Back 2 Earth
The Back 2 Earth project is the developmental synergy of three key aspects of Hackney city Farm:
- Social Enterprise
- Environment
- People
Back 2 Earth builds upon the Farm’s many years experience of environmental improvement and community involvement. The present site was transformed by the hard work of local volunteers from a derelict lorry yard into the urban oasis found today.
A development grant from SEED enabled the Farm to draw up a business plan and submit a proposal for core project funding to the Big Lottery fund. The Back 2 Earth project aim is to further develop Hackney City Farm’s role as a local environemtal centre whilst offering training and volunteering opportunities.
The Back 2 Earth Project currently runs the following programs:
- Key Stage 4 Alternative Education Provision for excluded young people aged 14–16
- Community volunteering and ESOL for asylum seekers and refugees
- Adult volunteering
- Young Farmers Club
- Corporate community responsibility days
Year 1 05/06 Projects
Garden Project
A £25,000 grant from the Living Spaces program allowed the Farm to redevelop the front garden. The garden benefited from extensive replanting, cockle shell paths and a stone sculpture by Matt Caines. We also expanded upon our growing capability with new vegetable beds and a polytunnel with a solar powered rain water irrigation system.
Cine du Soliel
A 17 year old ex-hackney carriage running on biodiesel converted into a mini cinema powered by wind & solar showing films made here on the farm. Need we say more…
Mini Straw bale
Built by our volunteer groups this formed the test bed for our straw bale resource room to be built during 2007. Not only did we learn how to work with straw but we now have a very attractive tool shed in our garden.
Waste Audit
B2E carried out a waste audit of the Farm, Café and offices. The result is that the Farm has improved its recycling systems. All cardboard, paper, glass, metal and plastic are recycled through LOOP Recycling. All suitable organic matter is composted on site. The result is that we are filling just over 1 bin a week instead of 3!
Car Shed Car
Another curious hybrid vehicle, half Fiat Uno half shed. Car Shed Car has been built by our boys on Alternative Education Provision out of an old Fiat Uno abandoned here at the Farm and recycled timber. We hope to use Car Shed Car to sell refreshments to users of the soon to be complete multi use games area in Haggerston Park.
Year 2 07/08 Projects
Strawbale Resource Room
As the Farm moves from strength to strength we are gradually filling all available space in our building. We have been given planning permission to build a new resource room funded by Biffaward. The resource room will be a self build truly low impact building using straw bales, sustainable materials and absolutely no concrete! The construction will offer training opportunities in carpentry, straw bale building and other environmentally sound building techniques.
Peoples Millions
In November 2006 year we were awarded second place in the ITV competition, which works with the National Lottery to allocate grants. They awarded us £50,000 towards the Back 2 Earth project. They money will fund a garden outreach project which aims to go into under-used and derelict sites in Hackney and turn them into flourishing gardens with the help of the neighbours and volunteers who live nearby.
Energy & Water Consumption
Ever conscious of our impact on the environment the Farm is looking to reduce our consumption of energy and water. In the short term we have begun to collect as much rain water as possible from our roofs and utilising this in the yard and garden. Ultimately we would like to recycle our grey water. We would like to reduce our dependency on mains electricity and gas. Initially we need to address the general draftyness and thermal efficiency of our building before exploring more sustainable methods of heating and the possibility of solar and wind electricity generation.