CONCUKTEEN01-24 - Rock Farm Conservation Project | CONCUKTEEN01-24 | 2024-07-01 - 2024-07-07 | ENVI,MANU,EDU | Age: 16 - 17

Rock Farm is a therapeutic growing project open to everyone, restoring both the landscape and people through an innovative market garden model. We grow fruit and vegetables using regenerative, permaculture, and no dig principles, with absolutely zero pesticides or herbicides. We are at the cutting edge of embedding productive crops in a forest garden ecosystem, which sinks large amount of carbon into the soil instead of emitting it and provides the backbone of our sustainability and therapeutic curricula. Retreats, camping, workshops and horticulture courses are also available at Rock Farm, especially for marginalised people. Rock Farm is part of One Church Brighton, an organisation with several social projects in and around the Brighton area. Rock Farm grows produce on six acres of community land in West Sussex, offering access to horticultural therapy and community gardening for a range of volunteers and vulnerable groups.

Work: Volunteers will carry out environmental and sustainable conservation volunteering while learning hands on practice in carbon-negative food production and sustainability. Volunteers’ day to day task would include a range of skill based learning activities: Planting trees, growing vegetables, tree work. Volunteers will also be harvesting fruits and vegetables which are needed for the market, alongside the potential of some construction work to further enhance the volunteer’s skillset. Volunteers will be receiving an educational experience alongside the volunteering. Main volunteering tasks will include: - Berry Picking - Clay Restoration on a Pizza Oven - Tending to the plants and other wildlife - Digging new areas for new trees to be planted - Education sessions with the host Volunteers will have cultural visits and leisure activities will be organised together with the group. Activities will include: - Walk to local town Steyning. - Takeaway Pizza - Games Night - Visit to Brighton - Farwell Party

Accomodation and food: Volunteers will stay in large style canvas tents throughout the project, this is a sustainable style living and project so do pre plan and bring warm clothes and items to sleep to in – I must emphasise that even in the British Summertime it will be VERY COLD AT NIGHT – please ensure you bring enough warm clothes, sleeping bags and warm clothes to sleep in. Volunteers will have access to two hot outdoor showers – these are outdoor showers, so you will need to bring flip-flops/sliders and a swimming costume – as these are carbon negative showers there will only be a certain amount of hot water per day – one of the tasks for the volunteers is to create the hot water system!. Rock farm will provide a small furnished cabin in the camping area for use as a meeting and relaxing area. There are a four further buildings/cover for eating and cooking – including a pizza oven! Rock farm will provide dry goods and fresh produce for two meals per day, plus one hot meal cooked together with the rock farm staff. All Volunteers are expected to get involved in the cooking process and washing up.

Location: Washington

Location and Leisure: Rock Farm is based near Steyning, about 20 miles from Brighton. Volunteers will have the chance to visit the local area and go for hikes in the countryside. Visits to close-by sites will ensure that the group get the whole feeling of the area and learn about living in the British culture. There are two farm shops within short walking distance if volunteers want to get any food/snacks – with a further two villages within an hour’s walk. The accommodation is on the South Downs walking trail, with many beautiful hikes available to the volunteers. The Concordia Coordinator will help volunteers make plans for their free time – but volunteers will be expected to contribute ideas and suggestions for activities.

Airport: LGW

Train/Bus station: Brighton Train Station

Requirements: Volunteers need to be able to work outdoors in various types of weather, walking on uneven ground is required. Volunteers will be sent a consent form prior to the project beginning which needs to be filled in and returned to Concordia.

Volutneers to meet at Brighton Train Station at 4pm

Language: eng

Extra Fee: 350 GBP

This is a teenage project. Volutneers need to be prepared to camp and use outdoor bathrooms and showers.