Clear – Skies

Community Feasibility Study

 

Fox Housing Co-operative

 

Wern Dolau

Gelli Aur

Llandeilo

Carmarthenshire

 

 

Prepared by Sundance Renewables  (Sustainable Energy Co-operative)

 

With grant funding from the Clear-Skies initiative

 

Contents

 

 

Background

Fox Housing Co-operative is the base for Organics To Go, which is a direct delivery scheme that brings fresh organic produce to more than 900 households. They are situated at a 70 acre farm near Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire and have become the largest box scheme operating from Wales. This is an ecological farm – all that they do, build, purchase is audited to make sure that it represents the best ecological solution rather than the cheapest. All profits made are channelled into creating a model of how to live lightly but conveniently in today’s world; planting woodland, developing employment and organic farming and eco building.

Organics To Go make deliveries in their van which runs on LPG and the organisation is in a healthy financial position with members receiving a living wage. As well as providing enjoyable and ethical work for many people, all the profits are directed into converting chemically farmed land into organic agriculture, orchard and native woodland. There is scope to expand the community beyond the 70 acres, which it already occupies and the vision is for a model community to develop. Already, commendable operational practices and structures are in place, which ensure the accountability of the organisation to its members. This is a thriving and unique community enterprise, with a lot of sound business sense behind it and a secure and rewarding future, based solidly on good environmental practice.

 

 Photograph taken during an Open Day in summer 2004, showing main house