The Biodynamic Agriculture Association has recently taken over the biodynamic training courses from Emerson College. Emerson College has a new Board of Trustees, a group of people who are changing the college into an eco-community and anthroposophical venue. The courses that have been running at Emerson College in the past now all operate independently - and the Biodynamic Agriculture Association has been keen to take over the biodynamic courses.
The new Trustees have agreed to transfer the Rachel Carson building to St Anthony's Trust. Not only that, also the farm land currently owned by Emerson College but farmed by Tablehurst Farm will be transferred to St Anthony's Trust, who already own most of the land and the buildings of Tablehurst Farm and Plaw Hatch Farm, our two local biodynamic farms. This makes the future of the Rachel Carson Centre, and of Tablehurst farm, very secure.
This is all fantastic news, we are incredibly happy and grateful for all the help and support we have recieved so far. The next big step is for us to raise enough working capital so that we can make a start in our new building this September. We had planned a range of Summer courses - which are still happening, but enrolment has been somewhat negatively affected by the whole Emerson affair. We have made a good business plan, which shows that from our first independent academic year (2010-2011) we will be breaking even - but we need to bridge this Summer. We need to invest in basic equipment such as chairs, tables, computers, teaching materials etc and we need working capital for expenses such as telephone, internet, electricity, wages, marketing, etc.
We have budgeted £60,000 set-up costs, and so far we have raised £20,000. We need your help with this - please make a donation great or small using the Paypal button on the right.
What we have achieved so far:
1. Solid business plan written
2. Convinced board of Biodynamic Agriculture Association to take over the biodynamic course department
3. Convinced board of Emerson College to donate the teaching building to a local land trust
4. Convinced board of Emerson College to also donate Tablehurst farm land to a local land trust - creating a safer future for Tablehurst Farm
5. Raised £20,000 of the £60,000 working capital needed to get the courses going in September
6. Successful online marketing campaign resulting in more than 25 new first-year students enrolled for this September already
7. In principle agreement with Plumpton College for continuation of collaboration to offer accredited, funded training courses
Please help us to achieve our goal: a successful thriving centre for biodynamic training in the UK! Donate now, please use the Paypal button on the right.
Many thanks - Arjen Huese, director Rachel Carson Centre for Biodynamics and Sustainability
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