When I started volunteering at FarmEco four years ago, I was a bit confused about which bits of the farm were “FarmEco” and which weren’t. Today I have several friends who tell me that they visit FarmEco regularly. Yet on questioning I find that they mean the Velo Verde cafe and they have not actually set foot on the farm. Due to historical changes and current signage, it can be quite confusing.
Who we are
FarmEco is a community benefit society, owned by its members and with the aims of helping the community and the environment. We do not own any land, but rent 3 acres (the labyrinth area and the community garden). We also have a licence to use the little woodland and care for and harvest the fruit and nut trees on a further 51 acres of land. The farm is owned by the Rose family. It is administered under the name S Clarke Farms.
Where we get our income
Our biggest source of income at present is a three year grant from the Lottery Communities Fund. We were awarded it in April 2026. We are using this time to develop the organisation, the community and the work we do. One of our aims is to develop more income streams. This way, when the 3 years are up, we can continue to flourish. Our income streams include:
Others on the farm campus
The area near the car park including Thorpe Performance gym, the cafe, the hairdresser etc. are completely separate entities which like us pay rent to the Rose family. Screveton Sheds did grow up under the umbrella of FarmEco. However, it has now become a separate entity as of June 2026. It is part of the national Sheds organisation. We all aim to promote wellbeing in our various different ways.
Our other close neighbours on the farm campus include the pigs, goats and sheep. The pigs and goats are owned by the Rose family and are their pets. The Rose family also run the popular Christmas tree sales, providing real trees to the local community for the festive season.
Another tenant farmer owns the sheep that are sometimes in the fields. They form part of the silvopasture system alongside the fruit and nut trees. The sheep help clear up windfall fruit, reducing disease cycles of coddling moth and plum moth. They help fertilise the trees with their manure and urine. In addition, their wool makes an excellent mulch for the trees.
So, the next time you visit the farm campus—whether it’s to grab a coffee at Velo Verde, pick up some fruit at our Honesty Hut, or enjoy the fresh air—we hope you’ll have a clearer picture of who we are and what we do. FarmEco is all about connecting people with nature and each other. We’d love for you to come explore the community garden, join us for an upcoming event, or even become a member to help support our future!