Meet Lizzie Stephens, managing director of Bedminster Down Community Farm
I was born in Bristol – the youngest of five siblings – into the Cole family on my dad’s side, which is apparently the largest family in Bristol. Though two of my siblings have passed away, my huge family has remained in Bristol. They all come to the farm for events and parties.
At the farm we have two pet sheep (our woolly lawnmowers), bees, 100 chickens, Bantams, ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs, Reggie the pet pig (who’s a spoilt boy) and meat pigs.
The volunteers help with the animal husbandry, cleaning out and feeding. We have work experience students and corporate volunteers that help us too. We love having volunteers, not just for the animals, but for helping with planting, food growing, weeding and clearing as well.
An average day in my life at the farm is so changeable, it depends on what’s happened overnight – like recent fox attacks, for example.
Generally, I go and feed the animals, muck them out, collect and wash eggs, prep for the next day, do some random tidying and maintenance jobs around the farm, some seed sowing and planting, digging and weeding. Then I’ll come home to cook, clean and feed the animals we have there (we’re currently raising a brood of home-hatched Bantams) and get ready for my night shift as a support worker.
Without community farms, Bristol would be a poorer place.
We need people to get involved and support these little gems to keep them going. They’re so important for the city, offering little spots of fresh air, and offering great places for adults and children to learn how to care for animals, as well as understanding where the meat comes from and how it’s produced.
Allotments and farms can take you out of your everyday life, these spaces are amazing.
They are good for you physically and mentally, as you’re getting exercise, growing fresh food and talking to other likeminded people. There’s a sense of community too, a real team spirit. Allotments are tiny patches of land that will never belong to us, yet we love them, we tend to and care for them knowing we are just borrowing them – whether we choose to move on, get too old, or pass them to the next guardian, it is a right and a privilege to have one. If only people realised this, there wouldn’t be so many left vacant and unloved across Bristol. I think there is an allotment for everyone, but not everyone should have an allotment, as it’s definitely a commitment and shouldn’t be squandered.
This year, I want to put our tiny farm on the map.
Our goals are to get more people involved, teach people how to grow the food from seed to plate, provide fresh locally-grown veg for local people, and make our little space important for all to use.
For more information, search ‘Bedminster Down Community Farm’ on Facebook and follow
@bedminsterdowncommunityfarm on Instagram
