THE ‘MUSTARD SEED’, GARSTANG’S ONE WORLD SHOP
(Established 1991)
Located at the Methodist Church, Parkhill Rd, Garstang PR3 1EL

A ‘One World’ Community facility and information point which recognises the unique position of Garstang as the World’s First Fairtrade Town. It is a shop selling crafts, cards, and fairly traded foods, and non-alcoholic refreshments are served nearby in "Wesleys".

CLICK BELOW TO GO TO:

VIEW OF THE SHOP
LINKS TO OTHER WEB SITES
HISTORY OF THE MUSTARD SEED
FIRST FAIRTRADE TOWN
FAIRTRADE FOUNDATION
THE FAIRTRADE MARK
VISION FOR THE FUTURE

 MORE ABOUT THE MUSTARD SEED

 CLICK HERE FOR MORE LINKS TO ACTIVITIES RELATED TO FAIR TRADE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Inside the shop and coffee bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LINKS: Garstang Fairtrade Group www.garstangfairtrade.org.uk
       Garstang OXFAM Group www.garstangoxfamgroup.org.uk
          Garstang Chamber of Trade www.garstang.net
       Fairtrade Foundation www.fairtrade.org.uk
       Fairtrade Towns initiative www.fairtade.org.uk/towns     
          Traidcraft www.traidcraft.co.uk        
       Garstang Methodist Circuit www.gmeth.clara.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HISTORY


The Mustard Seed was established in 1991 by members of Garstang Methodist Church with two main objectives: The first was to sell ‘one world’ products which were otherwise unobtainable in Garstang. These included foodstuffs eg Campaign tea and coffee and many different crafts. Secondly, to provide a community coffee shop for people to drop in for a relaxed time of friendship and refreshment.

It soon became apparent that local people were keen to see a wide range of products from around the world. New sources of supply presented themselves, especially through personal contacts. As time passed, small donations have become a regular means of practical aid to particular overseas communities.

The name ‘Mustard Seed’ was chosen by popular vote, reflecting the mystery of growth in God’s Kingdom, like the tiny mustard seed(Matthew 17:20).

The focus of the Mustard Seed has largely followed the original objectives but now incorporates a community focal point for Fairtrade, recognising the town’s unique position as the World’s First Fairtrade Town. Supporters of the Mustard Seed have been at the heart of this campaign which aims to promote the sale of those goods which carry the FAIRTRADE Mark and guaranteeing benefits to the growers. Records are kept of events that have taken place either at the Mustard Seed or neighbouring church hall. Many visitors from within the UK and abroad have been attracted to the Mustard Seed where they can examine a variety of reports and testimonies on the benefits of Fairtrade.

Staffing is entirely by ‘volunteers’ who give a few hours of their time each month. Opening hours are necessarily restricted. However, ‘volunteers’ are now drawn from people in the community who are sympathetic to the cause of Fair trade. Many attend and represent other churches in the neighbourhood but this is not a requirement.

 

Look for this Mark on products when you shop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAMPAIGNING FOR THE WORLD’S FIRST FAIRTRADE TOWN

The influence of the ‘Mustard Seed’ and particularly the Methodist Minister at the outset, the Rev. Peter Haywood, encouraged the formation of a local OXFAM Campaign Group lead initially by local Vet, Bruce Crowther who now works part time at the Fairtrade Foundation. This group sharply focussed its efforts on the cause of lifting the poverty of overseas growers, for example, tea, coffee and cocoa farmers, many of whom face complete destitution because of unfair trade practices. Christian charities had, for a long time, been exercising practical self-help to some of the poorest growers by marketing their produce direct to the UK consumer. After a lot of hard work and experimentation, some products were beginning to earn a reputation for quality and consistency and it was campaigners like the Garstang OXFAM Group who were prepared to ‘beat the drum’ in raising awareness of this, persuading more shops to sell these products.  

The Mustard Seed found an increasing demand for fairly traded food products marketed by Traidcraft, a Tyneside company linked with a charity arm that began fighting poverty through trade in 1979. Over 75 products are now sold to an increasing number of regular supporters.

The Fairtrade Foundation was created in the UK in 1994 by various charities including OXFAM, CAFOD and Christian Aid to authenticate the direct link from producer to consumer for teas, coffees and chocolates etc. A link that would guarantee the growers a guaranteed minimum price for their produce and provide a small social premium. A worldwide Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (ILO) was also created to monitor the standards required of the participant overseas growers cooperatives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The FAIRTRADE Mark is now awarded to products which meet the following minimum criteria

(i) The price paid to producers covers the cost of    sustainable production and living
(ii) A premium is paid so that producers can invest in development
(iii) Partial advance payments are made when requested by producers
(iv) Producers and buyers work in partnership to allow for long-term planning and sustainable production practices.


The Garstang Oxfam group had the idea of a Fairtade Town in 1999 as a next step in promoting the cause of Fairtrade. Several local initiatives were taken, culminating in the Town being voted a Fairtrade Town at the Town Council’s annual meeting in April 2000. The idea was coming to fruition and was encouraged by the Minister for Overseas Development, Mr George Foulkes. Formal recognition was made at a ceremony in November 2001 when a special plaque was unveiled by celebrity/comedian Tony Robinson. Harriet Lamb, Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, presented the First Fairtrade Town certificate to the Town Mayor,Lady Dulcie Atkins.
    

 
Lady Dulcie Atkins receiving certificate from Harriet Lamb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VISION FOR THE FUTURE?

Nobody could have imagined how far the vision in 1991 for a One World Shop called the Mustard Seed would go. The faith of the church members in providing the accommodation has been richly rewarded as simple acts of Christian service have been echoed and followed throughout the Methodist Connexion and beyond.

The Church members are developing a new vision and part of this is to draw up a development plan for the modernisation of the church buildings. Under stage one of this plan, an application has been made for planning permission for a new entrance with glass frontage to the existing schoolroom. This will create a room worthy of a community hall with high visibility and easy access from Parkhill Road. A tabled seating area will be provided behind the glass front, and this area could be made available as an alternative for the serving of refreshments by the Mustard Seed where conditions have become very cramped for current activities.

The Volunteers welcome these developments particularly in respect of opportunities to make the Mustard Seed more attractive and accessible to the general public and to enhance its role as a local source of information about fair trade. Indeed they welcome anyone with an interest in fair trade to join in and contribute their experience so as to build an up-to-date record of local activities and information on fair trade that is worthy of Garstang’s status of the World’s First Fairtrade town.

In anticipation of support for these ideas, a business plan is being drawn up for the refurbishment of the shop with the primary objective of maintaining a facility which is worthy of Garstang’s status as the World’s First Fairtrade Town; subsidiary objectives under consideration include enhancing current activities; attracting additional volunteers; encouraging community use and particularly by young people; developing an information/display area and, additionally, making use of information technology; and, not least, producing appropriate publicity to attract visitors.