TURNOVER has increased and we have secured funding for a community shop, says a delighted Mark Barnes.

“We regard this as something of a success,” he adds.

Future Farms is a non-profit making co-operative set up in Martin in 2004 producing vegetables and fruit as well as rearing chickens and pigs. The village shop had closed in 1982 and the co-operative was to be for, and on behalf of, the village.

When I spoke to Janet Richards two years ago, she was the only paid part-time worker. Janet, who is in charge of the three acres of vegetables, fruit and a polytunnel, is delighted there are now four paid part-timers as well as a chicken hand.

“There are also about 40 volunteers helping on a regular basis and we are now growing more than 50 different varieties of fruit and vegetable. Another polytunnel is on the forecast and we now have laying hens.”

The field used for vegetable growing was formerly used for set aside and was regularly sprayed and so, unfortunately, Future Farms cannot claim to be organic. But, says Janet, they use no pesticides or artificial fertilisers, use barrier methods of control such as Enviromesh and use green manures such as clover.

“This has improved the fertility of the soil and we can now see new life coming back to the field. You can see broomrape flowers growing in the clover and we have a swallow nesting in one of the chicken huts. The biodiversity is improving daily,” she says.

On Saturday mornings and Tuesday afternoons, it is market day in the village hall in Martin and, alongside the fresh produce, you can also buy eggs, pork (from their own pigs) and lamb as well as essential groceries. If you need fresh vegetables on a daily basis, the village barrow on the side of the main street is stocked with seasonal produce.

Future Farms has been featured in the national press, from The Sun and The Guardian to the Big Issue and Country Life, as a shining example of what can be achieved in a community.

But the big excitement in the village is the setting up of the community shop in a room in the village hall.

“We will be able to sell a bigger range of items and it will be good to have a shop open every day, that is our long term aim,” explains Mark.

With the help of a grant from Hampshire County Council, the community shop should be open in two months’ time, once the leasing agreement is reached.

“It is nice to think we have a place in village life,” says Mark.

Next time you are passing the sign for Martin, take a short detour and stock up on fresh produce from the barrow, or catch up with members of the co-operative at the Damerham or Broad Chalke fairs.