

Basically we don’t want control over people’s bank accounts.

What happens if I want to leave the scheme?

Just let us know when you want to stop collecting your bags, before we place the orders on a Thursday for the following week. If this is at the end of the month, then simply cancel your standing order. If you leave mid-month, we will refund you what you have paid up front for the bags you’re not collecting (which we can do by cheque or by bank transfer if you send us your details). All you then need to do is cancel your standing order. 

Can I change my order mid-month?

It’s easiest if you make any changes to your veg order (and standing order) at the beginning of the month. If this isn’t possible, we can make the changes mid-month and then work out the price difference (how much either you owe us or we owe you).

Holiday policy

How does the holiday policy work?

Monthly prices are calculated to include 4 weeks’ holiday each year, so you only pay for 48 bags a year. If you don’t go away, you can collect your veg every week anyway or organise for a friend or neighbour to collect your bags while you’re away. If you do go away and let us know in advance, we won’t order for you that week. This helps to cut down waste.
In practice, the holiday system means that if you're around every week you get a bag every week (in effect, you get 4 free bags a year). If you go away for up to 4 weeks, this is already taken into account. If you go away for more than 4 weeks in a year, we'll refund you for every week over the 4 – just remember to let us know by the Thursday before each time you go away, otherwise we’ll already have ordered your veg.
If you want to get a friend to pick up your veg instead of cancelling your bags for the odd week here and there, you don't need to inform us – the friend just needs to go along to the pick-up and say your name.
We decided to run the scheme this way so that our producers are guaranteed a certain income each month and our members don't have to stop and start fiddly payments each time they go away.

How can I check how much holiday I’ve taken?

We keep a record of all holiday requested and we can email this to you.

General problems with the pick-up and bags

Why weren’t my bags there this week?

Please ring or email us if you can’t find the right bags at your pick-up and we’ll try to find out why – whether the order was wrong for some reason or whether your bags have been taken by someone else by mistake. Then we can arrange a refund or give you extra bags/produce the next week.

Why was there an item missing from my bag?

We sometimes have to substitute one item for another if there’s been a problem with quality or quantities, so check that you haven’t got a different vegetable instead. If it’s an omission on our part, we will put extra items in your bag next week – and label it specifically for you to collect.

What should I do if the produce in the bag is mouldy or damaged?

Let us know and we’ll make sure you get extra items the next week.

Why is the salad/spinach/chard in plastic packaging? Isn’t this bad for the environment?

We do our best to use paper bags where possible but, unfortunately, there’s currently no substitute for plastic in terms of keeping greens fresh.  We’re always keeping an eye on developments and when there is a suitable alternative material we will use that instead.

Cost

Why does organic food cost more?

It is true that sustainable, organic produce (like Fairtrade) tends to cost more than conventional produce. Cheaper conventional produce is everywhere and it’s very difficult to resist, particularly in times of economic hardship. However we believe that ‘cheap’ food simply means that the ‘cost’ is passed further down the system either by large-scale farming and distribution systems that are highly damaging to the environment, or by giving far less to small-scale farmers. The organic farming process is more human-intensive and more land must be given to crops grown organically in order to avoid the use of pesticides and fertilisers.

Does local produce cost less?

It can do: buying direct shortens the supply chain. However, economies of scale are also a factor: so if we’re buying from a very small farmstead/operation, which produces small volumes and cannot afford to sell at a discount – as larger producers can – this produce will cost more.  In these cases we pay slightly more in order to support these small-scale farmers. But it’s about striking a balance. We want to support small-scale farmers by paying them a fair price but we also want to provide affordable organic food for our members.

How do you strike a balance between paying a fair price to farmers and providing affordable organic food?

We start by having a good, mutually beneficial relationship with our farmers and suppliers. We very much believe that we’re in this together and they know we are going to pay them a fair price and work to increase the scheme. At the same time they are aware that we need to provide a great bag of veg for our customers. We have a mixture of different suppliers, some very small, some larger. 
We can also pay fair prices to farmers and still be affordable because we put much less of a mark-up on the produce we sell than mainstream, commercial retailers. 
We can do this by running the box scheme in a way that keeps our operational costs low. Examples of this are:
•    keeping our admin costs down by encouraging everyone to pay once a month for the month
•    making our scheme a collection scheme rather than delivering door to door
•    not providing bespoke bags but instead offering the more straightforward solution of a swap box at some pick-up points so members can swap unwanted items in their bags.
This means that in practice more of your money is going to the farmer and we are fairer to our farmers, our members and the environment. The other advantage of our scheme is that we are not for profit, rather than commercial, so we invest any surplus in advancing the aims of our organisation.

If you can't find what you're looking for here, please email us or call 020 7502 7588

Website by Joe Short