We farm organically because we believe it’s the best farming system for our health and the health of all other life on Earth. On average, there is 50% more plant, insect and bird life on organic farms. Amongst the wildlife we see on The Farm are tawny owls, skylarks, song thrushes, linnets, woodpeckers, buzzards, kestrels, swallows, hedgehogs, badgers and deer.
As well as avoiding the pesticides and fertilizers that are used in conventional farming and can have negative impacts on ecosystems, we also grow food in a way that supports nature. We manage our hedgerows, field margins and buildings in a way that encourages biodiversity. We plant pollinator-friendly plants and wildflowers, put up owl boxes and mammal homes and ensure we allow our hedgerows to fruit to provide food for birds.
Working here, you get to marvel at the joys of the wildlife across the seasons. From the birdsong in the mornings, to seeing swallows swooping outside your window catching flies, or the deer running across the field in the evening.
And this all really does matter. With around three quarters of land in the UK in agricultural production, the way we farm has a huge impact on the overall biodiversity in this country.
Beyond our own fields, we make sure we source from other farms that share our values. For fruit and veg, we only buy certified organic produce, meaning our boxes are 100% organic. On occasion we stock extra items which are not certified as organic, but meet very high environmental standards in their production. We do this so that we can support local enterprises that have environmental and ethical practises similar to our own, but are not able to gain organic certification for some reason. If we have sourced from a non-certified supplier, we’ll always let you know.
Globally, the food we eat is the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions but by switching to organic production we could drastically lower our food’s impact on the environment. If Europe’s farmland all went organic, agricultural emissions could drop by up to 50% by 2050 and still provide enough healthy food for everyone.
By buying from us, you can rest assured that the food that is nourishing you, is working hard to nourish the natural world, too.
