Aldermoor Community Farm

What Aldermoor Community Farm does

Aldermoor Community Farm is a UK-registered charitable project operating under the Alder Trust umbrella, based at Aldermoor Road, Southampton. Founded in July 2013 as a cooperative and folded into Alder Trust in April 2019 to obtain charitable status, the farm runs a multi-service urban community operation: a Farm Shop selling pesticide-free, farm-grown produce alongside locally sourced artisan goods; a seasonal Cafe; a 'pay as you feel' Emporium pre-loved shop; and a Refill Station offering bulk cleaning and personal care products to reduce plastic waste. The site is open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am-5pm.

The farm's core community programmes include a Volunteer Programme (30+ regulars and 100+ annually, currently at capacity), Therapeutic Gardening sessions delivered to primary, secondary, and college groups for emotional resilience and self-regulation, and a Community Hub hosting workshops, foraging walks, and annual festivals (Grow Your Own, Spring Celebration, Harvest Festival, Supper Club). Growing is conducted under permaculture and no-dig principles using a natural spring water source and composting systems; a Food Specialist converts surplus into baked goods, preserves, ferments, and bespoke celebration cakes.

The business model is community-led and diversified: transactional retail (shop, cafe, emporium, refill), ticketed workshops and events, recurring Friends of the Farm membership at £5/month minimum, school partnership fees for therapeutic sessions, and grant/donor funding from partners including Rocc Ltd. and Belsize Charitable Trust No. 1. Distribution is single-site physical, supplemented by local supplier networks (Dirset Dairy, Isle of Wight Tomatoes, Kindness Bakery, Longmans, Lyburn, Marshfield, Michelmersh Farm, Mozzo, Shipton Mill, Harth, Watercress) and word-of-mouth community referrals via Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram channels.

Name

Aldermoor Community Farm

Legal name

Aldermoor Community Farm

Website

https://aldermoorfarm.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aldermoor Community Farm is a Southampton-based charitable urban farm under Alder Trust, combining pesticide-free permaculture growing, a farm shop, cafe, emporium, refill station, and volunteer and therapeutic gardening programmes serving local community members, schools, and donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Agriculture & Sustainable Food Retail

NAICS

Other Animal Production (1129), Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (444240)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGALAD

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Enterprises & Impact Organizations

SECONDARYCRAHAHAE

Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food)

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Fresh Food Specialists (Produce, Meat, Seafood)

SECONDARYCRAHAGAO

Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops)

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Specialty Food Stores (Deli, Cheese, Gourmet, Bakery)

SECONDARYTHAJAGAK

Farm-to-Table & Agritourism Dining Experiences (Farm Visits, Harvest Meals)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Food & Drink Experiences (Culinary Tours, Tastings, Cooking Classes)

Keywords

• Community farming
• Therapeutic gardening
• Permaculture agriculture
• Volunteer programs
• Sustainable food production

Headquarters

HQ city

Southampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Farm Shop Sales: Sale of farm-grown vegetables, eggs, and produce alongside locally sourced artisan products. Customers purchase directly from the on-site shop.
2. Cafe: Seasonal food and beverages including cakes, drinks, and street food style offerings at events, prepared by Food Specialist Pam.
3. Emporium (Pre-loved Shop): 'Pay as you feel' pre-loved items shop generating approximately £8,000 per year. All profits support farm operations.
4. Workshops & Events: Ticketed workshops including Jam Jar Posy (£20), Foraging Workshop (£25), and Supper Club. Also hosts community events like Grow Your Own Festival and Harvest Festival.
5. Friends of the Farm Membership: Monthly donation program (£5 minimum per month) offering quarterly newsletter, monthly shop offers, and free Annual Supper Club ticket.
6. Refill Station: Bulk cleaning products, hand soap, and hair care products sold with reusable bottles to reduce plastic waste.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Aldermoor Community Farm is an urban community farm in Southampton that runs an on-site Farm Shop and Cafe selling pesticide-free, farm-grown produce and locally sourced artisan goods, an Emporium (pay-as-you-feel pre-loved charity shop), and food production including preserves and celebration cakes. It also delivers a Volunteer Programme, Therapeutic Gardening sessions for partnered schools and young people, and hosts ticketed workshops and community events built on permaculture and no-dig growing principles.

Product overview

Aldermoor Community Farm operates as a multi-service community organisation offering a Farm Shop, Farm Cafe, and Emporium (pre-loved charity shop) as its core retail offerings. These are complemented by community engagement programmes including a Volunteer Programme, Therapeutic Gardening sessions for young people, and a Community Hub hosting workshops and events. The Food Production service by specialist Pam creates weekly baked goods, preserves, and bespoke celebration cakes. The farm also runs seasonal events including the annual Grow Your Own Festival, Spring Celebration Day, and Harvest Festival, plus a Supper Club dining experience. A Refill Station supports sustainable living by reducing plastic waste.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farm Shop

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alder TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2019Umbrella charity providing support in HR, Finance, Policy & Procedures, Funding & Fundraising, and Management. Aldermoor Community Farm merged with Alder Trust in April 2019 to gain charitable status and administrative capacity.
• Permaculture SouthamptonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2017Monthly gatherings bringing together people interested in permaculture to share learning and knowledge since April 2017.
• Southampton City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoaned cargo bike to the farm for vegetable deliveries, enabling local office deliveries in 2017.
• CommunibakesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of hot cross buns for cafe and events.
• Local Suppliers (Dirset Dairy, Isle of Wight Tomatoes, Kindness Bakery, Longmans, Lyburn, Marshfield, Michelmersh Farm, Mozzo, Shipton Mill, Harth, Watercress, etc.)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of local artisan suppliers supporting the farm shop with reduced plastic and natural products.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stepney City Farm: East London community farm offering therapeutic gardening, volunteer programs, and a farm shop. Similar charitable structure and youth/education focus to Aldermoor.
• Spitalfields City Farm: London urban community farm providing volunteer opportunities, educational visits, and a small farm shop. Shares Aldermoor's model of combining food growing with community outreach.
• Mudchute Park & Farm: Large urban community farm in London operating a farm shop, cafe, and educational programs. Comparable charitable model centered on community engagement and sustainable food production.
• Sutton Community Farm: Community-run farm growing vegetables using organic methods with volunteer engagement. Comparable small-scale sustainable agriculture and community food access mission.
• St. Werburghs City Farm: Bristol-based community farm offering volunteer programs, animal care, food growing, and therapeutic/wellbeing activities. Operates as a charitable organization with similar community engagement and educational programming as Aldermoor.

Broad incumbents

• Riverford Organic Farmers: Major UK organic vegetable producer with farm shops and box schemes. Comparable on organic/pesticide-free produce and farm retail, though Riverford is a much larger commercial operator versus Aldermoor's charitable model.
• Daylesford Organic: Premium UK organic farm shop and cafe operator. Overlaps with Aldermoor on organic provenance and on-site cafe culture, but serves a much higher-end commercial market.

Others

• The Soil Association: UK charity promoting organic and regenerative farming. Relevant as an ecosystem/standards body whose values and certification frameworks align with Aldermoor's permaculture and organic practices.
• Feedback Global: UK environmental NGO focused on food waste and sustainable food systems. Share thematic alignment with Aldermoor's sustainability mission and food access work, though operating through advocacy rather than direct farming.

Emerging players

• Farm Urban: Liverpool-based social enterprise using urban farming and aquaponics for community education and food production. Shares Aldermoor's sustainability and education focus but with a more technology-driven model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AldermoorFarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aldermoor-community-farm
• Instagraminstagram.com/aldermoorcommunityfarm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aldermoor Community Farm