Farmerama
Farmerama Radio is an award-winning podcast sharing the voices behind regenerative farming. We are committed to positive ecological futures for the earth and its people, and we believe that farmers of the world will determine this. Each month, we share the experiences of grass roots farmers instigating radical change for the future of our food, our health, and the planet. Tune in to hear how these producers are discovering a more ecological farming future and to learn how their decisions can have a positive impact on us all. This is regenerative farming in action.
Sun, March 16, 2025
Soil: Common Ground: Ep2: Our History
SOIL: Common Ground is a three-part podcast series produced by Somerset House exploring what soil can teach us about being human, through the lens of art. Much of the history of human making springs from the soil. Cuneiform, the earliest form of writing, was engraved into clay; paint pigments come from minerals in the soil; and much of our material history is held in ceramics. But soil is not neutral; it is deeply entangled with politics of ownership embedded in the land. In this episode Shenece Oretha probes the ways the soil and clay are inspiring artists today, looking at the stories soil can tell about our past and our potential future. Ceramicist and writer Jennifer Lucy Allan reflects on the ways clay connects us to the earliest forms of making. Artists Annalee Davis and Lauren Gault look at the ways soil bears witness to our histories, from the trauma of the plantation to the deep time of paleontology. We create art from soil, but through our extraction and interaction, it is also changed. How can we heal our relationship with the soil and in so doing, transform our relationship with the planet? Farmer and food justice advocate Leah Penniman unpacks how indigenous practices of soil care can reverse some of the most egregious effects of climate change. The series launches off from the Somerset House exhibition SOIL: The World at Our Feet. Presented by Shenece Oretha Produced by Jo Barratt and Alannah Chance Exec produced by Alannah Chance and Eleanor Ritter-Scott. The series is mixed by Mike Woolley Original music by Andrew Pekler. This series is part of the Somerset House Podcast.
Sun, March 09, 2025
Soil: Common Ground: Ep3: Our Future
SOIL: Common Ground is a three-part podcast series produced by Somerset House exploring what soil can teach us about being human, through the lens of art. Our Future is tied to the future of our soil. Our decisions as to how we care for and use it matter. Soil teaches us that cycles are ongoing, and even in decline every day offers us opportunities for new beginnings. In this final episode Shenece Oretha explores the regenerative qualities of soil and composting as a model for personal redemption. We hear from Palestinian grower Mohammed Saleh whose life story offers a personal story of hope, looking at how permaculture and art can help to heal the destructive impacts of war. Somerset Studios artist Harun Morrision’s singing compost invites us to see decay in a new light and Fin Jordâo lays out how composting can be a radical action for rethinking our relationships with each other and the planet. Does the future hold a closer, more natural relationship with the soil by rethinking our relationship to burial? Radical undertaker Ru Callander reconsiders our attitude to death. The series launches off from the Somerset House exhibition SOIL: The World at Our Feet. Presented by Shenece Oretha Produced by Jo Barratt and Alannah Chance Exec produced by Alannah Chance and Eleanor Ritter-Scott. The series is mixed by Mike Woolley Original music by Andrew Pekler. This series is part of the Somerset House Podcast.
Sun, March 09, 2025
Soil: Common Ground: Ep1: Our Beginning
SOIL: Common Ground is a three-part podcast series produced by Somerset House exploring what soil can teach us about being human, through the lens of art. Our entire existence is dependent on our relationship with soil. As awareness builds of the enormity of the ecological crisis that we are facing, a growing number of artists are engaging with soil as a material in their work. This three part series responds to the Somerset House exhibition ‘Soil: The World at Our Feet’, unearthing soil's role in our future through the work of artists and thinkers working with it. Soil is the basis of many creation stories around the world. It is our beginning, and it is what we will return to. In Episode 1 of Common Ground we look at soil as the matter from which life emerges. Exploring growth, beginnings and the ways soil as a material offers unique opportunities for exploration. We hear from artist Asad Raza who makes ‘neo-soil’ from scratch and covers the floor of galleries with it. Artist Eve Tagny’s work examines the cultivation of the Rose as a way to ask questions about the ways we interact with the world. Agroecologist Nicole Masters and farmer Abby Rose, lay out what soil is and why it holds the key to our survival. The episode is set within the garden of our presenter Shenece Oretha. Working with soil has shaped her relationship to the place where she lives and informed her art practice. The series launches off from the Somerset House exhibition SOIL: The World at Our Feet. Presented by Shenece Oretha Produced by Jo Barratt and Alannah Chance Exec produced by Alannah Chance and Eleanor Ritter-Scott. The series is mixed by Mike Woolley Original music by Andrew Pekler Episode Image: Asad Raza: Plot feat. BB (Fabrizio Ballabio, Alessandro Bava) + Lydia Ourahmane e Moriah Evans, Curated by Leonie Radine, Museion Bozen/Bolzano, 25.03.2023 – 03.09.2023, Photo: Lineematiche – L. Guadagnini, © Museion This series is part of the Somerset House Podcast.
Sun, May 26, 2024
89: Folx Farm, Mycelium Composting Network, La Via Campesina and Olive Experiments
This month we start at Folx Farm in Sussex with new entrant farmers Chrissy, Rae and Dunia. Next, we learn about the power of a composting network with Thomas Daniell and catch up with food activist and grower Jo Kamal about attending La Via Campesina’s international conference last year in Brazil, as part of the Landworkers’ Alliance. To finish, we ask Marco Carbonara about his experience learning to grow olives in Italy.
Sun, April 28, 2024
88: Native Hawaiian Plants, C4 grasses, BI4Farmers and FarmHack
This month we start in Hawaii hearing about the importance of native plants to Hawaian culture, then we head to Portugal to learn more about the value of C4 grasses in mediterranean silvopasture systems, we dive into the Basic Income for farmers campaign in the UK, and we end with an excerpt from a podcast series about what it takes to run a Farm Hack.
Sun, March 03, 2024
Less And Better?: Ep 8: A Compass not a Map
What do we do about meat? With this urgent question as its starting point, this series seeks to move beyond polarised debate and identify key questions and shared values to help us build a better meat future for all. In this final episode, co-hosts Katie Revell and Olivia Oldham reflect on everything they’ve heard over the course of the series, thinking about what they personally have learned and considering what common ground has been found amongst the values and priorities of everyone they’ve spoken to.
Sun, February 25, 2024
Less And Better?: Ep 7: Not A Small Act
What do we do about meat? With this urgent question as its starting point, this series seeks to move beyond polarised debate and identify key questions and shared values to help us build a better meat future for all. In this episode, co-hosts Olivia Oldham and Katie Revell look into the question: can it ever be morally right to farm animals? They speak to farmers, researchers, meat eaters and abstainers, to discuss various cultural and personal ways of relating to animals, and explore if and how it's possible to square caring for animals with eating them.
Sun, February 18, 2024
Less And Better?: Ep 6: Just Meat
What do we do about meat? With this urgent question as its starting point, this series seeks to move beyond polarised debate and identify key questions and shared values to help us build a better meat future for all. In episode 6, co-hosts Olivia Oldham and Katie Revell explore questions of food justice as they relate to less and better meat. By speaking to food producers, researchers and eaters, they explore whether less and better meat risks entrenching existing injustices, or could support a transition to a fairer, more equitable food system.
Sun, February 11, 2024
Less And Better?: Ep 5: Healthy Eating, Healthy Producing
What do we do about meat? With this urgent question as its starting point, this series seeks to move beyond polarised debate and identify key questions and shared values to help us build a better meat future for all. In episode 5, co-hosts Katie Revell and Olivia Oldham ask: does a future of 'less and better' meat also mean a healthier future? They speak to researchers, farmers and those who follow meat-free diets, to explore how what we eat interacts with the physical, mental, spiritual, and collective health of both consumers and food producers.
Sun, February 04, 2024
Less And Better?: Ep 4: What is Land For?
What do we do about meat? With this urgent question as its starting point, this series seeks to move beyond polarised debate and identify key questions and shared values to help us build a better meat future for all. In episode 4, co-hosts Katie Revell and Olivia Oldham ask: why do we use land the way we do, and how should we use it in the future? They meet with farmers, academics and land management advisors, to delve into the history of land use in the UK, reflecting on the cultural and political factors that continue to shape it, and looking for common ground between advocates of different approaches.
Sun, January 28, 2024
Less And Better?: Ep 3: Alternative Proteins: More and Better?
What do we do about meat? With this urgent question as its starting point, this series seeks to move beyond polarised debate and identify key questions and shared values to help us build a better meat future for all. In episode 3, co-hosts Katie Revell and Olivia Oldham explore the question: if we decide to eat less and better meat, what do we eat instead? They speak with a legumes specialist and a cellular agriculture entrepreneur, and ask whether we should see “alternative” proteins as “alternatives” at all. In doing so, they reflect on what we value in our food system once we do away with the meat/non-meat binary.
Sun, January 21, 2024
Less And Better?: Ep 2: The cow or the how?
What do we do about meat? With this urgent question as its starting point, this series seeks to move beyond polarised debate and identify key questions and shared values to help us build a better meat future for all. In episode 2, co-hosts Katie Revell and Olivia Oldham meet a climate scientist, along with regenerative and organic farmers across the UK, to discuss the complex ways that animal agriculture interacts with our natural environment. From how we measure emissions of greenhouse gases, to what we feed our animals, and which management systems we use, they ask – what is the place of farmers when it comes to less and better meat? Thank you to everyone on our Patreon. Your support helps us in bringing you the stories of regenerative farming around the world, each month. We appreciate it. If you'd like to join, please visit patreon.com/farmerama where you can choose your level of support.
