EAT CARY
Registered Charity No. 1154857 2021 Annual Report and Financial Statements 1[st] April 2020 to 31 March 2021
Our faithful friend!
EAT CARY
Registered Charity No. 1154857
Annual Report for 2020/21
Introduction
The COVID 19 pandemic continued to overshadow our work, although in some ways we have been fortunate in having such a lovely outdoor environment to work in, and with reduced traffic levels on the road outside it has been a quiet and peaceful place to be.
Early in 2021 we resorted to zoom meetings for our gardening team and found that we could have discussions this way which were both useful for gardening plans but also meant we maintained social contact with each other. As 2021 wore on we relaxed a little about numbers of people working together, but of course with such a large site it was easy to socially distance responsibly, and we certainly kept to the rule of no more than one person or household in the polytunnel at any one time, and also continued to avoid sharing tools.
After the end of the financial year this report covers, things were beginning to get back to normal, and now Saturday afternoons are becoming again a point in the week for working and meeting together. We are delighted too to have recruited some new workers.
Site improvement and maintenance
Ongoing maintenance for the polytunnel included re-placing the window polythene and repairing the door frame at the east end. The west door frame has suffered some minor damage recently and is currently on the repair programme. The main polytunnel skin has
Shelving in the compound
suffered many more holes recently and been repaired numerous times
The skin of the polytunnel is nearing eight years old. Its expected life is 10 years so it is coming to its natural end of life and its replacement will need to be factored into future budgeting. (approx. £1000 + fitting )
Stephen Rymer has kindly repaired the main pumped watering system for the polytunnel and replaced the main pump and added a filter. In addition, the main tank cover was repaired and made safe, Stephen has also overhauled the watering timer units as required. Johny overhauled the autopots, ordered new parts as
necessary, and brought the spare ones into use, but despite his best efforts they still did
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not operate very satisfactorily and will need looking at again over the winter ready for the next season.
The motorised equipment has been maintained and repaired as necessary. Some of the mowers, strimmers and trimmers that are not currently used are stored and can be put back into service as and when needed.
The main ride-on mower has been kept serviced but is clearly showing its age but should be OK for the next season. Again, it would be wise to factor in a replacement budget for the future (approx. £1300)
The addition of a key box now allows access to the equipment shed and equipment to all members of the group.
Paul Baker and many others have made a grand job of tidying the compound. Paul with Johny’s help has kindly built benching under the covered area with shadow type boarding for storing the hand tools. This is more secure than the open access small shed previously used and also makes it easy to look after the tools tidily. All tools are now stored in the compound.
In general the mowing of the whole area has been changed to only mowing essential access routes and areas . Thanks to Cav, Stephen and Nuri for continuing the mowing since the lockdown meant the students could no longer do it
The raised beds outside the polytunnel are gradually collapsing despite all efforts to shore them up. So two were replaced with “Hugel Kultur” heaps (we call them Hugelhumps) to meet Nuri’s boys’ enthusiasms for growing pumpkins for 2021 Hallowe’en. Which they successfully did, but that is a story for our 2021-22 report. Meanwhile we need to consider the future of the raised beds as they will scarcely survive another year but are important for our winter saladings, carrots, strawberries etc. The use of two of them has also been requested by the Beavers..
Building the hugelhump
Our compost bins are also unlikely to last much more than another year – Paul and Adrian did a wonderful job using pallets etc to bring them back to a usable state, but they will need further attention next year.
Growing regime
Growing at Eat Cary
The 2019/20 growing report ended with “.…using mostly social media.., has been a loss, and not helped to keep written records and ‘a story’”. Well, reviewing the year’s ‘chats’ it has actually produced a wealth of information, with the titbits I had always hoped to have in the records.
