1
Welcome/Croeso!
Membership Pack: Year 2012
We look forward to seeing you from time to time at our Farm Days, …… and our other social
events, throughout the year.
Feel free to contact any member of the core group (details below) if you have any questions
about COCA.
This membership pack contains the agreements you sign up to when you complete the joining
form. It is made up of three sections:
1) Our agreements as an association,
2) Vegetable shares – the details
3) Buying meat, eggs and extra veg.
The membership pack will be updated from time to time. The latest version is available from
Dave Livingstone, membership secretary: via [email protected] or on 01437 741533 or
07740 582830.
Our aims, principles and vision are included in the separate “Joining Form”, but to remind you :
 our vision is a community of people sharing and supporting organic food production,
in a spirit of friendship and trust.
WHAT IS CAERHYS ORGANIC COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE?
Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture (COCA) is an unincorporated association whose
members grow and share organic food in a partnership with local organic farmers. It is based on
mutual benefit and shared risk. As of January 2012 COCA has 38 members and intends to
reach 70 by this time next year.
Vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs will be / are grown at Caerhys Organic Farm. Other items
such as organic milk, cheese, meat and eggs can be bought at the same outlet but are produced
on other organic farms nearby. When produce is unavailable at Caerhys the membership buys
other organic produce co-operatively, from sources as close to COCA as possible.
Members pay an annual Membership Fee at the beginning of the year and then a monthly Share
Subscription. They receive a share of the produce weekly, (ie not a fixed quantity but a share of
whatever is harvested that week) and commit to supporting the farm and the farmers in both
good times and bad. Members are also called “sharers” to emphasise what it is all about ....
sharing!
2
This is a trust system: produce is set out in boxes in the Shed at the farm and Sharers weigh
out and pack their own veg share, guided by a list on the blackboard of what each share is for
that week.
The farmers are paid a wage to grow vegetables and other crops, assisted from time to time by
member volunteers/ WOOFA volunteers who help in the fields or any other appropriate way.
Volunteering is not essential to membership. The organisation is run day-to-day by a Core Group
of volunteers elected by the members. There are monthly meetings when all members/ sharers
can contribute to how the COCA functions.
Where to find Caerhys Organic Farm : (see map on flier)
Caerhys Organic Farm is at Berea, four miles from the centre of St Davids, one mile from
Croesgoch and eleven miles from Fishguard/ Goodwick. It is in the Pembrokeshire Coast
National Park, in a magnificent location overlooking Abereiddy and the cliffs of the north coast.
There is a bus service between St Davids and Fishguard/Goodwick three times a day in summer
(service 404, the Strumble Shuttle, between May and September)
Our agreements as a Community Supported Agriculture group:
This agreement sets out the commitment between Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture, the
farmers and you – the Members / Sharers. These should be read in addition to our constitution
as an unincorporated association, available from the core group.
Members of COCA share responsibility for the success of their community farm:
 Members agree with the vision, aims and principles of Caerhys Organic
Community Agriculture
 Members pay an Annual Membership Fee of £24/year by annual or monthly
standing order. This annual fee may be changed at an Annual General Meeting.
 Members pay a monthly Share Subscription at the beginning of each calendar
month, by standing order
 Members agree to support the farm through both fat and lean times and
endeavor to give at least thirteen weeks’ notice to cancel their Membership and/
or Share Subscription.
 Members sign up at their own risk. While every effort will be made to supply
produce entitlements, no guarantee can be given as to specific produce
availability, quantity or quality.
How COCA is managed:
1. The organisation is managed by a voluntary “Core Group” of members, which carries out
day-to-day administration, financial management and planning on behalf of all members.
The Core Group is made up of between 6 and 10 elected members, ideally standing
for a term of between 3 and 5 years. There is always at least one farmer/grower
on the Core Group. So we will have a maximum of 9 members from the general
membership on the core group and minimum of 1 farmer. The farm team will decide
which of the farmers sit on the Core Group (maybe for a year at a time), and the
members will elect the other 9.
Any member of COCA may stand for election to the Core Group if proposed and
seconded by two other COCA members.
3
Each year a third of the elected Core Group will stand down, starting with the
longest serving. This doesn't preclude others standing down as well. No one
person can remain a Core Group member for more than 4 years without standing
down. In exceptional circumstances this term can be extended by 12 months if
there is a need as determined by the Core Group. Anyone who stands down will
be able to stand for re-election after 12 months.
The AGM can elect the Core Group if at least 20% of members are present.
Alternatively a postal ballot can be arranged.
All Core Group meetings are open to members and observers and minutes are
available on request.
2. The Core Group can spend up to £5000 per item without approval from the membership. The
Core Group will not borrow money without first consulting members.
3.These are the names of the current Core Group members. Please contact any of them if
you would like more details or if you would like to come to a core group meeting:
Gerald and Caz Miles (farmers)
[email protected]
07879 664703
Jacki Sime
[email protected]
07816 677 392
Gill Lewis
[email protected]
01437 720 065
Val and Wyn Buick
[email protected]
01437 720620
Rupert Dunn
[email protected]
07955 387 614
Dave Livingstone (secretary)
[email protected]
07740 582830
Katie Iceton (Events)
[email protected]
01348 831771
Tom O’Kane
[email protected]
07791 696848
Mick Denney
[email protected]
01348 831993
4.
The farmers are self-employed and are paid on a monthly basis in arrears by
COCA. The farmers manage voluntary (such as WOOFAs) and/or casual farm workers.
The farmers have the day-to-day freedom to manage the vegetable-growing in line with
the overall aim of the project. They will grow a range of produce using only organic
practices. The farmers will plan their production according to the overall needs of the
members, who will be consulted. COCA is an enabling organisation, which gives the
farmers and growers the freedom to take initiative in all aspects relating to farm
management on its behalf.
5.
All members are encouraged to contribute to and be involved in the further growth
of the project in whatever way they choose - although this is not a condition of
membership. The public meetings provide an opportunity to contribute towards the
development of the project and a newsletter helps keep everyone informed of
developments and current issues. Notice of these public meetings is given in the
newsletters and by email to supporters.
6.
We may sometimes buy in vegetables to maintain supply to members. We will only
buy vegetables that are in season. Wherever possible we will buy from local suppliers.
If this is not possible we will buy from other UK suppliers. Bought-in items will be
indicated to members.
7.
Any surplus produce not needed by the members will be sold through local retail and
4
wholesale channels. The proceeds from these sales will go into the COCA bank account
and put towards running costs & capital development.
The Vegetable Shares … how it works
1. Members who pay the monthly Share Subscription can receive a share of the vegetables from
the farm.

