All is calm, all is bright – Although the cold and snow is an inconvenience to a society always on the march – for the plants, bulbs and seedlings it is as essential to life as the long summer days. A cold spell, when plants remain dormant (vernalisation), means the outlook for a bumper crop is bright. So whilst, to the undiscerning eye, it may appear that not a lot is happening at the site rest assured that life is marching on in its own quiet, self assured way.

The five year plan – Members and trustees will discuss plans for developing the Faggs Road site in January – soft fruit, vegetables, orchards, wildlife areas, shrubs and herbaceous plants and flowers are all up for grabs. We are hoping to accommodate most interests and maximise the diversity of plant life at Faggs Road – this will also increase the number of training opportunities offered at the site.

The Heart and Soil

Organisation – The words of Sun Tzu in the Art of War have been taken to heart by military campaigners and advertising executives alike. HCFA too believes that organisation is the key to a successful campaign.

The weather and Christmas break has meant fewer hours on the site – about 60 for December – but work continues a pace behind the scenes. Website development, briefing the local press, grant applications, meeting training providers - are just a few of the tasks diligently undertaken by trustees and members in the last month. And although we’re not sufficiently organised to unify China we’re hoping that the Faggs Road site will look a lot better in the New Year as a result.

Acorns to Oak trees

(A) political – For various reasons (the elections in May, the word “co-operative” and “community” appearing in HCFA literature, the impending meetings with Councillors) HCFA would like to declare its political allegiances. Like the plants it wishes to grow, the wildlife it wishes to foster and the people it wishes to engage - HCFA values are inspired by the intimate relationships forged between all aspects of life.

Whether you are as right wing as Atilla the Hun or as left wing as Mao the web of life flows on regardless – it isn’t right it isn’t left it just is. It knows its place and fulfils its role perfectly. So by developing a site where the foraging bee, the climbing honeysuckle, the tunnelling worm or the blossoming apple tree can ebb and flow - HCFA hopes to watch, learn and just be – irrespective of who gets in come May.

• When is an allotment not an allotment? – When it is being used as advertising space? – it’s been considered.
• When it is used for grazing horses? – it’s been done.
• When it is a storage site for skips and bins? – it’s being done.
• When it is opened up to the local community for growing fruit and vegetables and horticultural training opportunities? – it’s not permitted.

Well Dickens said the law is an ass and we hope to show why, in the HCFA case, nothing could be closer to the mark.

Democracy in action – HCFA will be presenting the community farming case to Hounslow councillors and stakeholders in the coming months. First stop on the campaign trial is the Isleworth and Brentford Area Committee and, since we don’t have any money, you can rest assured that public backing will be a result of winning hearts and minds not ballooning bank balances.

New Deal – In 2010 there will be a new civil service show in town – the Flexible New Deal (FND). Like everything in life this isn’t a new idea – Roosevelt had one for the Great Depression. Similarly HCFA isn’t a new idea – there are lots of community farming projects across the country.

However, if Coca Cola canned their product because refreshments weren’t a new idea then Father Christmas would still be yellow and green and our teeth would be in much better shape. But HCFA believes, like Coca Cola, that we have something different to offer. Which is why we are giving the latest (flexible) New Deal a try by putting ourselves forward as a sub-contracted training provider.

And finally……….as a special Christmas feature here is an ode inspired by some cynicism – “horticulture, what flowers haha…..” - encountered during this time of festive cheer.

Flowers

Flowers - Does a man not offer flowers to the opposite sex in return for favours – and if the favour is returned are flowers not a very powerful procreating force? What is more powerful than an object capable of creating life as destructive as humankind?

Flowers – are (were) flowers not an essential part of an insects lifecycle? - insects essential for pollinating both ornamental plants as will as plants edible to humankind. Take out flowers and the accompanying fauna and the chances of you indulging your infernal gut are greatly diminished.

Flowers – let me introduce you to the Monkshood whose root, should you dare to touch and then accidentally lick the touching hand, will result in convulsions that could send you to your grave.

Flowers – mock them at your peril.

Wishing you all a Merry Chirstmas and prosperous New Year!