BCF Covid-19 Virus Protection Policy

This season we feel it’s more important than ever to grow as much food as we can at Burscough Community Farm. These are uncertain times, and we don’t know what kind of issues we will have with the food supply chain in the future.

I don’t want to be alarmist or be accused of jumping on a bandwagon. It just seems natural to me, to try and make sure we have what we need for all the community involved with the farm. We have the power to grow our own food, so why wouldn’t we?

The farm is a great place to get some fresh air and do something positive for yourself and the community. Yet there is enough space for you to be safely socially isolated. However, we need to do this sensibly and safely. With the dangers of Covid-19, we need to make sure we have the right procedures in place to protect everyone.

So, we have set up the following ways that we believe we can safely work on the farm.

The basics

The most basic procedure is please don’t come to the farm if you have any Coronavirus symptoms at all. These include sore throat, fever, cough, breathlessness. If you are in any doubt, stay at home and look after yourself. I think we are now allowed to ‘nurse ourselves,’ even if we have a cold.

Also, please stay away if you’ve been in contact with anyone who has those symptoms.

Hand washing

This is the biggest and most important thing for stopping the spread of the virus. We want everyone to bring along their own hand sanitiser kit. When using the toilet, use it as normal, close the lid, then wash and dry your hands as normal. Finally, when leaving the toilet use hand sanitiser.

Children

Obviously, the farm is a great place for kids and provides somewhere where they can get outside and run off some steam. As their time away from school gets longer, this may become even more important. But, we have to do this safely and not have children mixing with other children and adults attending the farm; this would undermine the whole exercise of closing the schools. You must keep your children away from others during their time at the farm. There’s plenty of space on the field to keep away from others.

We ask that you mind your own children, keep them with you and together if there are other people around.

Food and drink

We ask that you bring your own food and drink, cups, plates and eating utensils. One of the really nice things about working at the farm was having our communal lunches. We can still do this if we remain at safe (2m) distances from each other, but we are going to have to do this outside, not in the barn. Perhaps we can rig up an outdoor shelter in the future so if it is raining we can still eat outside in the fresh air and not risk infecting each other.

I believe the farm is a great resource at this time. Not only is it somewhere we can get out in the open, I think it’s also reassuring that we know we will have access to fresh fruit and vegetables no matter what is happening elsewhere in the world. 

But, it will only prove to be useful if we stick to these guidelines; if we can’t, we shouldn’t be on the farm. If you cannot adhere to these guidelines you will be asked to leave.

In short, here are the guidelines:

• If you are suffering from any of the symptoms of Coronavirus, please don’t come to the farm. Symptoms include; sore throat, fever, cough, breathlessness. 
• Keep yourself and members of your party (including children) 2 metres away from anyone else on the field.
• Bring your own food and drink supplies, cutlery, cups, plates etc.
• Bring your own hand sanitiser, we have nearly run out.
• Use the compost toilet in the usual way, but ensure that you wash your hands properly and dry them with the paper towels provided. Finally, use the hand sanitiser before leaving the toilet.
• Take home used tissues and dispose of them responsibly.
• Don’t share toys with other children (sorry, but the farm’s tractors and kids tools will be moved out of use during this period.
• Bring your own gardening gloves, the communal ‘glove box’ will be out of bounds for obvious reasons.
• Keep out of the barn; just one person at a time to acquire and replace tools.
• Be careful who you’re sharing a car with; think twice because the person your with may be carrying the infection without knowing it.
• Anything you are unsure about, please ask.
• If there’s anything you think we should add to the list, please let me know.

These instructions are specific to the farm, and in addition to your own personal isolation policy. 

You will need to sign that you understand, and will follow these instructions next time you work at the farm.