The recommended contribution level to receive a weekly share of vegetables is currently
£40/month.

The suggested contribution for each additional vegetable share for the same household
is £30.

Half shares or fortnightly shares are available at £20.

The share subscription will need to be adjusted at intervals, by agreement at an AGM.

Members pay the agreed Share Subscription by monthly standing order to Caerhys
Organic Community Agriculture bank account. Details of the account and forms to set up
a Standing Order are available from Val Buick the Finance organizer.
2.Since the farm needs supporting throughout the year, monthly payments need to continue
even if you are on holiday.

Members usually arrange for a friend to collect their vegetables when they are away.

If you decide to cancel your membership while you are away, you would need to go on the
waiting list to rejoin.
2.Veg share “holidays”. Members who wish to take a “holiday” for up to 3 months are asked to
find someone else to take their veg. We ask that you maintain your Standing Order and make
any financial arrangements between you and the people who get your veg share. We will provide
you with contact details for a few people at the top of the waiting list.

If you want to stop paying for more than 3 months but less than 12 months you will need
to go on the waiting list but will be offered the next available share after you come
back.

If you stop paying for more than 12 months you will need to go to the bottom of the
waiting list.
3.In the future we intend there will be a small bursary to support potential members who cannot
afford the recommended level of financial contribution. Please ask the Core Group for details.
4.These rules are flexible; only needing the approval of members by general consensus. Any
agreed changes need to be confirmed at the next Annual General Meeting.
Membership benefits: vegetable shares; buying meat, eggs, dairy and extra
veg.
People are welcome to join COCA just as Member-Supporters because they believe in our aims
and want to help out financially. Paying the annual Membership Fee only will entitle you to:
 receive newsletters,
 attend meetings,
 join in social events,
 help as a volunteer if you wish,
 but not vote in elections or have a share of the produce.
However, most people join COCA as Member-Sharers to get organic local food that they can
trust and have a connection with in some way. They join in order to share the harvest.....
5
Each share will be proportional to the number of paid-up Sharers at the time. The group sets a
limit to the number of veg shares at any one time; this season the limit will be 50 shares max.
The amount to be shared depends on many factors : the season, the previous weather
conditions, success in growing crops, and not least the daily and weekly harvesting work. At
times there will be very little... (in which case the group may choose to pool resources and buy in
organic produce co-operatively. ) Other times there will be a glut. There is no necessity to
take more than you need. The group will sell surplus produce locally when necessary. However,
the amount paid for a share stays the same, whatever the amount produced that week ...............
that is the principle of support through bad times as well as good.
The main produce will be seasonal vegetables : we intend this first year for it to include
potatoes, carrots, onions, leeks, beetroot, salads, various beans, cabbages, mange-tout peas,
and so on. There will also be herbs and pick-your-own flowers, hopefully.
Collecting veg shares: there will be a room set aside in the Caerhys Farm buildings for the
harvested produce, its temporary storage and collection. Members will be given a period when
their shares are available to be collected : either midweek or at weekends,
 Produce will be set out in boxes, in bulk.
 A blackboard will list the amounts of each share for that week; members are
responsible for weighing and packing their own share, into their own bags and
boxes.
 Anything not wanted or is surplus goes into the “free gift box” and other
members can help themselves to it.
 Herbs and fresh flowers can be picked from the field on a pick-your-own basis at
your collecting time.
Delivered shares : depending where members live it may be possible to arrange to deliver
bulk boxes of veg to another collection point where the same system could operate for a group
of members in that locality. There is no intention to deliver individual shares to members’
homes, but of course members could co-operate to collect each other’s shares week by week on
a rota basis ... that would be upto individuals to arrange themselves.
Organic meat, eggs and dairy : there is a fridge/ freezer at the Share Shed for
perishable produce that has been bought in through a bulk-ordering co-operative within the
membership.
We intend to have bulk-ordering of :
 Caerfai organic unpasteurized milk
 Caerfai organic cheeses.
 Caerhys organic pork and sausages
 organic eggs from Wyn Morgan.
 Produce of other local organic farms as available
A monthly or weekly order could be picked up at the same time as a veg share and paid for
separately. Val Buick should be contacted for more information
Contacting COCA:
Contact any Core Group member by phone or email.
Facebook Group : Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture
Web : www.stdavids.co.uk/coca