Helping farmers thrive in a changing world
From Beef and Dairy to Veganic Cereals
An interview with Laurence Candy of Northwood Farm
Death informs our relationship to life. Between 2017 and 2019, Laurence Candy of Northwood Farm in Dorset experienced numerous catastrophic events. It began by the loss of almost the entire dairy herd to bovine tuberculosis.
We surveyed farmers and crofters across Scotland to see if they’d be willing to farm stockfree. The results are surprising!
“…we have taken up a challenge amongst ourselves to Eat (only) British Plants for a Year!” in support of UK farmers, growers and producers.
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Three Roads to Stockfree Farming
The need to grow more of our own food has been highlighted by recent national and global events. Importing 50% of the food we eat will always leave us vulnerable to shortages or escalating prices over which we have no control. If we want to increase our national food security and food self-sufficiency (why wouldn’t we?), then we have to be prepared… Keep Reading
Case Studies
John Letts
Continuous No-Input Cereal Cropping with Heritage Grains
Beginning on his small farm in Oxfordshire, and now covering a total area of 1500 acres and still expanding, John Letts has achieved something that even organic experts have labelled ‘impossible’: growing cereals continuously in a stockless, organic system in the same field. In fact, John was denied organic certification by the Soil Association for the simple reason that he does not rotate.
Thorncroft
Visiting the Orkney archipelago for the first time, it is striking how the landscape is almost completely dominated by livestock with some patches of cereal crops here and there. Yet, tucked in amongst all of this, on the island of Westray lies Thorncroft…
Tolhurst Organics
A living example of a thriving farm business set in just under 20 acres in Oxfordshire, using absolutely no animal inputs and producing a vast array of vegetables and fruits for a local customer base.
Gina Bates, Highland Veganics
At the start of February, 2020, Gina and a crew of volunteers began planting an orchard of 312 hazelnut trees on her 80 acre Highland croft. Gina and her crew planted 6 different varieties of hardy hybrid hazelnuts. Wild hazels, already growing next to the four-acre orchard, will help with pollination.
The Artisan Grower
Four years on, the Sullivans (aka: the Artisan Grower) were supplying around 36 hotels in Inverness, Aberdeen and Edinburgh with microgreens, edible flowers, fruit, and veg. A remarkable achievement from just one acre!
Zonnegoed,
Joost van Strien
For roughly 25 years now, Joost van Strien has run his 90-hectare vegetable farm, Zonnegoed, organically and just last year he took it a step further, obtaining the Biocyclic Vegan Standard. Farming by this standard means that Joost manages Zonnegoed without any animal-based inputs (e.g. manure and slaughterhouse waste products), nor with any synthetic fertilisers or agrichemicals.
Bio-Farmland
At the start of 2021, Bio-Farmland became certified with the Biocyclic Vegan Standard, making them one of only a few cereal farms in the world right now to be run using stock-free/veganic methods.
Green Grow Food
Green Grow grows mushrooms and mycelium in refurbished shipping containers in a medium of waste coffee grounds using waste heat from a well-known Speyside distillery to create the microclimate for growing. After growing, the coffee grounds and any mushroom waste are used as compost for reforestation and environmental projects.
It might be hard to believe or imagine, but much of the UK’s uplands were once covered in temperate rain forest and rich peat bogs. Now, they are largely covered in sheep and a checkerboard of burned areas to facilitate the lucrative sport of grouse hunting. The National Food Strategy has identified the carbon opportunity in restoring… Keep Reading
Case Studies
Back to the Woods
Former Rural Skills teacher, Robin Bell, acquired a 90-acre croft not far from Oykel Bridge in Sutherland three years ago. His ancestors worked this land before the Sutherland clearances so Robin wanted to return to it.
Robin embarked on the Forestry Grant Scheme and was assigned a forestry agent.
A diversification enterprise is a non-agricultural activity that uses farm resources. We think it’s a great way to boost farm income. According to the latest Scottish Government figures, more than half of Scottish farms have a least one ongoing diversified activity with these farms making on average £24,300 more a year than farms that don’t. Quite an incentive! Keep Reading
Case Studies
Baleveolan Croft
How ’bout a nice cup of Scottish tea!
A 40-acre croft on the Scottish island of Lismore.has become home to 8,500 trees, a diversity of crops, fruits, and vegetables, and sanctuary to 35 rescue hens and 3 very old highland cows!
Kelp Crofting
In bringing KelpCrofting back to Scotland, Kyla and her team hope to create a sustainable, affordable community model that can be replicated around the coast of Scotland stimulating coastal economies and highlighting the many benefits of this versatile crop.
From Sheep and Cows to Award-Winning Caravan Site
How one couple saved their community.
Where sheep and cattle once grazed, the five-star, award-winning Loch Ness Shores Camping and Caravanning Club offers 120 pitches and hosts a range of amenities including a gourmet shop with the best of Scottish food and gifts; a new 36-seater bistro; wigwam glamping pods; kayak and small motorboat hire; and a host of other activities including archery, birdwatching, nature walks and den-building.