People are being urged to sign up to a pioneering new community farm scheme and enjoy a share of the harvest.

Norwich FarmShare is a community-owned and run vegetable growing scheme, which gives people the chance to help run two city farms.

Members support the running of a five-acre site at Postwick, close to the park and ride car park, and a two-acre site at the Hewett High School, in Cecil Road.

One hundred vegetable shares are grown at the two sites, enough to feed dozens of families all year round.

People can have as much or as little involvement in growing and planting produce at the farms, which are managed by an employed farm manager, and can choose to be part of the vegetable share.

More than 40 people turned out to a meeting last week in Norwich to find out more about the scheme.

Farm manager Laura Creen said: 'People get really involved with the farm and share the risks and the rewards of the farm. On a good summer, we will have lots of food for everyone and on a really good summer, there will be more vegetables than what anyone would ever need.

'Members don't have to do anything and can just get involved in the social events, but we would like people to volunteer a least three times a year.'

FarmShare members pay �2 a month which goes towards administration and insurance costs. To be part of the vegetable share, small families pay the equivalent of �12.75 a week and couples pay �8.50, and in return they get a share of all the vegetables grown on the two sites.

A small share, usually enough for two people, could include one kilogram of new potatoes, 250g of spinach, 250g peas, one lettuce, three turnips, one bag of rocket, a small bunch of radishes, a small bunch of spring onions and one small cauliflower.

'We have about 20 members at the moment and hope to get it up to 100 this season,' said Ms Creen. 'It's a good way of seeing what happens to vegetables from seed to plates.'

At Thursday's meeting at Take 5 in Tombland, two people signed up to the vegetable share and more pledged to get involved.

For more information or to join, go to www.norwichfarmshare.co.uk

Are you hosting running a community event in the area where you live? Call reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk