Our community
We are first and foremost a locally oriented market garden, which means we do more than just grow and sell veg, we support and are supported by our community.
In Hatherleigh we have encountered the most warm, welcoming, community minded people we could have wished for. We continue to be amazed at how much goes on here and how open and inclusive are the people we meet. So now it's our turn to offer something of lasting value to Hatherleigh.
We have set up Moor Lane Market Garden as a Community Interest Company (CIC), which means all surplus income goes back into the CIC for the continuing benefit of the community. It also means that we are set up to deliver more than just veg to you. The objectives of our company are:
To increase local seed and food availability, security and resilience by:
- Growing and selling vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers to the local community
- Growing and selling regionally adapted seeds
- Offering opportunities for people to learn about veg growing and seed saving
- Delivering local seed swaps and education on seed saving
- Promoting the wider benefits of small scale organic agriculture
We want to tailor what we grow to what you need in the way of vegetables and seeds. Our focus is on working out how we can deliver you fresh, nutritious, organic produce that has been grown in local soil and local weather conditions, in ways that are ecologically sound and create an even more beautiful environment.
As part of this approach we plan to offer sliding scale veg boxes when we launch them in 2027 and a 'pay it forward' option where customers can choose to support a subsidised veg box.
Volunteering
We are happy to be hosting volunteering opportunities on our land, which have included hedge planting, scything practise and veg growing. We will be offering more regular volunteering opportunities for people of different ages and abilities, so that local people can benefit from spending time with nature, gaining experience of growing vegetables, and spend time in the natural beauty of this area.
Watch the Events page for more information about volunteering opportunities.
Local Partnerships
Sustainable Hatherleigh
Paul, Jen and Emma are volunteers with Sustainable Hatherleigh, a volunteer-led not-for-profit community group who run various environmental and wildlife projects in Hatherleigh and surrounding areas including a monthly Repair Cafe. Sustainable Hatherleigh have been very supportive of the development of the CIC, many members have come volunteer tree planting, scything and veg growing. You can visit Sustainable Hatherleigh's website here.
Community Action Groups (CAG) Devon
The CAG Devon network consists of grassroots community groups organising events and projects with a focus on waste reduction, composting, sharing, re-use, repair, biodiversity, energy and other sustainability initiatives.
We are proud to have recently joined as a member and look forward to getting involved in the network. You can visit CAG Devon's website here.
Devon Wildlife Trust exists to protect wildlife in Devon and safeguard Devon’s unique natural environment. They have already supported us by providing 600 free trees, stakes and guards to plant a hedge and offering land management guidance as part of their ‘Northern Devon Natural Solutions’ project . In Autumn they will be facilitating our community consultation event. You can visit Devon Wildlife Trust's website here.
Community Project
There is a vision for the adjacent field to become a community project which could be an edible garden (e.g a nut orchard, soft fruits or forest garden). In Autumn 2026 we will be hosting a community consultation event in partnership with Sustainable Hatherleigh and Devon Wildlife Trust’s ‘Wilder Communities’ project, to explore what the local community need and want, to help shape the project.
Watch this space and local media for more information on this.
Local Producers
In 2027 when our market garden is more established we will be offering weekly veg boxes and when we do this we plan to work in partnership with other local growers and producers to bring you their amazing cheese, mushrooms, eggs and other produce.
Wider Partnerships
We are members of the Landworkers' Alliance and Organic Growers Alliance. Both organisations do amazing work to strengthen the connection and voice of agro-ecological and organic growers and landworkers in the UK, from political campaigning for small farms, emergency loans, learning opportunities, trainings and network building. We are very grateful for their work and for the supportive generous spirit we experience amongst the landworkers community.
Visit the Landworkers' Alliance website here.
Visit the Organic Growers' Alliance website here.
