Thanks to the incredible support of many like-minded people, Kelmarna Community Farm has achieved its fundraising target of $200,000.
The fundraising appeal was launched in May in response to the sudden loss of a significant, long-term grant, which put the very future of the farm in jeopardy.
"The support from the community has been absolutely fantastic,” says General Manager, Sarah McFadden. "The whole team has been blown away by the generous contributions made by so many people.
"This community-generated two-year funding window allows the Kelmarna team to refocus its energies on a shared vision for the future:
"A better-resourced, robustly funded and widely recognised educational and community hub at the forefront of the ecological food movement.
"We’re striving to be a more open and more impactful, farm,” says Sarah, "doing even more than we do now. A hub of community connection, education and food system change.”
Thanks to this improved financial security, the farm can now get to work on growing our diverse range of lively community events, fundraising activities, volunteering opportunities and therapeutic gardening programmes providing connection for people of all ages and from all walks of life.
Of particular excitement for us too is being able to now revive our school education programme that connects the next generation with essential skills for a more sustainable future and creates healthy relationships with food.
The farm demonstrates every day how a holistic approach to social and ecological sustainability can transform lives and landscapes alike. Our current annual impacts include:
· 2700 hours of support for therapeutic gardeners
· 42,000 litres of food scraps and other organic materials composted and returned to food production
· 3600kg of nutrient dense, organic produce is grown onsite
· 35 people learn market gardening skills on the Farmhand 16-week training programme
· 480 people volunteer learning food growing skills and making connections
· 3800 people hosted at the farm via the public events programme
· 2500 visits by customers to the onsite Farm Shop
· 750 veggie boxes supplied to customers via the Community Supported Agriculture Scheme
The community funding also gives Kelmarna sufficient time to continue their good work to move away from reliance on grant funding.
“This injection of capital allows us to invest in our people and capabilities and significantly advance areas of the farm that generate revenue,” says Chairperson Nick Morrison. But the opportunities to partner with Kelmarna and support the work are not over.
With its wide-ranging community engagements and its key position as a hub for food system change and community engagement, Kelmarna continues to be a desirable local organisation for values-aligned business to partner with.
By becoming a business sponsor, your organisation can contribute to Kelmarna’s mission of championing a regenerative local food model which ultimately nourishes both the land and the people of Aotearoa. Every investment made in this work is a critical step forward towards a brighter food future and a healthier, more connected and more resilient community.
The clue is in the name. This is a farm in and for the community. Thank you to everyone who contributed their support to ensure the future of Kelmarna Community Farm. Our future is bright.
And if you missed the campaign, donations are still welcomed kelmarna.co.nz/donate. Everything that takes the farm beyond the initial $200,000 target will supercharge their strategy, and give them more opportunities to grow and strengthen their work.
Kelmarna Community Farm, 12 Hukanui Crescent, T: 09 376 0472, www.kelmarna.co.nz
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