Sun, January 14, 2024
Less And Better?: Ep 1: Its Complicated
It feels like one of the biggest questions of our time: what do we do about meat? Rather than choosing either extreme – business as usual, or ruling out meat altogether – some people suggest the best approach is one of ‘less and better meat’. But how much less is ‘less’? And which meat is ‘better’? How do we even begin to answer these questions? In this series, co-hosts Katie Revell and Olivia Oldham attempt to unearth what lies beneath questions of technological change and consumer choice. On an expansive, and sometimes personal, journey, they learn that – as much as the debate about meat is sometimes painted as a binary choice between right and wrong – things might not be quite so simple. They ask who – and what – benefits from different systems of production? What priorities and values do seemingly simple solutions obscure? And, perhaps most importantly, can we find some common ground, some shared principles and values, on which to build a better meat future for all? Thank you to everyone on our Patreon. Your support helps us in bringing you the stories of regenerative farming around the world, each month. We appreciate it. If you'd like to join, please visit patreon.com/farmerama where you can choose your level of support.
Sun, November 26, 2023
87: Landscape Scale Regeneration – Connecting Ecology, Community & Culture - Groundswell 2023
This month we bring you a conversation Abby convened at Groundswell Festival back in June, focused on Landscape Scale Regeneration. We hear from three people involved in different ways in an initiative in Waterford, Ireland. This discussion expands upon the Commonland initiative in Southern Spain we featured back in Episode 68, highlighting the power of a common vision and the benefits of working across a whole region.
Sun, October 22, 2023
Good Bread: Part 3: A common language
Is it possible or productive to organise around a common language in order to reimagine how we produce grain and bread? In the third and final part of Good Bread, Kim and Ruth reflect on some of their experiences working on the project and consider what the future of good bread might look like. This series is in response to the Body Lab, a participatory arts and research project by baker Kimberly Bell (@smallfoodbakery) and artist Ruth Levene (@leveneruth) which explores the industrial processes of grain testing. Over three episodes, Lucy Dearlove explores what the body lab is, what the work around it has entailed so far, and what the outcomes might be. The Body Lab is funded by Farming the Future. This series was produced by Lucy Dearlove and is published on Farmerama and Lecker.
Sun, October 15, 2023
Good Bread: Part 2: The price of consistency
Consistency is at the heart of industrial bread production, from the field to the mill to the oven. But what is it costing us? This series is in response to the Body Lab, a participatory arts and research project by baker Kimberly Bell (@smallfoodbakery) and artist Ruth Levene (@leveneruth) which explores the industrial processes of grain testing. Over three episodes, Lucy Dearlove explores what the body lab is, what the work around it has entailed so far, and what the outcomes might be. The Body Lab is funded by Farming the Future. Thanks to Shipton Mill for their openness and generosity in allowing the Body Lab to explore these ideas. This series was produced by Lucy Dearlove and is published on Farmerama and Lecker.
Sun, October 08, 2023
Good Bread: Part 1: What is good bread?
This series is in response to the Body Lab, a participatory arts and research project by baker Kimberly Bell (@smallfoodbakery) and artist Ruth Levene (@leveneruth) which explores the industrial processes of grain testing. Over three episodes, Lucy Dearlove explores what the body lab is, what the work around it has entailed so far, and what the outcomes might be. In part 1, she explores the question - what is good bread? She speaks to Kim and Ruth about what makes good bread for them, and unpacks what the Body Lab is about, and why they started the project. We hear from farmer Fred Price and baker Rosie Benson from Gothelney Farm (@gothelneyfarmer) and Field Bakery (@fieldbakery) about their understanding of good grain, and speak with Chris Hollister from Shipton Mill (@shiptonmill), about the different tests that take place when wheat arrives at an industrial grain mill, and some of the justifications for this process. With each of them, Lucy discusses why reimagining this testing system could be positive for bakers, farmers and Millers. Also hear some of the responses to our Breadline - where we asked our audience what makes good bread to you - which will be woven throughout the series. The Body Lab is funded by Farming the Future. This series was produced by Lucy Dearlove and is published on Farmerama and Lecker.
Sun, September 24, 2023
86: Brazil nuts, spare bed and Ecovineyards
This month we learn how some people importing Brazil nuts to the UK is supporting the indigenous people of the amazon. We visit a restaurant who are making use of spare growing space in their community and learn about agro-ecological approaches to managing vineyards across Australia.
Sun, August 27, 2023
85: New use for abandoned Farmland, London growing community and Potato art
This month we begin in Ibiza where we learn about a project matching new and diversifying farmers with abandoned farmland to grow more organic produce on the island. We hear from a food growing project in London that teaches to produce food and care for the land and has a foundation in traditional African philosophy. And we dive deep into the world of, potatoes, looking at them in a fascinating new light.
Sun, July 30, 2023
84: Beltane celebrations, Black farmers market and mentoring
In this months episode we head to Scotland to hear about a Beltane celebration for young people in rural areas. We speak to the organiser of the London-based Black Farmers Market, and we check in with another farmer benefiting from the Pasture for Life mentoring program. This episode of Farmerama was made by Abby Rose Jo Barratt Katie Revell and Dora Taylor. A big thanks to the rest of the Farmerama team Olivia Oldham, Fran Bailey, Annie Landless and Eliza Jenkins . Our theme music is by Owen Barratt.
Sun, June 25, 2023
83: a Jewish grassroots collective, mentoring and native wild plants
This month we meet two people who are building a community group to celebrate an earth-based connection between their religion and the land. We learn about the success of a mentoring programme for farmers. And we end with a request from a Botanist. We're very grateful to those of you that support us and allow us to bring you these stories every month. Even the smallest contribution makes a big difference to us. So if you'd like to become a supporter, you can visit patreon.com/farmerama.
Sun, June 11, 2023
Shorts: Jumping Fences
This is a short episode about the Jumping Fences report. Jumping Fences is about understanding the barriers that prevent Black people and people of colour from accessing land for agroecological farming in Britain – and addressing those barriers. The report is a collaboration between the Landworkers’ Alliance, Land in Our Names and the Ecological Land Cooperative. It builds on a previous project, Rootz into Food Growing, which was focused on London. Jumping Fences was launched in the Justice Hub at the 2023 Oxford Real Farming Conference. Following the launch, Katie spoke to Jumping Fences’ lead researcher, Naomi Terry, as well as two of the people interviewed for the report – pig farmer Flavian Obiero, and cut flower farmer Cel Robertson. Links: Read the report here: https://landinournames.community/projects/jumping-fences Listen back to the launch event and discussion here: https://orfc.org.uk/session/jumping-fences-report-land-justice-food-justice-and-racial-justice-in-british-farming/ Tags: Naomi Terry: Instagram @naomitez Flavian Obiero: Instagram @thekenyanpigfarmer / Twitter @kenyanpigfarmer Cel Robertson: Instagram @forevergreenflowerco Landworkers’ Alliance: @landworkersalliance Ecological Land Coop: @eco_land_coop Land in Our Names: @landinournames Oxford Real Farming Conference: @oxfordrealfarmingconference
Sun, May 28, 2023
82: Sail powered supply networks, Hydrology and a regenerative finance model
This month we start by hearing about the possibilities of supply networks fuelled by sailing ships. We are encouraged to think again about water in the landscapes we are part of, and we hear how one woman in Mexico is working on connecting people in the financial world and those who work with the land with the aim of re-orienting our economy so it serves life. We're very grateful to those of you that support us and allow us to bring you these stories every month. Even the smallest contribution makes a big difference to us. So if you'd like to become a supporter, please visit. https://www.patreon.com/farmerama This episode of Farmerama was made by me, Jo Barratt, Abby Rose, and Dora Taylor. A big thanks to the rest of the Farmerama team Katie Revell, Olivia Oldham, Fran Bailey, Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins and Lucy Fisher. Our theme music is by Owen Barratt
Sun, April 30, 2023
81: The Seaweed Commons, Soy-free Pigs and Regenerative Viticulture
This month Severine von Tscharner Fleming tells us all about the work she's been doing as part of the Seaweed Commons, an international learning and advocacy network for conservation minded seaweed farmers, wild harvesters, marine biologists and researchers. We also have the third and final installment of our series on animal feed made in collaboration with Wicked Leeks. This episode, Wicked Leeks editor Nina Pullman speaks with Amy Chapple - daughter of Mark Chapple who you’ll remember from last week’s episode - about her soy-free pigs. Wicked Leeks are exploring this topic in a documentary entitled ‘What’s the Problem with Animal Feed?’ which meets some of the farmers trying to reverse agriculture’s soy addiction. If you are interested in more stories on sustainable food and ethical business, you can sign up online to receive the weekly edition of the Wicked Leeks magazine. Finally, we hear from Sérgio Nicolau in Portugal about his transition from conventional to organic, and then regenerative winemaking. He shares with us how he uses a combination of sap analysis, brix readings and hole digging to understand what is working on his vineyard. This episode of Farmerama was made by Jo Barratt and Abby Rose. Additional recordings by Nina Pullman, editor at Wicked Leeks. A big thanks to the rest of the Farmerama team Dora Taylor, Olivia Oldham, Katie Revell, Fran Bailey, Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins and Lucy Fisher. Our theme music is by Owen Barratt. Thank you to everyone on our Patreon. Your support helps us in bringing you the stories of regenerative farming around the world, each month. We appreciate it. If you'd like to join, please visit patreon.com/farmerama where you can choose your level of support.
