The Brighton Permaculture Trust has launched an online crowdfunding campaign to complete the building of a straw bale fruit factory in Stanmer Village.
Located in an old tractor shed in Stanmer Park the straw bale renovation will be used for transforming seasonal fruits into jams, chutneys, and juices. The Fruit Factory will also be a lively venue to educate and engage the public about local fruit, orchards, and food production.
Work has already begun on The Fruit Factory, but £12,000 is needed to complete the structure by summer 2015 – ready for the fruit season.
The Buzzbnk campaign launched on Tuesday 3 March, and will last for 30 days.
One of the Brighton Permaculture Trust’s key initiatives for the last six years has been their pop-up scrumping project. Now, they want to scale up the scrump. The Fruit Factory could process up to 40 tons of fruit a year – the equivalent of 250,000 apples!
Stanmer Park, one of Brighton’s most visited green spaces, is where many of Brighton Permaculture Trusts’ activities take place.
The trust manages three orchards and a volunteer plot, as well as running courses at the Brighton Earthship and organizing the hugely successful Apple Day in the Park.
Founded in 2000 Brighton Permaculture became a charity in February 2013. For 15 years Brighton Permaculture Trust has worked to create an abundant future for local communities, celebrating and supporting sustainable projects through the application of permaculture design.
Over the last 10 years the Brighton Permaculture Trust has helped plant 90 orchards with schools and communities across Sussex. Working with both adults and school children, The Fruit Factory will also be a place of learning.
By re-localising production and locating it in a well known site, The Fruit Factory aims to demonstrate what seasonal and environmentally sound food looks and tastes like. As an educational charity, bringing people together around the production and sharing of food is central to the work of Brighton Permaculture Trust.
The Fruit Factory will also function as a venue for courses in orchard management, hosting events, and selling produce.
