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FAQs

Where can I buy your produce?

At the moment we sell virtually all of our produce through our box scheme. See the Box scheme page for further details.

Is your produce certified organic?

No. We want to sell wholesome, locally grown vegetables at affordable prices, and the organic certification process is prohibitively expensive for a business of our size. We are, however, members of the Wholesome Food Association, and have pledged to grow our food according to WFA principles, which are similar to organic ones. In brief, we do not use synthetic fertilisers or pesticides in our farming, and our farming practices generally meet and in many cases exceed organic standards. You’ll find more information about our methods on the About page. Alternatively, feel free to contact us.

Do you buy in food from elsewhere?
Our aim is to grow as much of the produce in our boxes as possible on our own site, but like most box scheme growers we do buy in food – either from other growers in Frome or from Somerset Organic Link. We do this for various reasons. For example, by buying food in we can guarantee box contents despite fluctuations in customer numbers and harvests; also, since it takes a long time to bring land into full production, buying in food in response to increased customer demand enables us to plan properly for our land and business development. Generally, we buy more food in during the winter and early spring.

How can I get involved?

If you’d like to help our project, there are various ways to get involved. One is to buy our produce! By doing so, you’re directly supporting responsible farming and local sustainability (find out more here about all things ecological and sustainable in Frome). You’re also promoting sustainability by keeping your money circulating in the local economy. But if you’re interested in getting your hands dirty by working in the field, feel free to contact us to discuss volunteering possibilities.

We’ve always strived to make our land in Vallis Vale available to the wider community, hosting various events which are described further on our About page. Check our news page for the latest details.

We’re also registered hosts with WWOOF UK and HelpX. We welcome queries from WWOOFers and helpxers who might wish to volunteer with us.

What is permaculture?

Permaculture is a way of designing our surroundings by learning from nature about efficient and sustainable ways of using energy, materials and other resources so as to minimise the stress that nature and humanity place upon each other. There are many examples of permaculture design on our holding, but perhaps the most important one is Vallis Veg itself, in its aim to produce wholesome food as close as possible to where it will be eaten. You can find out more about permaculture, including permaculture training opportunities, from the Permaculture Association or by reading Permaculture Magazine. You might be interested in Chris’s articles about our Vallis Vale site in Permaculture Magazine Nos. 50 & 51 (you can find out more about Chris's writing here).

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