Sun, April 16, 2023
Shorts: Vandana Shiva
This special episode features a conversation recorded with Vandana Shiva at the 2023 Oxford Real Farming Conference. Following the publication of her memoir, Terra Viva: My Life in a Biodiversity of Movements – which coincided with her 70th birthday – the writer and activist was at ORFC to reflect on her life and to take part in a discussion on the future of GM in the UK. We asked her about her four decades of work as an advocate for farmers’ rights, indigenous knowledge, food and seed sovereignty, diversity, and localisation, her thoughts on gene editing, and her sources of motivation. Terra Viva: My Life in a Biodiversity of Movements is published by Chelsea Green. Find out more at: https://chelseagreen.co.uk/book/terra-viva/ Watch Jyoti Fernandes in conversation with Vandana Shiva at ORFC – “In the Name of the Farmer: Vandana Shiva recalls a lifetime of campaigning for small-scale farmers” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTZxmXdxAjI Watch the ORFC discussion “GM’s False Promises: could the UK be next?” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYi848m6BN8 Thank you to everyone on our Patreon. Your support helps us in bringing you the stories of regenerative farming around the world, each month. www.patreon.com/farmerama
Sun, March 26, 2023
80: Meditating on Nature, Devolved Farming Policy and Soya-free Chickens
This month, we continue to share some of the conversations we had at the Oxford Real Farming Conference at the beginning of the year. First, we meet Satish Kumar, founder of Schumacher College and editor of Resurgence and Ecologist Magazine. Satish shared his meditation practice with the conference, and talked to us about his connection to food and nature. Next, we hear from Pete Ritchie and Anna Chworow from Nourish Scotland, to talk about the work they have done supporting the Scottish Agricultural bill. We also have the second interview in a series we’ve made with Wicked Leeks, about animal feed. In this episode, Wicked Leeks editor Nina Pullman speaks with Mark Chapple, and meets some of the soya free and pasture reared chickens on his farm. Wicked Leeks have made a documentary on this topic, called ‘What’s the Problem with Animal Feed?’ which meets some of the farmers trying to reverse agriculture’s soy addiction. If you are interested in more stories on sustainable food and ethical business, you can sign up online to receive the weekly edition of the Wicked Leeks magazine. This episode of Farmerama was made by Jo Barratt, Abby Rose, Katie Revell, Olivia Oldham and Dora Taylor. Additional recordings by Nina Pullman, editor at Wicked Leeks. A big thanks to the rest of the farmerama team Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins and Fran Bailey. Our theme music is by Owen Barratt. Thank you to everyone on our Patreon. Your support helps us in bringing you the stories of regenerative farming around the world, each month. https://www.patreon.com/farmerama
Sun, March 19, 2023
Shorts: Agroecology – Enabling the Transition
In this special episode, we hear about the project “Agroecology: Enabling the Transition”, which brings together farmers, crofters and growers across Scotland to exchange knowledge and experience. Through farm visits, conversations and shared meals, the project aims to create supportive spaces where participants feel comfortable to ask questions, voice opinions, and learn new things. Funded by the Knowledge Transfer Innovation Fund, the goal is to help embed and support the transition to agroecological practices in Scotland. Katie Revell met with three members of the South-West Scotland group – farmers John Veitch and Heather Close, and facilitator Abi Mordin – to hear about their experiences with the project. “Agroecology: Enabling the Transition” is a partnership between Landworkers’ Alliance, Pasture for Life, Soil Association Scotland, the Nature Friendly Farming Network, Propagate and Nourish Scotland. This episode of Farmerama was made by Katie Revell. Thanks as always to the rest of the Farmerama team: Abby Rose, Olivia Oldham, Jo Barratt, Dora Taylor, Fran Bailey, Annie Landless and Eliza Jenkins. Our theme music is by Owen Barratt. To learn more about the “Agroecology: Enabling the Transition” project, visit: https://www.nourishscotland.org/agroecology-enabling-the-transition/ Find out more about Heather and Philip Close’s farm, Balsar Glen, here: https://www.balsarglen.com/ Join the Regenerative Farmers Network South West Scotland here: https://dgsustainablefoodpartnership.org/regenerative-farming-network
Sun, February 26, 2023
79: ORFC 2023, Beetles, Land Ownership, Soya overproduction
This month, we are at ORFC celebrating the first in-person conference for three years! We learn about beneficial beetles, alternative forms of land ownership, and some of the potential problems with the overproduction of soya. Thank you to everyone who signed up to our Patreon. We appreciate every one of you - your support helps us to keep bringing you the stories of regenerative farming around the world, each month. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/farmerama Links: Dr Kelly Jowett: https://beetlekell.wordpress.com/ OSL: https://www.opensystemslab.io/projects Wicked Leeks: https://wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk/ Innovative Farmers: https://www.innovativefarmers.org/
Sun, January 29, 2023
Farming Fashion: Part 3
Welcome to Farming Fashion, our three part series co-produced by Southeast and SOuth West England Fibresheds and Farmerama Radio. In this third and final episode we talk to three designers from independent design studios who work with native natural fibres and dyes and who are pioneering a shift toward a new paradigm for fashion. While none of them would claim to be fully ‘regenerative’ they are transparent and open about their approaches to becoming more so, and take a deep, thoughtful approach to making small, truthful steps in the right direction. The first voice we hear is Tilly Kaye from Zero to Product, a design studio offering design and development services to the fashion industry. Next we hear from Pheobe English, another designer who through her connection with the Southeast England Fibreshed and Plaw Hatch Farm, is also now on a journey to rethinking how her brand designs and produces fashion. Finally we hear from Deborah Barker, who besides being a co-producer in this series conducting the majority of the interviews, has herself worked with natural dyes for 15 years and is also the regional coordinator for the Southeast ENgland Fibreshed.
Sun, January 22, 2023
Farming Fashion: Part 2
Welcome to Farming Fashion, our three part series co-produced by Southeast and SOuth West England Fibresheds and Farmerama Radio. In this second episode of the Farming Fashion series we will hear from three farmers or growers who have diversified their businesses explore fibre processing, responding to one of our biggest farming fashion challenges in the UK today - the lack of small to mid scale fibre processing infrastructure. The first voice we hear from is David from Rampisham Mill, the UK’s newest fibre spinning mill which opened in Dorset earlier this year, specializing in semi-worsted spinning of sheep wool in small to medium scale volumes. We also hear from Rosie Bristow, a costume designer who through her recent Masters research to grow, harvest a hectare of flax, is now exploring models and building prototypes for machinery that can process it. And finally we hear from Mallon Linen, an arable farm located in County Tyrone that is reinvigorating this heritage industry in Ireland, by not only growing the fibre but also aiming to process it into textiles.
Sun, January 15, 2023
Farming Fashion: Part 1
Welcome to farming fashion, our three part series co-produced by Southeast and South West England Fibresheds and Farmerama Radio. In this first episode we speak to farmers who grow and produce yarns from their own flocks and explore what regenerative fibre farming, and adding value to that fibre, really looks like on the ground. The first voices we hear from are Leila and her mother Ellen from Tamarisk Farm, a Soil Association certified mixed farm on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. Then we hear from Katie Allen of Loopy Ewes, a designer and shepherdess who designs and makes her own knitwear collection using the fleece from her flock of native breed sheep in Gloucestershire. The final voices we hear are Jen Hunter and Andy Wear from Fernhill Farm, Somerset - one of the country’s largest native breed sheep farms which is one of the country’s largest fibre farms and now certified regenerative by A Greener World.
Sun, January 01, 2023
78: Community gardens in Tāmaki Makaurau and organic no-till vineyards
In this episode we have 2 interviews for you. First, Olivia visited a community garden in her homeland, and then Abby chatted with a winemaker in California who walks us through the organic no-till vineyard system he has co-created with his team. This episode of Farmerama was made by Olivia Oldham, Jo Barratt and Abby Rose. A big thanks to the rest of the Farmerama team Katie Revell, Fran Bailey, Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins and Dora Taylor. Our theme music is by Owen Barratt Thank you to everyone who signed up to our Patreon. We appreciate every one of you - your support helps us to keep bringing you the stories of regenerative farming around the world, each month. If you'd like to join our growing Patreon family, please visit patreon.com/farmerama where you can choose your level of support.
Sun, November 27, 2022
77: Community Gardens, Plastic Pirates, a Farmshop Club and a Multi-business Farm
This month we are hopping all over the world. Firstly we hear from Andre Miguel of Hortas de Cascais about how community gardens have spread across a whole region in Portugal. Next, we head to Amaqanda Learning Garden in Philippi Village, South Africa where we speak to Yanga Gceya of Captain Fanplastic about how kids are connecting with their ecosystem by becoming plastic pirates. Then, we’re in Bulgaria where we hear from Filip Harmandzhiev, owner of Livadi farm, about an interesting membership model for his farm shop. Finally we’re back in the UK, to Kingsclere Estates, to chat to Tim May about a farming approach that layers and connects many businesses on one farm. This episode of Farmerama was made by Abby Rose and Jo Barratt. A big thanks to the rest of the farmerama team Olivia Oldham, Katie Revell, Dora Taylor, Fran Bailey, Annie Landless and Eliza Jenkins . Our theme music is by Owen Barratt.
