The idea
Horsenden Grape and Honey farm project will enlist the active HAAGA Community, Schools, Scouts, NCS and local Community to transform a derelict plot of land to produce in due course, organic Grape juice and Honey production. With the help of CrowdFunding through SpaceHive London and Transform your Space (TYS) Ealing - we will be able to include an educational facility including a photo exhibition ' from seeds to bees to sale', which will capture the growing and production and raise awareness in the local community to each stage of the process. Produce will, eventually, be marketed to local schools, hospitals at cost to replace 'fizzy drinks' which will include generating the educational value of Horsenden G & H Farm.Organic honey will be marketed to Hay fever sufferers and Health conscious parents/residents across the local area.
What we'll deliver
- cultivate the land using volunteers from local Allotments, schools and scouts
- Install composting toilets for visitors to the Vineyard
- Produce a photo exhibition from existing skillsets within the Community, journalists and UK Prime Ministers office
- Activate and increase the bee-keeping facilities for honey production. Purchasing materials needed
- Build a wooden 'hut' facility (learning centre) surrounded By wooden benches and seats
- Clear the area ( work has already been started) and create a place to walk or sit on new benches
- Design vineyard layout and orchard
- Plant an orchard targeted for schools and local Community
- Retain the use of allocated allotment land for local use
Why it's a great idea
We have great volunteer support and can transform this area for the benefit of local residents, families, schools and other groups. Horsenden Hill farm with its 'Gruffalo trail' and with the addition of an 'organic vineyard and orchard' could become a real focal point for Communities in Ealing, Harrow and Brent location is in Ealing but on the cusp of the other two Boroughs. With lives becoming more digital and families/schools having to tighten belts, a value-for-money free educational day out is a real possibility.
Steps to get it done
- bee suits
- install drainage either side of roadway
- install vine support
- terrace land as necessary for vines
- Wooden education centre
- " heel in" vines for planting and purchase
- clear land for vineyard and orchard
- composting toilets
- create an access point from main gate to lower end of site
- level off lower part of land for timber framed building
- purchase of apiaries
- seating
The established HAAGA Association will provide the secretarial and administrative support to the project bringing in skills from local Residents that have already been mapped and are known to be available- e.g. project management, financial, marketing, agricultural and construction skills.
