1Good afternoon everyone, and a very warm welcome to this briefing about the proposed community farm on the edge of town.
2My name is Samuel Okafor, and I have coordinated community agriculture projects across the region for nearly fifteen years.
3First of all, let me explain that the farm will occupy land beside the river which has stood empty for a decade.
4The site was originally earmarked for a car park, but the council agreed to lease it to us instead.
5We had hoped to begin planting in March, although persistent flooding has delayed the start until the middle of May.
6Right, moving on to membership, each household pays twenty pounds a year, which covers insurance, seeds, and shared equipment.
7Concessionary members pay half that amount, not a quarter as some of the early publicity unfortunately suggested.
8Members commit to two hours of work each week, and in return receive a generous share of whatever is harvested.
9Volunteers should sign in at the tool shed, sorry, the barn, which is the larger building behind the farmhouse.
10We also plan workshops on composting and beekeeping, led by a local expert called Miriam Hartley.
11One last thing, anyone interested should leave their details with the clerk at the town hall by Friday.
12Thank you for your patience this afternoon, and I do hope to see many of you at the farm.