Sun, October 30, 2022
76: California drought, Sheep under vines and the beginning of Fibershed
This month we hear how one ranch is managing to build green cover in its 22nd year of drought in California.. And about the vineyard they’ve designed to allow for grazing sheep below the canopy all year round. And we learn about the roots of the Fibershed movement, again in California, ahead of the release of our upcoming mini-series Farming Fashion from Fibreshed UK. This episode of Farmerama was made by Jo Barratt, Abby Rose and Olivia Oldham. A big thanks to the rest of the Farmerama team - Katie Revell, Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins, Fran Bailey and Dora Taylor.
Sun, October 02, 2022
‘Cereal’ bonus episode: Felin Ganol watermill
This is a bonus Cereal episode featuring an extended interview with Anne Parry, miller at Felin Ganol watermill in Ceredigion, Wales. Anne features in episode 4 of Cereal: “The Miller is Missing”. In this episode, Anne shares how she and her husband Andy restored and revived their historic watermill, and explains how the Welsh Grain Forum is working to rebuild local grain economies. If you haven’t listened to our Cereal series yet, we’d really encourage you to check it out. Listen here: www.farmerama.co/about/cereal Find out more about Felin Ganol, and where to buy their flour, at: www.felinganol.co.uk
Sun, September 25, 2022
‘Cereal’ bonus episode: Scotland the Bread
‘Cereal’ bonus episode: Scotland the Bread This is a bonus Cereal episode featuring an extended interview with Connie Hunter, Miller-Manager at Scotland the Bread, “a collaborative project to grow better grain and bake better bread”, based at the Bowhouse in Fife, Scotland. Connie features in episode 4 of Cereal: “The Miller is Missing”. Connie mills small batches of heritage grain using a cool-running Zentrofan mill. She explains the many benefits of using fresh flour, and tells us a bit about the work Scotland the Bread does with schoolchildren and community groups. If you haven’t listened to our Cereal series yet, we’d really encourage you to check it out. Listen here: www.farmerama.co/about/cereal Find out more about Scotland the Bread, and where to buy their flour, at: www.scotlandthebread.org
Sun, September 18, 2022
‘Cereal’ bonus episode: Fintan Keenan
This is a bonus Cereal episode featuring an extended interview with Fintan Keenan, a regenerative grain farmer, miller and mill designer living in Denmark. Fintan features in episode 4 of Cereal: “The Miller is Missing”. Abby Rose spoke to Fintan at PX+ festival. Fintan tells us about his innovative hybrid stone/roller mill – which allows millers to produce a huge range of flours while retaining the whole grain – and shares his vision of what it will take to rebuild local grain economies around the world. If you haven’t listened to our Cereal series yet, we’d really encourage you to check it out. Listen here: www.farmerama.co/about/cereal You can find Fintan Keenan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/fintankeenan And on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fintankeenan
Sun, September 11, 2022
‘Cereal’ bonus episode: Mungoswells Malt and Milling
This is a bonus Cereal episode featuring an extended interview with Angus McDowall and Alison Campbell of Mungoswells Malt and Milling in East Lothian, Scotland. Angus and Alison feature in episode 4 of Cereal: “The Miller is Missing”. In this episode, Angus explains how he – accidentally! – came to be milling the grain he grows on his 550-acre farm, and Alison gives us a tour of their very unusual Swiss Army flour mill. If you haven’t listened to our Cereal series yet, we’d really encourage you to check it out. Listen here: www.farmerama.co/about/cereal Find out more about Mungoswells Malt and Milling, and where to buy their flour, at www.mungoswells.co.uk
Sun, July 31, 2022
Cultivating Justice: Episode 6
Welcome to Cultivating Justice! Our 6-part series in collaboration with Land In Our Names (LION) and Out on the Land (OOTL, part of The Landworker’s Alliance) which weaves together interviews, conversations, music and reflections from Black people, people of colour, trans people, queer people and women, on their relationships with land, growing, and identity. In the final episode of this series, our producer, Katie Revell, hosts alongside LION’s Sam Siva and OOTL’s Hester Russell, who add their reflections to the pieces throughout the episode. First, psychotherapist and grower Srikanth Narayanan shares their thoughts about the fluid ways in which we can see our relationship with land, other living creatures, plants and the natural environment. They discuss how to reconnect with the natural world as something that is not outside of us, and how trauma can be addressed and healed through our relationships to land. Next, Farmerama’s Dora Taylor and Abby Rose talk about a dissertation that Dora wrote about Black farmers in the UK. The dissertation explores the relationships between the cultural practices of Black farmers and the mainstream agroecological movement. Abby and Dora unpick themes of racial identity, the use of language around agroecological methods, and the importance of centering joy. Towards the end of the episode, we hear from our chorus of voices, who reflect on home, belonging and rurality. And finally, Sam Siva shares an emotive visioning piece, inviting us to imagine the world that we are working towards, one that centres queer, anti-racist and reparative frameworks, challenges systems of oppression, and fundamentally changes the structural experiences of marginalised groups. We also hear a re-worked traditional folk song, and a performance piece by artist Sin Wai Kin. The first two zines from the Cultivating Justice project, ‘TransPlants’ and ‘Gourds, Banjos and Calalloo’, are available to order now here, on LION’s website. The Cultivating Justice podcast series is made by Abby Rose, Dora Taylor, Katie Revell, Nadia Mehdi, Sam Siva, and Hester Russell. This episode featured contributions from Srikanth Narayanan, Dora Taylor and Sam Siva; reflections from Philomena de Lima, Maymana Arefin, Sasha, a.k.a. MindYourOwnPlants, Dani Foster, Tinisha Williams, Anna Barrett, and Nancy Winfield; music by Eggclab 7 and Bianca Wilson, a.k.a. Island Girl; along with performance art by Sin Wai Kin. Our series music is by Taha Hassan, and our artwork is by @Blkmoodyboi. Thank you to our funders, Farming the Future and the Roddick Foundation. And a massive thank you to everyone who’s contributed in any way! Visit landworkersalliance.org.uk/cultivating-justice to find out more.
Sun, July 24, 2022
Cultivating Justice: Episode 5
Welcome to Cultivating Justice! Our 6-part series in collaboration with Land In Our Names (LION) and Out on the Land (OOTL, part of The Landworker’s Alliance) which weaves together interviews, conversations, music and reflections from Black people, people of colour, trans people, queer people and women, on their relationships with land, growing, and identity. Our host for episode 5 is Marcus MacDonald – Land in Our Names member, grower, tour manager and organiser. Marcus takes us on an auditory journey centring on the banjo, and we learn why this instrument is intricately connected to Black culture, food growing and justice. We sit in on a banjo lesson with Marcus and his friend and teacher Bianca Wilson, aka Island Girl. They play together, chat about country music, and discuss the history of the banjo, including how this instrument from African and Caribbean culture became mainstreamed in white culture throughout Europe and the United States. Marcus talks about how growing gourds to make banjos has become an important part of his cultural identity. Next, we hear from Hannah Mayree – grower, herbalist and founder of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project, which aims to re-appropriate Black culture by returning banjos, instruments of African origin, to the descendants of their original makers. Hannah talks to us about how the project works, and how growing gourds to build banjos can be an immensely healing practice. The Cultivating Justice podcast series is made by Sam Siva, Katie Revell, Hester Russell, Dora Taylor, Abby Rose and Nadia Mehdi. This episode featured conversations with Marcus Macdonald, Bianca Wilson and Hannah Mayree. Our series music is by Taha Hassan. Our artwork is by @Blkmoodyboi. Thank you to our funders, Farming the Future and the Roddick Foundation. And a big thank you to everyone who’s contributed in any way! Visit landworkersalliance.org.uk/cultivating-justice/ to find out more.
