Food Smiles

Food Smiles St Albans is a small project based at Hammonds End Farm, Hammonds End Lane Harpenden AL52AY, we currently have approximately 30 members. Established in 2014 following discussions with members of Sustain St Albans to find some land to grow vegetables, we got to work in April 2014; clearing, digging and weeding the neglected site (the farmer had roughly ploughed it for us but there was much more work to be done), repairing the three disused polytunnels, building compost bins, and getting planting.

To become a legal entity and be able to sign a proper contract with the farmer, we became a Community Benefit Society and put in place a formal set of rules – the Plunkett Foundation assisted with this. This allowed us to secure a five year tenancy at Hammonds End which rolls on.

In 2016 St Albans district council offered pockets of land for community gardening which led to the formation of “Incredible Edible” volunteers meet on a regular basis to tend city herb and veg plots. Later in 2016 the Community Development Agency provided a small plot at Hixberry lane in St Albans which has some fruit and a very small growing area.

We meet regularly on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings – from all walks of life, levels of experience and skill, which is put to use trying to grow enough to all share a veg box each week through out the year