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We have weather reports - and across two years they help explain some growth and harvest changes. Apologies sent when committed growers are unable to keep their planned visit, will help us appreciate the challenges, and why others not yet caught by the ‘bug’ might have difficulty starting or staying. Gardening jobs were shared and accepted more readily. It seems simple, but we know users find difficulty to check a ‘to do’ list and take a job, - and all more difficult when most of this year we have been visiting/working separately. We also show much can be achieved in just 2 hours with 2/3 people when together.
Range of Plants –we have achieved a broader choice as aimed, continuing to harvest throughout the year, using the polytunnel, and protection outside when needed. Some like tomatoes didn’t know when to stop – last harvest record 12[th] December. The fact that we had frosts this season made this even more a success.
Zoom meetings brought more voices to choose the seeds and share the sowing and this brought many different varieties as well as new veg types grown.
Flower range also widened, sweet peas made great tripod statements and all beds edged with plants to attract pollinators as well as the Bee bed which continues to thrive, increasing itself and we have divided plants to add into rougher grass areas around site. Plans are to intercrop flowers and veg for increased diversity and to keep the garden ‘abuzz’.
Sowing broad beans in the autumn
A failed potato crop due to ‘bug’ activity, prompted a potato bag trial, but poor results again. Late planting, possibly not enough interest to grow them and watering irregularities coupled with unseasonal heat in polytunnel are this year’s excuses. Pest irritations though appear increased, perhaps because we had a quick way to show despair but we must be watchful.
The challenge to take forward again is our fruit production. Cropping well was rhubarb, the vine (one user gives tlc to both). and autumn raspberries (from July!) but we gave poor care and little reward for other soft fruit. We had taken cuttings for increased stock, they grew well, but they still sit unplanted. Time, position, effort required for new beds all to be discussed, as it was a wish to increase this harvest.
Improved succession sowing was a third aim, and germination failures made this a necessity. A lesson of ‘sowing with the weather not the date’ might be learnt, as most came good in the later sowings. Broad beans were a true success, with 3 sowings, all cropping well til May, with better wind protection. We have missed a brassica window though, and will be without sprouts, and spring cabbage this year.
Sustainability is considered within all our work in the garden: water systems, re-using & recycling materials to create nets, windbreaks, cloches, supports, repair to compost bins, nettle and comfrey feeds, saved seed for the legume vegetables. Mixing our own compost for potting and sowing continues, (nothing bought in), but no proper recording to know if affecting germination or growth. A leaf mulch store was begun for the first time, gathering
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from around site and brought in. This could be an example of us having the space, which has more potential use, for the wider community. Our labelling could also still be improved; we really need an artist not a gardener on the team to be more creative with us, and the forever elusive time.
Recruitment and links with other . organisations and agencies
The Covid Pandemic of course put pay to the use by the Beavers of some of our beds, and also work with the Toybox Pre-school had to stop. At the time of writing we are delighted that this work is about to start again. We have also hosted one student from Ansford Academy who has been doing the Service section of her Duke of Edinburgh Award with us. We have improved our communication with Ansford Academy.
The long-awaited opening of the “Community Larder” has This will surely keep the birds away! given us somewhere to take any spare vegetables, and we have taken the opportunity to include cooking tips and also advertise ourselves in a little leaflet which goes with the vegetables. All of this fits well with our philosophy of encouraging people to eat healthily using local homegrown resources where possible.
Our numbers have fluctuated during the year. Meg and Adrian have recently moved away and we very much miss them. But recently we have added more people to our team and our Pumpkin Fest in early October this year, was a great success despite appalling weather. We hope to follow the forthcoming AGM with an opportunity to discuss what we will grow in 2022
Publicity and promotion
It has not been an easy year for publicity, although we have continued to put articles in the Town Newsletter and entries on our Facebook Page.
Conclusions and the future
The future is beginning to look brighter – Covid is hopefully retreating, there is ever increasing interest in sustainability, healthy eating and local produce. The Community Larder gives us an easy route for sharing the food we produce and supports the fulfilment of our objects, and our numbers are increasing giving us greater capacity for production. Our biggest challenges this coming year will probably be taking the right steps at the right time to replace some of our basic infrastructure and equipment, and to continue to build a positive relationship with Ansford Academy..