Sun, July 17, 2022
Cultivating Justice: Episode 4
Welcome to Cultivating Justice! Our 6-part series in collaboration with Land In Our Names (LION) and Out on the Land (OOTL, part of The Landworker’s Alliance) which weaves together interviews, conversations, music and reflections from Black people, people of colour, trans people, queer people and women, on their relationships with land, growing, and identity. Episode 4 is hosted by Hester Russell and Zoe Miles, who are both from Out on the Land (OOTL), and also involved in an emerging grower’s union. In this episode, we hear more of Jass Butt and Hari Byles’s music made from recordings inside a wormery and a compost heap in East London. We also hear another clip from a a performance by artist Sin Wai Kin, commissioned by the Queer Ecologies collective. Our chorus of voices returns, reflecting on the relationships and congruences between plants and queerness. We also hear from Natalie Tamburrini, who talks about her experience of working on a farm as an autistic person as part of a project called Eco Talent, and shares her ideas on how to make farms – and workplaces in general – more just, accessible and inclusive. She shares part of an open letter she has written to neurotypical society. Then, we chat with Maggie Cheney of Rock Steady Farm in upstate New York. They discuss how they are centering care in their work on the farm, and consider how this could be a way of queering our approach to landwork. The Cultivating Justice podcast series is made by Sam Siva, Katie Revell, Hester Russell, Dora Taylor, Abby Rose and Nadia Mehdi. This episode featured conversations with Natalie Tamburini and Maggie Cheney; reflections from our chorus of voices – Tinisha Williams, Sasha, a.k.a. MindYourOwnPlants, Dani Foster, Dav Singh, Anna Barrett, and Nancy Winfield; clips from a performance by Sin Wai Ki mixed for the Microbe Disco and a piece from Jass Butt and Hari Byles. Our series music is by Taha Hassan. Our artwork is by @Blkmoodyboi. Thank you to our funders, Farming the Future and the Roddick Foundation. And a big thank you to everyone who’s contributed in any way! Visit landworkersalliance.org.uk/cultivating-justice/ to find out more. Hester and Zoe referenced an emerging growers’ union they are involved. Here Hester has shared a bit more information about it and links to get in touch if you are interested: “A union of landbased employees has been forming since the start of 2022. New name tbc! Together we aim to provide support for grievances, counter isolation, increase the accountability of employers, fight for better standards and to build power and solidarity across the landworking and other union movements. See our full aims here. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RiJO5UekAXOeGPxKBnhGyjaACnWq8HeWM_-K5uBfyiU/edit?usp=drivesdk This union is still very young and welcomes any landbased worker who is not an employer or a manager to join our conversations. At the moment we are conducting a workers enquiry as well as forming and strengthening our gro
Sun, July 10, 2022
Cultivating Justice: Episode 3
Welcome to Cultivating Justice! Our 6-part series in collaboration with Land In Our Names (LION) and Out on the Land (OOTL, part of The Landworker’s Alliance) which weaves together interviews, conversations, music and reflections from Black people, people of colour, trans people, queer people and women, on their relationships with land, growing, and identity. Episode 3 is hosted by LION’s Sam Siva and Farmerama’s Dora Taylor. In this episode, we dig into the practices and meanings around callaloo, a plant that’s commonly used in Caribbean food, and can also be grown in the UK. Glenda Trew is a workshop facilitator, community grower and gardener who lives in London. She talks to us about: teaching callaloo growing to growers from Lewisham’s Ital Garden; her personal history and connection to the plant; and the importance of being able to access culturally appropriate crops. We also join Sam and Dora in Sam’s kitchen as they cook some callaloo dishes together. As they cook, eat and swap recipes, they chat about the links between food, growing, history and their own identities. The Cultivating Justice podcast series is made by Sam Siva, Katie Revell, Hester Russell, Dora Taylor, Abby Rose and Nadia Mehdi. This episode featured conversations with Glenda Trew, Dora Talyor and Sam Siva and banjo music by Bianca Wilson aka Island Girl. Our series music is by Taha Hassan. Our artwork is by @Blkmoodyboi Thank you to our funders, Farming the Future and the Roddick Foundation. And a big thank you to everyone who’s contributed in any way! Visit landworkersalliance.org.uk/cultivating-justice/ to find out more.
Sun, July 03, 2022
Cultivating Justice: Episode 2
Welcome to Cultivating Justice! Our 6-part series in collaboration with Land In Our Names (LION) and Out on the Land (OOTL, part of The Landworker’s Alliance) which weaves together interviews, conversations, music and reflections from Black people, people of colour, trans people, queer people and women, on their relationships with land, growing, and identity. Episode 2 is hosted by Assistant Producer Nadia Mehdi and Farmerama’s Abby Rose. Woven throughout we are taken to the fields, pots and allotments of the chorus of land-based practitioners. We hear from Maymana Arefin, a community gardener, spoken-word poet, and artist. They talk to us about their cultural connections to growing, as well as speaking about a series of foraging walks that they help run with Misery Party - a mental health and harm reduction collective - called “Misery Medicine, Plant Magic”, which focus on healing for Black people, and people of colour. We dip into a clip from a performance by Turner Prize nominated artist Sin Wai Kin (this is the first of a few clips we will hear from them across the series). It was commissioned by the Queer Ecologies collective as part of their Microbe Disco. The piece mixes Sin Wai Kin's original sounds and poetry with music from the Butterfly Lovers violin concerto, and recordings from oceans and compost piles. We also hear a field recording by Amu Gibbo, taken by a canal in London. Sam Siva of Land In Our Names (LION) digs into the experiences and wisdom of community gardener, beekeeper and proud South Londoner Carole Wright. We tune into their conversation at Carole’s community garden where they chat about liberation through healing, building resilient communities, and the ways that access to land and the living world are key to this. The Cultivating Justice podcast series is made by Sam Siva, Katie Revell, Hester Russell, Dora Taylor, Abby Rose and Nadia Mehdi. This episode featured conversations with Maymana Arefin and Carole Wright; reflections from our chorus of voices – Tinisha Williams, Sasha, a.k.a. MindYourOwnPlants, Dani Foster, Dav Singh, Anna Barrett, and Nancy Winfield, along with Maymana Arefin; clips from a performance by Sin Wai Kin mixed for the Microbe Disco and field recordings by Amu Gibbo. Our series music is by Taha Hassan. Thank you to our funders, Farming the Future and the Roddick Foundation. And a big thank you to everyone who’s contributed in any way! Visit landworkersalliance.org.uk/cultivating-justice/ to find out more.
Sun, June 26, 2022
Cultivating Justice: Episode 1
Welcome to Cultivating Justice! Our 6-part series in collaboration with Land In Our Names (LION) and Out on the Land (OOTL, part of The Landworker’s Alliance) which weaves together interviews, conversations, music and reflections from Black people, people of colour, trans people, queer people and women, on their relationships with land, growing, and identity. Episode 1 is hosted by OOTL’s Hester Russell and LION’s Sam Siva. Woven throughout we are taken to the fields, pots and allotments of a chorus of land-based practitioners. We are treated to a sound piece ‘Eating your castings’ by Jas Butt and Hari Byles, made up of sounds that were recorded inside a wormery and a compost heap in an urban nature reserve in East London. We hear from Paula Gioia about the organising work happening in Europe on issues relevant to LGBTQIA+ landworkers, as well as the roots of European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC)’s gender and sexuality articulation, and their Embracing Rural Diversity report. We drop in on a conversation between Sam Siva and Professor Corinne Fowler, recorded shortly after their keynote session at the ORFC22 on Land, Race and Empire. They discuss how systems of oppression are rooted in land ownership, issues around access to rural spaces for BPOC and people living in cities, and how to truly decolonise regenerative agriculture. The Cultivating Justice podcast series is made by Hester Russell, Abby Rose, Dora Taylor, Katie Revell, Nadia Mehdi and Sam Siva. This episode featured conversations with Paula Gioia and Corinne Fowler. Reflections from Sasha aka MindYourOwnPlants, Dani Foster, Dav Singh, Tinisha Williams, Nancy Winfield, Srikanth Narayanan and Philomena de Lima and music by Jas Butt – a.k.a. Guest and Hari Byles, as well as Bianca Wilson, a.k.a. Island Girl. Our series music is by Taha Hassan. Thank you to our funders, Farming the Future and the Roddick Foundation. And a big thank you to everyone who’s contributed in any way! Visit https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/cultivating-justice/ to find out more.
Sun, May 29, 2022
75: ‘Biology first’ regen, Black British farmers and the miller-to-baker relationship
This month, our first stop is UK Grain Lab, a gathering in Nottingham of farmers, millers, bakers and scientists who are building a new grain system for the UK. We speak to baker Kate Hamblin and miller David Howell about their close working relationship Next, we head to Aotearoa New Zealand, and hear from Jake Clarke, the head farmer at Organic Market Garden - or OMG - a model farm set up by For the Love of Bees in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Finally, we share a preview from our upcoming series, Cultivating Justice. We've been working on the series in partnership with Land in Our Names and the Landworkers' Alliance's Out on the Land Group, with the first episode due to be launched next month. In this snippet, Abby speaks to Farmerama's own Dora Taylor about her Masters research on the experiences of Black farmers in the UK.
Sun, April 24, 2022
74: Foodshed, Agroecological coaching and the regenerative mindset
This month we hear from three practitioners about what it takes to transform minds and hearts. Firstly we hear from Bea Alvarez, Climate Resilience Projects & Outreach Coordinator at Carbon Sink Farms and Foodshed in San Diego County, California abouut how collaborations between multiple farmers and indigenous landholders have built a new vision for the food and farming system there. Clare Hill at FAI Farms tells us about her journey, moving towards a regenerative farming system and we hear from Nicole Masters about the CREATE program and what it takes to train people so they can coach others on a regenerative journey. We’re very grateful to those of you that support us and allow us to bring you these stories every month. Even the smallest contribution makes a big difference to us. If you'd like to become a supporter, visit patreon.com/Farmerama
Sun, March 27, 2022
73: Chilean natural cider, the Regen Platform and biodynamic whiskey
This month we have voices on three continents. We begin talking to Juani Lisboa, part of a natural cider-making collective in Chile - Agricola sin Patrones - who are working to support more diverse rural ecosystems. Then our co-creator Abby Rose puts her Vidacycle hat on and talks to agroecologist Nicole Masters about a powerful new tool they worked on together - the Soilmentor Regen Platform - which uses the 10 Regen Indicators to help farmers learn from their in-field observations. And finally we hear from two people working closely with Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay. Richard Gantlett at Yatesbury House Farm supplies the distillery with biodynamic barley, and Christy MacFarlane works in their comms department. She shares about the distillery's work with growing landrace barley on the Hebridean Islands where they are based. Episode Links: Agricola sin Patrones https://www.instagram.com/agricola_sinpatrones/ Nicole Masters x Vidacycle = the Soilmentor Regen Platform https://www.integritysoils.co.nz/ https://soils.vidacycle.com/ Richard Gantlett, Yatesbury House Farm https://yatesbury.wixsite.com/yatesbury Bruichladdich Distillery https://www.bruichladdich.com/
Mon, February 28, 2022
72: new food media, herbal CSAs and regenerative supporting blockchain
This month we hear about the new food and farming media and how the two are becoming ever closer, we head to a medicinal CSA and we end with a technology that may be part of our toolkit for a regenerative future. This episode of Farmerama was made by Jo Barratt, Abby Rose and Olivia Oldham. A big thanks to the rest of the Farmerama team Katie Revell, Fran Bailey, Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins and Dora Taylor. Our theme music is by Owen Barratt. We’re very grateful to those of you that support us and allow us to bring you these stories every month. Even the smallest contribution makes a big difference to us. If you'd like to become a supporter, visit patreon.com/Farmerama Links: Vittles https://vittles.substack.com/ @vittleslondon Jonathan Nunn @demarionunn Earthlight Herbs: https://www.earthlight.uk/ Regen Network : https://www.regen.network/token/
Sun, January 30, 2022
71: Continuous Cropping, Land For Who and the Magic of Woodchip
In this month’s episode, we bring you three conversations with farmers and researchers who spoke at this year’s Oxford Real Farming Conference. First, we hear from John Letts - a wheat grower and crop developer living in Buckinghamshire, known for growing heritage grains. He joins us to explain Continuous cropping, something that got a lot of attention this year at the ORFC. Next, we speak to Frances Northrop, who works for the New Economics Foundation and is an associate fellow specialising in local economies. Frances talks to us about a project she worked on last year called 'Land for Who'. She also explores the concept of 'new municipalism' - a global political movement that is all about ordinary citizens claiming power in their local and city governments - and how this relates to land. Finally, we catch up with Ben Raskin to talk about his new book.‘The Woodchip Handbook’ delves into the magic and potential of woodchip not only as a mulch but also as a way of building soil health and fertility through beneficially increasing the fungal content of the soil. This episode of Farmerama was made by Jo Barratt, Abby Rose and Olivia Oldham. A big thanks to the rest of the farmerama team - Katie Revell, Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins, Fran Bailey and Dora Taylor.
