The Big Idea
Nourish Kernow CIC is a non-profit regenerative market garden in Camelford, North Cornwall. By cultivating community connections through volunteering and outdoor learning, we aim to grow wholesome local food that nourishes both body and soul.
Offering people a chance to engage with, enjoy and learn about regenerative agriculture – from those seeking practical experience or time outdoors in nature to boost mental wellbeing, to others passionate about sustainable living and just enjoying local seasonal food.
We do this by producing locally-grown veg boxes to our members and offering hands-on volunteer experiences, educational opportunities and care farm activities centred around getting outside and growing together – enjoying tasty veg in the process!
Our goals
Build a sustainable Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) scheme
Run a successful membership-based veg box
Support local biodiversity and wildlife through projects and our practices
Offer a range of volunteer activities tailored to abilities
Support people to learn new skills and discover new interests
Be accessible and inclusive
Seek funding to provide activities for users whom funding is a barrier and might not otherwise engage
Be carbon positive
Connect people with healthy food, nature and their community
Provide an educational space that nurtures learners
Pay a Living Wage to our employees who we aim to employ year-round.
Our story
The seed of an idea
In October 2022, after another long day working alone in the rain, Spencer stepped into the kitchen exhausted, weighed down by the unending demands of smallholding life. The isolation outside, combined with an overwhelming list of daily tasks, was taking a toll on his mental health, something he had struggled with in the past. He realised he couldn’t continue this way.
Then, an idea took root as Spencer chatted with India, his wife. He had always enjoyed sharing the produce he grew with friends and family, and he loved showing campsite guests around the site. He thrived when sharing his experiences and knowledge, and that connection was what he enjoyed most about this way of life. So why not share it with others on a larger scale? Growing together, learning together, and enjoying good, local food together.
This dream of creating a sustainable market garden needed more than one person – it needed a community!
Coming together
When spring arrived, they took a leap and invited others to see what could grow if they all came together. On a cold day in March 2023, about a dozen volunteers gathered at Higher Culloden Farm, ready to sow seeds, and plant the future harvest. People arrived as strangers and left as friends who shared a common purpose.
That day, among the group, Spencer found the core team who would help turn this vision into something lasting. These ‘originals’ shared a passion not only for sustainable agriculture but for creating a space where people could connect, learn, and grow together. From that event, Nourish Kernow CIC was born.
Today, Nourish Kernow is more than a market garden; it’s a place where growing food is also about growing a community – one season, one person, and one shared purpose at a time.
Meet the team
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Founder and director
The driving force behind Nourish Kernow CIC, Spence is a qualified teacher, has extensive project management skills and training leadership experience. Plus he grows fantastic tomatoes!
Spence loves sharing his passion for growing and helping people connect with nature. With a strong commitment to education and inclusivity, he wants to create a healthier future for Camelford where everyone has access to fresh, locally grown produce while building stronger connections with each other and our environment.
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Community Grower
Sophie is our first employee! She helps us to grow on the farm – both figuratively and literally! From sowing seeds and preparing veg beds to watering and harvesting, she’s always hands-on and loves being outdoors. She also supports us with admin and social media, helping to grow our each.
Passionate about sustainable agriculture and low-impact living, Sophie is also a local mindfulness practitioner. She cares deeply about mental wellbeing and is dedicated to bringing the community together through her work. -
Director
Becca signed up to help at our very first event to see if others might be interested in starting something growing. She works locally and home-schools her child.
Green-fingered Becca is excited about experimenting with cooking all the veg grown here and boosting nutrition.
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Director
Not exactly local, but a very active part of the team from a distance, Jane brings a wealth of skills and experience across both education and health backgrounds.
Senior Lecturer in Health and Wellbeing and Acting Head of Department for Health Studies at Wolverhampton University, Jane is also completing her doctorate in Education.
Not one to sit still, Jane is passionate about Nourish Kernow CIC's aims of improving wellbeing and education through actively growing food and spending time in nature. And she loves to visit when her busy schedule allows!
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Secretary
India is a design and heritage consultant working from home in Camelford. She is generally the woman behind the computer screen for all things NK.
She is passionate about all the tasty veg grown here and finding exciting ways to enjoy them, but just wishes her child liked them as much as she does!
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Director
Natalie is currently studying Bookkeeping and we're hoping this means she'll take on the treasurer role one day! Even so, she likes to get involved with events at Nourish Kernow CIC and with Becca, has been with us since the start.
How it works
