Meet + Eat at Gullivers Farm, Shop and Kitchen
Meet + Eat at Gullivers Farm, Shop and Kitchen takes place every Saturday from 15 April until September in the Orchard. We’ll be serving up weekly specials that celebrate the best of what Dorset has to offer from 12pm until we sell out.
But beyond the amazing food and drink, Meet + Eat is an opportunity to learn more about what’s on your plate. Each week we’ll be supporting local producers, showcasing their wonderful produce.
We caught up with Gullivers Social Enterprise Manager, Lee Doran to find out more.
What inspired you to set up Meet + Eat?
Rising food and living costs are making the world we live in a very difficult place at the moment. Local businesses and producers are going through tricky times, so we wanted to try to do something to help. Meet + Eat is about bringing the community together, celebrating local food and enjoying some live music in the countryside.
Why should we try to eat locally?
Shopping locally keeps money in your area, which helps to sustain local producers and create local jobs.
What’s more, by supporting your local farmer today, you’ll help to ensure there will be farms in your community tomorrow. This is vital for our country's long-term food security.
What are the key challenges facing farmers and local food producers?
Rising energy costs, but food and ingredient costs too. On our farm, we have seen the price of purchasing seeds rising. This impacts the vegetables we grow, but the grain too because we grow our own to feed our pigs and chickens. It’s all connected.
After Brexit it was said farmers would be supported by our government. Unfortunately we are yet to see this support or even any information on how we will be supported, which is disappointing.
How can people help?
Our charity, Sturts Community Trust, originally opened Gullivers Farm, Shop and Kitchen to bring people together, to support the wider community and for the people whom we support to showcase their skills to you all each day. Popping in for a coffee (and maybe a slice of cake!), some locally sourced produce or coming along to one of our events all helps massively.
How can we all have a more positive impact on the world?
Support local. By supporting local, you help build communities. Popping out to your local butcher, florist, restaurant or pub builds familiarity. It’s the way communities and friendships are made.
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See the Meet + Eat line-up. Weekly specials menu drops every Thursday via socials.