Sun, December 26, 2021
70: Resilient grapes, Soil insight and Aotearoa farm tour
This month we hear about more resilient grape varieties and growing grapes in the UK from new grower Victoria Vine Lizard, we are offered a mind bending new way of understanding what soil is from Rothamsted research scientist Andy Neal and you can sit back and relax as we take you on a farm tour on the other side of the world with Greg Hart of Mangarara Station in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s been a long year and we don’t know about you, but here at the Farmerama team we are pretty exhausted. We wanted to say thank you to all of you, the Farmerama listeners and people out there doing the work to build a more ecological and just farming future for all of us. We know this isn’t easy but we really appreciate you and it’s an honor to all be in this together. May 2022 bring beauty to you all. We’re very grateful to those of you that support us and allow us to bring you these stories every month. Even the smallest contribution makes a big difference to us. If you’d like to become a supporter, visit patreon.com/Farmerama
Sun, November 28, 2021
69: COP 26: Glasgow growing, participatory action research and migrant worker solidarity
This month, we’re heading to Glasgow to bring you three stories from the fringes of the COP26 conference. We’ll hear from Tenement Veg about the challenges of growing food in Scotland’s largest city. We’ll highlight Nourish Scotland’s involvement at the conference, and speak to Warami Jackson and Marlon Opigo, two participants in Feedback’s “participatory action research”- an innovative and inclusive project researching young people’s experience of the food system. We’ll visit the Landworkers’ Alliance’s agroecology hub, and speak to the LWA’s Catherine McAndrew about the urgent call for solidarity with migrant workers. This episode of Farmerama was produced by Katie Revell, Olivia Oldham and Abby Rose. We’re very grateful to those of you that support us and allow us to bring you these stories every month. Even the smallest contribution makes a big difference to us. If you’d like to become a supporter, visit patreon.com/Farmerama Links: ‘Young Seeds for your Thoughts: Towards a Just Food System’. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNkYxX90O7Y
Sun, October 31, 2021
68: Commoners in Cumbria and collective landscape restoration in Spain
This month we speak to Cumbrian sheep farmer and celebrated author James Rebanks about the collective discovery of aligned interests of farmers as they are regenerating their landscapes together. And Abby has visited, Erica ten Broeke, Landscape Manager at Commonland, a Dutch NGO that bring a holistic approach to landscape restoration as initiator, catalyst and enabler of large-scale, long-term restoration initiatives. This episode of Farmerama was made by Jo Barratt, Abby Rose and Olivia Oldham. A big thanks to the rest of the Farmerama team Katie Revell, Fran Bailey, Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins and Dora Taylor. Our theme music is by Owen Barratt. We’re very grateful to those of you that support us and allow us to bring you these stories every month. Even the smallest contribution makes a big difference to us. If you'd like to become a supporter, visit patreon.com/Farmerama Links: James Reanks @herdyshepherd1 La Junquera lajunquera.com/ Common Land https://www.commonland.com/
Sun, September 26, 2021
67: Fibre farming, Ugandan permaculture and rain-fed regeneration in Spain
This month we begin with a story from Rosie Bristow, MSc student of Fashion and Textile Management based at Phantassie Organic Farm in Scotland. We learn from Rosie about a farm to fashion project she’s pioneering as part of her studies, to prototype a UK textile economy in collaboration with George Young at Fobbing Farm in Essex. Next, we head to Uganda, where we hear from Noah Ssempijja of YICE (Youth Initiative for Community Empowerment), a social enterprise focused on providing smallholder farmers access to regenerative farming technique. Finally, we hear from Alfonso Chico Gusman and Yanniek Schoonhoven of La Junquera, who are experimenting with rain-fed regenerative techniques on their mixed farm in the arid mountains of southern Spain. La Junquera’s influence extends beyond the farm, with training initiatives such as the Regenerative Academy which offers education to the wider community as well as research collaborations with different universities bringing research to the farm. We will be hearing more from La Junquera over the next few months, as they are a great example of the power of collective action to build on the regenerative movement! This episode of Farmerama was made by Jo Barratt, Abby Rose and Olivia Oldham. A big thanks to the rest of the Farmerama team Katie Revell, Fran Bailey, Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins and Dora Taylor. Our theme music is by Owen Barratt. We’re very grateful to those of you that support us and allow us to bring you these stories every month. Even the smallest contribution makes a big difference to us. If you'd like to become a supporter, visit patreon.com/Farmerama Links: Rosie Bristow @straw_into_gold YICE Uganda https://twitter.com/YICEUganda La Junquera https://lajunquera.com/ Regeneration Academy https://www.regeneration-academy.org/
Sun, August 08, 2021
Landed part 4: Places of possibilities
So if, as it turns out, the family farm is a colonial concept, what are the alternatives? And if we’re to address the tangled mess of challenges we’re faced with – the climate emergency, biodiversity loss, farmer burnout, food inequality and the need for reparations – then perhaps we need to be thinking not at the scale of the individual farm, but of the entire landscape. In this final episode, Col explores the patchwork of pre- and post-colonial land relations that already exist across Scotland. He learns more about the tried and tested model of crofting that still exists in parts of the Highlands, as well as Scotland’s community right-to-buy legislation, and asks whether, together, these could be part of a broader strategy to rethink land ownership and tenure, and even our relationship to land more broadly. In the end, Col concludes that it’s not the case that the family farm is no longer relevant – it’s just that on its own, it’s not enough to deal with what the future has in store. Instead, the family farm must come to understand itself as part of a much broader landscape – one made up of a kaleidoscope of different understandings of, and approaches to, what it means to be Landed. Landed is produced by Col Gordon and Katie Revell, with Executive Producer Abby Rose. Our Project Manager is Olivia Oldham. Huge thanks to Josina Calliste for her guidance and input and to Sarah Nicholas for all her help and support. Thanks also to Jo Barratt. The music for Landed is by Dagger Gordon and Col Gordon. This episode featured Marian Bruce, Helen O’Keefe, Patrick Krause, Calum MacLeod, Adam Calo, Will Frazer and Emma Whitham. Funding for the project was provided by the funding platform Necessity. Farmerama is committed to keeping all our episodes free, and to paying our team a living wage. To do so, we rely on support from you, our community of listeners. If you’d like to help us make more podcasts, you can become a Patron at patreon.com/farmerama.
