Farm life in lockdown
and the return of the Onesies
Easter Bonnet Parade 2020
It's May and the Farm is looking beautiful, with flowers everywhere. The animals are well and longing to see you all again (they are missing their entertainment). Don't forget to look at our Flower blog on the website which is keeping up to date with the latest blooms on the farm. Flowers from early April are newly up and late April blooms are coming soon.
Both the social distancing requirements and the financial impact of Covid-19 have meant that the farm is currently running on an absolute minimum staff team. Half of the staff have been put on furlough leaving only two people each day to complete essential animal care, gardening and site maintenance. With a reduced staff team and without our regular volunteers, who do so much to help run the farm and gardens, even getting through the basics turns out to be a lot to keep on top of, and we are all getting used to the fact that other things have to be done as and when there is space.
It is such a strange thing to be so few in number on the farm which is all about bringing people together and sharing experiences with our community -school groups, visitors and volunteers would usually be filling the entire farm with people at this time of year. We hope that this time will come again but we know that it is going to be very different for a long while even when people are able to get out more. In the mean time the remaining farm staff are doing all they can to enable everyone to have a little bit of countryside (in the city) at home.
Thank you for all your support
We are so grateful for your contributions in support of the farm - every donation and every supportive comment helps the farm to keep going, reaching out and looking after the animals and the gardens. To date, this month, we have received over £2,000 through our local giving page and a further £1500 through the post. We cannot tell you how much we appreciate this and that you are thinking of us. At the moment your donations are literally keeping the farm able to pay the bills and keep going each month.
The 2.6 Challenge
The Farm has joined the 2.6 Challenge launched on Sunday 26th April – what should have been the date of the 40th London Marathon. Starting last Sunday, people from across the UK are asked to dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise or donate to Save the UK’s Charities via twopointsixchallenge.co.uk
The idea is that you help to raise funds for a charity you know and love to help them through this difficult time when fundraising events and enterprises like shops and cafes had to close and cancel. Come up with a challenge you can do safely. This could be something as simple as pledging to run 2.6 miles as your daily exercise to doing 26 minutes of yoga, or juggling for 26 minutes (or maybe just 2.6 minutes) non-stop. Check out the ‘how to get involved’ page of the website for more ideas and inspiration. Then take up the challenge and donate, participate and pass it on. The 2.6 Challenge is open to anyone of any age – the only requirement is that the activity must follow the Government guidelines on exercise and social distancing.
To support the farm through your challenge use the buttons below to set up a fundraising page or donate through the partner fundraising platforms. Participating charities will also receive a share of direct donations to the 2.6 challenge fund based on the ratio of money raised by each participating charity through both fundraising platforms as part of the challenge.
Cows and Pigs (and goats)
do the 2.6 Challenge
So on the 26th Liz, Nic and the animals kicked off the farm 2.6 challenge with a series of challenges on the farm all in Cow and Pig Onesies (people only).
1. Find 26 Minibeasts
2. Pick 2.6kg of garden leaves. (Turns out this was the hardest)
3. Complete 26 lengths of the field
4. Bag 26 bags of manure
5. Complete 26 straw bale step ups
They completed them all check out our facebook, instagram and twitter profiles for the evidence and if you can click the button to donate and support their efforts. Thanks for the donations so far amazing response!
Support the farm team in their 2.6 Challenge donate here
And following the #TwoPointSixChallenge guidance they pass on the challenge to you in Cows and Pigs do the 2.6 Challenge.
Tag! Your it! We challenge you!
2.6, 26 or 260 of anything within the social distancing and safe excercise regulations and if you can do it dressed as a cow or pig all the better
Whether or not you are able to fundraise or donate yourself at the moment (we know lots of people are struggling) join in, have some fun and share your 2.6 efforts using #Cows&Pigs2.6Challenge and #TwoPointSixChallenge to help save the UK's charities and keep people who can donating.
A picture's worth a thousand words
Over the winter months we were pleased to have photographer, Joel Davies, a recent graduate of Central Saint Martins, UAL, join us to document the life of the farm in pictures. As a finalist of the Sony World Photography Awards, he alongside two other students gained a grant to create a series of images looking at greenification within an urban environment. Joel chose to focus on the farm and its community.
His photograph series 'We Reap What We Sow' features in the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition which is online over the next few weeks
This is a great way of showing Freightliners to the world! Thank you Joel and hopefully the exhibition will return to its usual home at Somerset House later in the year. Joel's Farm photographs and other projects can be seen on his site here.
And finally some of the places locally offering support if you or someone you know is struggling
You can contact organisations directly or call the We are Islington helpline on 020 7527 8222. You can also email weareislington@islington.gov.uk
Ringcross community centre food bank
Open Mondays to Fridays 12:00 to 16:00 just drop past home deliveries to those who cannot leave their homes: 02077002498
Hilldrop community centre food and essential items collection
For more information please contact elaine@hilldrop.org.uk or call 020 7607 9453 and leave a message
Brickworks Community Centre
Open Mondays-Fridays 9-3pm food packages, free internet, free books 020 7263 1067 email: admin@hanleycrouch.org.uk
St Lukes Community Centre
Information Helpline 020 7549 8181 from 9am-3pm Monday-Friday. Support, food packages and hot meals