Corbenic Camphill Community is developing a new farming project which is moving ahead thanks to a grant from the Camphill Foundation and the generosity of other donors.
Corbenic is based on 50 acres in beautiful countryside in Perthshire and the 55-strong community includes 27 adults with learning disabilities. In recent years the community has been without a farmer and while the productive gardens grow produce for the community and for sale locally, the farm land supported just a couple of donkeys, two riding ponies and some goats.
Now a new farmer has joined Corbenic and the farm is being brought back to the heart of the community as a workplace for residents and day attenders. Fences have been repaired, there are pigs and chickens, and cattle will graze to maintain wild flowers in the pastures.
An essential tool on any farm is a tractor, but Corbenic could not afford the £25,000 required from its day-to-day operational budget. To help get fundraising started, the Camphill Foundation provided a grant of £5,000. That initial boost was the kick-start that the fundraising campaign needed. The community's parents group was particularly active, raising a lot of money to meet the required total. One of the donations they secured was for £1,500 from the local Hilton Dunkeld House hotel. The hotel has made Corbenic Community its nominated local charity and donated the money into the Corbenic Tractor Fund.
As a result of the Camphill Foundation's grant and the successful fund raising, a tractor (pictured above with members of the farm team) was bought for the farm. Implements are being acquired so that some of the land can be ploughed for potatoes and other crops.
As a land-based community, it means a lot to Corbenic to see their farm coming back into production. It is already being managed organically and being converted to biodynamic status.
The availability of training and work on the farm, in addition to the other workshops, allows those with disabilities to participate fully and make their contribution to the life of the community.