Sun, July 25, 2021
Landed part 3: Colonial connections
In Part 2, farmer’s son Col Gordon explored the ways in which the colonisation of Highland Scotland destroyed a rich pre-colonial culture and relationship to the land. But in Part 3, he learns that the story of Scotland as the victim of colonial practices is just one part of a much bigger narrative. The Highlands is one of the least racially diverse parts of the UK, and it would be easy to think of the area as far removed from the UK’s grim colonial history – a place where racial justice and reparations have no direct relevance. But, as Col discovers, this would be far from the truth. Col traces the connections – some indirect, others very concrete – between the rural landscape he grew up in and global patterns of displacement, exploitation and enslavement. To dig deeper, he speaks with Josina Calliste, co-founder of Land in Our Names (LION) – a Black-led, grassroots collective committed to reparations in Britain by connecting land and climate justice with racial justice – and explores what it means to be a person of colour in rural Scotland today. Landed is produced by Col Gordon and Katie Revell, with Executive Producer Abby Rose. Our Project Manager is Olivia Oldham. Huge thanks to Josina Calliste for her guidance and input and to Sarah Nicholas for all her help and support. Thanks also to Jo Barratt. The music for Landed is by Dagger Gordon and me, Col Gordon. This episode featured David Alston, Josina Calliste, Iain MacKinnon, Srik Narayanan and Philomena de Lima Funding for the project was provided by the funding platform Necessity. Farmerama is committed to keeping all our episodes free, and to paying our team a living wage. To do so, we rely on support from you, our community of listeners. If you’d like to help us make more podcasts, you can become a Patron at patreon.com/farmerama
Sun, July 11, 2021
Landed part 2: Re-storying the landscape
Over the last 250 years, Gaelic culture in the Highlands of Scotland has experienced what academic Iain MacKinnon refers to as “cultural devastation”. For farmer’s son, Col Gordon, the forced displacement of people during the Highland Clearances, and the dismantling of Gaelic language and traditions, are best understood through the lens of colonisation. Now, only small pockets of Gaelic culture remain, detached from the conditions and ways of life that they evolved in. In this episode, Col learns about the pre-colonial attitudes of the Gaels towards the land, investigating the question of what came before the family farm. What he finds is a system based on community and collective work, with a yearly migration to the hillside “shieling” to graze the cattle and rejuvenate the spirit. Above all, what he finds is a fundamentally different way of relating to the land – an understanding that people belong to the land, not the other way around. Could a revival of these “indigenous” practices, and these relationships to the land, provide a route forward? And, if so, how might we “re-indigenise” in an open and inclusive way? Landed is produced by Col Gordon and Katie Revell, with Executive Producer Abby Rose. Our Project Manager is Olivia Oldham. Huge thanks to Josina Calliste for her guidance and input and to Sarah Nicholas for all her help and support. Thanks also to Jo Barratt. The music for Landed is by Dagger Gordon and Col Gordon.
Sun, June 27, 2021
Landed part 1: The family farm
“What if we’ve been getting this wrong?” Col Gordon is a farmer’s son from the Scottish Highlands. After a decade away, he’s finally returned to the place that he loves: his family farm. Now, he’s eager to start realising his vision for an agroecological future: a future in which rural areas are alive with culture, many more people work on the land, farms operate in sympathy with nature, and nutritious food is available to everyone in society. But now that he’s back, Col’s starting to wonder whether this vision can be achieved within the existing family farm model. Increasingly, it seems the odds are stacked against farms like his. Many are struggling to survive, let alone to employ people and deliver good food affordably to local communities. As older farmers retire without succession plans, and their land is amalgamated into large industrial operations, the future of the small family farm looks pretty bleak. As he wrangles with all of this, Col stumbles across something that throws his vision – and his very understanding of farming – into doubt. What does it mean to say that “The family farm is a colonial concept”? And might this jarring idea be the key to understanding the problem – as well as its potential solutions? Landed is produced by Col Gordon and Katie Revell, with Executive Producer Abby Rose. Our Project Manager is Olivia Oldham. Huge thanks to Josina Calliste for her guidance and input and to Sarah Nicholas for all her help and support. Thanks also to Jo Barratt. The music for Landed is by Dagger Gordon and me, Col Gordon.
Sun, May 30, 2021
66: Ecosystem agriculture, the probiotic turn and regenerative flower growing
This month we are introduced to the importance of ecosystem architecture by a forest ecologist and winegrower. We hear from two researchers investigating a shift in how we understand our relationship with the natural world - from one where humans are in control, to one where we work with other life-forms and biological processes to build human and ecosystem health. And we finish hearing one grower’s experience of implementing regenerative techniques on her flower farm.
Mon, April 26, 2021
65: Community farm investment, Naked Oat Mylk and Palestinian fair trade
This month we start with a fond farewell to internationally renowned water specialist Professor Tony Allen, most noted for his pioneering work on the concept of virtual water. We’ll hear a conversation with him from 2017 about the OurField Project. We then hear from the Kindling Trust. They work on a range of projects that model a fairer, more responsible, ecologically restorative food system, and are opening up an opportunity to invest in their new farming endeavours in Manchester. Next, farmer John Turner introduces us to a new vision of dairy farming- a vegetarian dairy farm producing cow’s milk alongside innovative naked oat mylk. Tiger and Float are making this oat mylk, using the naked oats that John is growing. Finally we meet Mohammed Ruzzi, a fair trade farmer in Palestine, who talks to us about the role of regenerative farming and the Zaytoun cooperative in supporting a better life for Palestinian farmers.
Sun, March 28, 2021
64: Dung beetles, herbal medicine, hydrology and soil carbon
This month, we learn from an entomologist in Wiltshire about the importance of dung beetles in our farming systems. We hear how a medical herbalist in London is bringing people together to care for and heal each other and a soil microbiologist shares how restoring hydrological cycles is vital in mitigating the climate crisis and how the soil carbon sponge is core to that.
Sun, February 28, 2021
63: Indian farmers’ protests, the Forever Flock and Biopriming
63: Indian farmers’ protests, the Forever Flock and Biopriming by Farmerama
Sun, January 31, 2021
62: ORFC 2021
This month we invite you to join us as we take a dip into some of the key sessions at the recent Global Oxford Real Farming Conference, where Farmerama were official media partners again this year. We hear from two women lawyers in Aotearoa New Zealand who tell us about how a river and a forest have been given legal personhood. Then, we hear how an economic think-tank and a London CSA have worked together to understand the community benefits of localised routes to market and local organic food. Next, we head to Cape Town to hear about food justice from two women working at a farming cooperative. Finally, we hear from an indigenous seedkeeper and leader in Turtle Island (the United States) about cultivating ancestral brilliance and regenerative economies.
Sun, December 27, 2020
61: Fine Fleeces, Pasture Cropping and Land in Commons
It’s good to be back this month with a collection of conversations with farmers who are building a more ecological future. We begin at Whistlebare Farm learning how raising sheep and goats ecologically results in wool that’s extra special – all because of good work going on in the soil. We head to France, to Andy Cato’s farm, to hear about his regenerative learning journey, and discover how he’s putting that learning into practice here in the UK. And finally, we’re in Germany, where the Kulturland Cooperative has created an innovative funding model bringing farmland back into common ownership, and securing it for generations to come.
Sun, November 15, 2020
"Who feeds us?" Episode 6: Looking back and moving forward
In this final episode, we revisit some of the people we’ve heard from throughout the series. We tease out some common threads that bind these apparently disparate voices together – threads such as reverence, gratitude, sovereignty, dignity and abundance. We hear more about what these people have learnt over the course of this year, their visions for resilient, localised food economies... and how they see the future of who feeds us. It is clearer than ever: Food is not just a question of calories. Food is nourishment for the body and soul. Food is about community, culture and our relationship with each other and with the Earth. We are all part of the food system. The journey ahead – towards a truly resilient, humane and nourishing food system, a food system rooted in abundance – that journey is complicated, and it will most likely be bumpy. But this series is an invitation to embrace that complexity, to dive into it, to seek out and connect with those who feed us. After all – food doesn’t come from shelves. Food comes from the soil, the sea – and the hands of people. This is who feeds us. Featuring: Skye Gyngell: https://springrestaurant-shop.co.uk/ Jane Scotter: http://fernverrow.com/ Salma & Khalil Attan: https://www.bushwoodbees.co.uk/ // https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrsm10F2zp_KO26MBCGRUw Ursula Myrie: https://www.adira.org.uk/ Angus Buchanan-Smith: https://www.the-free-company.com/ Dee Woods: https://granvillecommunitykitchen.wordpress.com/ Dr Lisa Palmer: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/social-sciences/sociology/staff/lisa-palmer Muhsen Hassanin: https://abrahamshalalmeat.com/ Abigail Holsborough: https://www.brixtonwindmill.org/ Rosy Benson: www.fieldbakery.com/ Lynda McFarlane: https://veganvybes.co.uk/ Farmerama.co Producers: Jo Barratt, Katie Revell, Abby Rose, Suzie McCarthy Additional interview: Lovejit Dhaliwal Series Executive Producers: Jo Barratt, Katie Revell, Abby Rose Community Collaborators: Cathy St Germans, Zain Dada, Andre Reid Project Manager: Olivia Oldham Artwork: Hannah Grace www.hgraceoc.com/ Music: Michael O'Neil PR & Comms: Fran Bailey, Kate Lam, Elma Glasgow, Nancy Brownlow Who Feeds Us? is possible thanks to the Farming the Future COVID Response Fund. We’re very grateful to The A Team Foundation, the Roddick Foundation, Thirty Percy and the Samworth Foundation for providing the funds to make this project happen.
Sun, November 08, 2020
"Who feeds us?" Episode 5: Cultivating abundance
In this episode, we visit one region – the West Midlands – to explore how the pandemic has highlighted connections between the local and the global, the present and the past...and between food, health, community and identity. What can we learn from this time about the experiences, the resources and the needs of individuals and communities in the UK – and, in particular, communities of African descent? How can having access to land, to green space and growing space, “feed” us in multiple ways – physical, emotional and spiritual? Does being together in growing spaces allow the experience of abundance and the ability to share in that? Featuring: Lynda McFarlane: https://veganvybes.co.uk/ Dr Lisa Palmer: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/social-sciences/sociology/staff/lisa-palmer Andre Reid: https://kiondo.co.uk/ Farmerama.co Producer: DeMarkay Williams Executive Producers: Jo Barratt, Katie Revell, Abby Rose Community Collaborator: Andre Reid Project Manager: Olivia Oldham Artwork: Hannah Grace www.hgraceoc.com/ Music: Michael O'Neil PR & Comms: Fran Bailey, Kate Lam, Elma Glasgow, Nancy Brownlow Who Feeds Us? is possible thanks to the Farming the Future COVID Response Fund. We’re very grateful to The A Team Foundation, the Roddick Foundation, Thirty Percy and the Samworth Foundation for providing the funds to make this project happen.
