Aims & Principles

GWG is a Quaker inspired community cooperative

We aim to:

• Make a difference socially and environmentally

• Produce high quality organic produce at competitive prices

• Retail and wholesale organic food through our community supported agriculture programme, & on-site shop

• Support the local economy, creating opportunities for employment and volunteering

• Grow food to best environmental practice and Soil Association standards

The following principles underlie these aims.

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture uses the principles of ecology to ensure that the health of the land, plants, and livestock is such that farming the land can continue far into the future without needing harmful chemical inputs.

We are certified by the Soil Association as organic. This means that we do not use chemical inputs, and we prioritise the biological health of our soil through addition of compost and green manures. Healthy soil means healthy disease free plants, and abundant crops. Healthy vegetables means healthy people.

As much as possible we maintain a closed loop system, where we minimise the inputs into the farm by using onsite resources as much as possible. For example, fertilty inputs to our land are mainly from our in-house composting or from green manures. We grow all almost all our plants from seed. The only liquid feeds we use for our seedlings we use are made from plants grown on site.

Fairtrade

When we buy in produce from developing countries for our shop or delivery scheme, where it is possible, we buy fairly traded products. Fairtrade standards contain minimum requirements, as well as progress requirements that all producers must meet.

Fairtrade standards for small farmers’ organizations include requirements for democratic decision making, ensuring that producers have a say in how the Fairtrade Premiums are invested etc. They also include requirements for capacity building and economic strengthening of the organization.

Fairtrade standards for hired labour situations ensure that employees receive what supporters describe as “decent wages”and may join unions and bargain collectively. Fairtrade-certified plantations must also ensure that there is no forced or child labour and that health and safety requirements are met.

Equitable Employment

We aim to create a workplace where discrimination and harassment are not tolerated, and a positive work environment is fostered.

We have a flat-rate of pay for all members of the team, valuing the contribution each person makes.

Workplace Spirituality

We seek to provide a working environment that respects and nurtures all people be they employees, volunteers, customers or members of the community, recognising the interconnectedness of the goodness within us all.