Two large anonymous donations, of £20,000 last week and £5,000 today, have taken the crowdfunding target for Gorgie City Farm to its £100,000 target.
Green councillor Gavin Corbett said : “This is fantastic news for the farm and for everyone who has known and loved it. It’s clear that there is a very live interest from several organisations in bringing the farm back from the ashes. If, as I fervently hope, a new operator is found who embraces all that was good about Gorgie City Farm as it was, then the generosity of the Edinburgh public should go a huge way to making sure it has a stable and sustainable future. Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed.”
Only last week Cllr Corbett asked the council to give interim funding towards the upkeep of the farm. Each year the council pays £109,214 to the farm under the Communities and Families Main Grant Programme, and this demand secured the allocation of funds to the process of finding a bidder to reopen the farm. The sum of £27,000 was already earmarked for payment in January next year.
This, coupled with the council’s intention to keep two staff employed with funds for animal care and general costs, might just bridge the gap while a bidder is found. Ten organisations have said they are interested in taking the urban farm over, but no preferred bidder has yet been identified by the Liquidator.
Sarah Boyack MSP and Labour spokesperson on Local Government said: “I’m very relieved to hear that steps are being taken to mitigate the farm’s misfortunes, and also to hear that the staff and animals will hopefully be cared for as the farm awaits the news of bidders.”
Hannah Ryan, a former employee who set up the crowdfunding initiative said on 12 November on the GoFundMe site : “Through all the support we’ve received, we’ve been able to make significant progress over the last week. We want to start by saying thank you, again, to everyone who has helped us on this rocky journey to a better and more sustainable future for the site of “Gorgie City Farm”.
“We, the former staff of GCF, are committed to raising funds to enable a community farm to continue in Edinburgh.
“Working in partnership with Edinburgh City Council, elected officials and other interested parties, we are formally constituting a not-for-profit organisation called “Edinburgh Community Farm” all monies raised through this fundraising page will be held in trust by EVOC – Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council – until the new organisation is formed, then monies will be transferred to it. If this money cannot be used to help secure a similar future to that of GCF, the money will be donated between Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home and Scottish Association for Mental Health.”
One potential bidder, who asked not to be named, confirmed that there was interest from several parties in rescuing the farm, but there were many challenges and legal requirements still to be met. The spokesman added that it was essential that all procedures were followed and completed “at the right pace,” reiterating that nothing was certain “at this stage”.
Liquidator Shona Campbell confirmed that available funds are being directed to help “buy time” for the farm as the bidding process progresses.
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