October 2021
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EAT CARY
Legal and administrative information
Charity Registration Number : 1154857; Date of registration : 4 December 2013
Financial Year : 1[st] April 2020 - 31[st] March 2021
Trustees at 1 April 2020:
Bernadette Logan, Timothy Charles Earle-Marsh, Rosemary Ann Rymer’
Laura Tilling, Ida Rosina West
Terms of Office ending at 2021 AGM : None
Coopted January 2021 Nuri Fontanals. Formal election required at 2021 AGM
Objects :
To advance in life and help local people through providing support and activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.
To advance the education of the public, including the pupils at Ansford Academy, in the subjects of horticulture, gardening, cooking, healthy eating and related topics.
To advance the education of the local community in the sustainable use, protection and improvement of the natural environment.
Correspondence address:
Marshland, Station Road, Castle Cary, BA7 7BX
Primary Bankers:
The Co-operative Bank Community Direct Plus account
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Statement of financial acli¥itEes for the year ended st 31 March 2021 2019r20 In¢offl an21y81¥: ClonatKin E 5.IKI Expertdilure analysls: £ 387.93 £ 70.63 (r¢pFac4nent part5. elc) Insura £ 100.80 £ 100.80 Total 0xp8Th5e £ 488.73 e 171A3 Bank reConCl3k Balance al 31.03.20.' BaFancA fft bank a01mt t)n 31.03.20 Inc(%llefoTyear. pendllure foF year. 8alan¢e atbanK on 31.0321: 07&83 Q076.83 5.00 £ 488.73 t1.59&10
IndependentExanNs RRPOrton thè Recwts and PayfftenÉsA¢counts Report to the Trustees of Eat Cary (Registe1 Charity Number 18548573 the o¢counts for the year ended 31°'Plarch 2021 RosPgctiv¢ Sespo1btW]e$ of trust2es and examifior As ¢haiiVslnMtees you afe lespSlefOr the preparatiMs of the accounts: you consider Ihat the au¢ftt THuireml of sectn$ 43(2) ChalitiA¢t 1993 {thfrA) nol ?pply. R is my Tespafisknility to state on the l>asK% of ptOL¥Jures specifEd in the G¢Th¢ral Direction given by the Charity ConMissioDefs Ur¢r 447) oflheAq vthether F)Orticular mattern have cKbmeto my attenlloft. Basls ol IPendent examingts p¥t My wathihab'(m earfied otst a[dafi witti tho GE[ Th.recb& given by the Charfty Commissioners. An examirolion ithdes a r¢vi2w Dfthe accoUnn9 re¢oTds kept by the charity and a comparison of th• pt¢s¢itsd wilh Ihose fecoNls. It also Incl CODgderation of any unusual iietns ordisdawres in the accounts. and seeking explanatiorns frn you trustees cotwniry any malkts. The procedu undertaken do not provide all th¢ that woukl be In an audtt arKI Gwsequenlly I do not eXpS an audit opinion on the ¥iV 9Nen by the aGQ)un Independenl ExamhS siatellrt In connecllon w51h exam31 IAS ctsne to my attentlon . vthi( gives me (ewAable ¢ause to D¥le¥ell in any fftaonal iespect the reryuiremeftts lo keep aCcoUrrtg records In acvJTdaDoe sethan 41 of IheAct. anr> to piepafe accouftts which Mlh the acc(Mntln9 records and io ¢omply wlth lh& accounvng lui[ents of theA¢t have tKft lJe¢n IW, or 2. 10 Ythich. in my ¢)piniDn. attenti( ¥lyild be dm'm in order to ea1)le a propp( nde(slandiw ofthe acnts to be Ye&ld. Nam9". GE> S• &4 2Z7HU.