Sun, November 01, 2020
"Who feeds us?" Episode 4: Whole meal
At the start of lockdown, as supermarket shelves were cleared of flour, people who might not otherwise have thought to seek out a local bakery – let alone a local mill – started to do just that. In this episode, we’ll hear about how this sudden upsurge in demand presented a huge challenge for these small-scale bakers and millers – but it was a challenge they met with enthusiasm and ingenuity, as well as a deep sense of responsibility to their communities. At one time, pretty much every town and village had its own flour mill, driven by wind or water. Today, across the whole of London, just one working windmill remains – Brixton Windmill. It’s a unique heritage site with a rich educational programme. But as lockdown began, the mill became much more than a historic curiosity – and its volunteers found themselves providing a vital service to the local community. Meanwhile, bakers across the country, from the city of Bristol to the highlands of Scotland, were baking nourishing loaves for the people who needed them most. These bakers and millers, many of whom have spent the last few years investigating the connections between the bread, the mills, the farms that produce the grain, and, crucially, the soil in which that grain grows, are engaged in building a better system – one that looks very different to the one that produces most of the bread we eat in the UK today. When inflexible, centralised supermarket supply chains buckled, join us to learn how they were able to carry on producing flour, baking bread and feeding people – thanks to the localised, adaptable, human-scale infrastructure they’re part of. How can we grow that infrastructure? How can we all become part of a more resilient, equitable, efficient and enjoyable bread system? How can we help local millers stock local takeaways with bread baked with their flour? How can we help people to understand that, if they care about good bread, they also have to care about healthy soil? And how can we make sure that we celebrate everyone involved in making our bread – and that we listen to what they have to say? Featuring: Abigail Holsborough: https://www.brixtonwindmill.org/ Rosy Benson: https://www.fieldbakery.com/ Rosie Gray: http://www.revivingfood.co.uk/ Farmerama.co Producer: Dave Pickering Executive Producers: Jo Barratt, Katie Revell, Abby Rose Community Collaborators: Cathy St Germans, Col Gordon Project Manager: Olivia Oldham Artwork: Hannah Grace www.hgraceoc.com/ Music: Michael O'Neil PR & Comms: Fran Bailey, Kate Lam, Elma Glasgow, Nancy Brownlow Who Feeds Us? is possible thanks to the Farming the Future COVID Response Fund. We’re very grateful to The A Team Foundation, the Roddick Foundation, Thirty Percy and the Samworth Foundation for providing the funds to make this project happen.
Sun, October 25, 2020
"Who feeds us?" Episode 3: Growing our own
As lockdown came into effect, and supermarkets struggled to restock their fruit and vegetable aisles, the idea of “growing your own” took on a new significance. In towns and cities across the UK, those of us lucky enough to have access to gardens or balconies – even if we’d never grown anything before – suddenly started looking for compost, tools, and seeds. Many of us discovered, perhaps for the first time, the joy of eating freshly picked, homegrown fruit and veg. It’s a joy that you just don’t get when you bite into something that’s been harvested unripe on the other side of the world, flown across oceans to be processed somewhere else, then eventually picked up from a supermarket chiller here in the UK – maybe weeks later. But, to grow your own food, the first thing you need are seeds. For millennia – for the vast majority of our agricultural history, in fact – farmers saved their own seed. Over time, plants adapted to the specifics of the area they were growing in, and local varieties emerged. But when seed companies developed F1 hybrids, which can’t be harvested and re-sown year after year, things changed. The genetics of these hybrids are too unstable – there’s no knowing how your crop will turn out. So farmers and growers reliant on F1 hybrids have to buy their seeds every single year. By saving and sharing open-pollinated seed, farmers and growers – and communities – are helping make sure our food supply can withstand the shocks of climate change. And, they’re also reclaiming collective control of the seeds we all depend on to feed ourselves – ensuring that we all have access to those seeds, even during a crisis – like a pandemic. Featuring: Astrid Guillabeau: Neville Portas: https://nodiggitygdns.wordpress.com/ Dee Woods: https://granvillecommunitykitchen.wordpress.com/ Helene Schulze: https://www.seedsovereignty.info/ Farmerama.co Producer: Alice Armstrong Executive Producers: Jo Barratt, Katie Revell, Abby Rose Community Collaborators: Andre Reid, Dhelia Snoussi Project Manager: Olivia Oldham Artwork: Hannah Grace www.hgraceoc.com/ Music: Michael O'Neil PR & Comms: Fran Bailey, Kate Lam, Elma Glasgow, Nancy Brownlow Who Feeds Us? is possible thanks to the Farming the Future COVID Response Fund. We’re very grateful to The A Team Foundation, the Roddick Foundation, Thirty Percy and the Samworth Foundation for providing the funds to make this project happen.
Sun, October 18, 2020
"Who feeds us?" Episode 2: Land, animal, journey
American poet and farmer Gary Snyder writes of the interconnectedness and interdependence of the food chain. He says, “To acknowledge that each of us at the table will eventually be part of the meal is not just being ‘realistic.’ It is allowing the sacred to enter and accepting the sacramental aspect of our shaky temporary personal being.” In this episode, we explore the ways in which a growing consciousness is developing around food, based on ideas of reverence, and gratitude. How have the people who care for the animals that feed us – both in life and in death – changed during this time of crisis? How has the way they understand the future of food been altered by the pandemic, and their own responses to it? How do they see their own place in that future? Who Feeds Us? is a celebration of these key workers, a thank you and a call to action – so we don’t forget just how ‘key’ they are. Featuring: Dean Wright: https://www.ballyliskofarmagh.com/ Muhsen Hassanin: https://abrahamshalalmeat.com/ John Martin Tulloch: https://www.tasteofshetland.com/producers/island-fish-shetland-ltd Farmerama.co Producer: Phil Smith Executive Producers: Jo Barratt, Katie Revell, Abby Rose Community Collaborators: Zain Dada, Col Gordon, Fern Towers Artwork: Hannah Grace https://www.hgraceoc.com/ Music: Michael O'Neil Project Manager: Olivia Oldham PR & Comms: Fran Bailey, Kate Lam, Elma Glasgow, Nancy Brownlow Who Feeds Us? is possible thanks to the Farming the Future COVID Response Fund. We’re very grateful to The A Team Foundation, the Roddick Foundation, Thirty Percy and the Samworth Foundation for providing the funds to make this project happen.
Sun, October 11, 2020
"Who feeds us?" Episode 1: The hungry gap
As the COVID-19 lockdown hit the UK in early 2020, our nation suddenly looked very different. Supermarket shelves were empty and, for the first time in most people's lives, we started to question how we were going to feed ourselves, and our families. Almost overnight, localised food systems went from being niche fantasies to a vital source of sustenance for many people around the country. But who – and what – made up those localised food systems? Where did this sudden burst of community provision come from? In this episode we hear from four very different corners of the food system. From people supplying high-end restaurants to people on the frontlines of emergency food response. They all share what the lockdown meant for them and their communities, as well as how what they are doing helps feed us every day – the strength of close farm-restaurant relationships, the difficulties dairy farmers have faced in the last few decades, the health benefits of local honey, and the need for culturally appropriate food. All of these stories begin to hint at what a food system woven with dignity might look like. This is only part 1; we will be meeting each of these people again in the final episode to hear their visions for the future and what’s next for those who feed us. As we learn in many different ways throughout this series: Food is not just a question of calories. Food is nourishment for the body and soul. Food is about community, culture and our relationship with each other and with the Earth. We are all the food system. Interviews with Skye Gyngell https://springrestaurant-shop.co.uk/ Jane Scotter http://fernverrow.com/ Angus Buchanan-Smith https://www.the-free-company.com/ Salma & Khalil Attan ttps://www.bushwoodbees.co.uk/ // https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrsm10F2zp_KO26MBCGRUw Ursula Myrie https://www.adira.org.uk/ Farmerama.co Producer: Suzie McCarthy Executive Producers: Jo Barratt, Katie Revell, Abby Rose Additional Interviews: Lovejit Dhaliwal Community Collaborators: Cathy St Germans, Zain Dada, Col Gordon Artwork: Hannah Grace www.hgraceoc.com/ Music: Michael O'Neil PR & Comms: Fran Bailey, Kate Lam, Elma Glasgow, Nancy Brownlow Who Feeds Us? is possible thanks to the Farming the Future COVID Response Fund. We’re very grateful to The A Team Foundation, the Roddick Foundation, Thirty Percy and the Samworth Foundation for providing the funds to make this project happen.
Sun, September 27, 2020
60: Regenerative Cheesemakers, Brixton Windmill, Food & Development and Tractors
This month, we hear how some artisan cheesemongers are starting to embrace regenerative farming. We give you a sneak peek at of one of the producers featured in our new series, Who Feeds Us?. We learn about a new course investigating the complex links between food and development, and finally we hear from a long-time farmer who has some clever tips on how to be resourceful with machinery. This month’s episode is supported by Treedom - a platform that makes it easy to support a farmer in Africa or South America to plant a tree. When you buy a tree with Treedom you’re financing farmers to plant trees as part of small agroforestry systems, and providing the local know-how and support to ensure those trees have the best start in life and truly benefit the farmers, their communities and the soil. Once you buy a tree you can also follow its journey online. Since they started in 2010, Treedom have planted over a million trees. Let’s green the planet. Website: go.treedom.net/rh5f Instagram: www.instagram.com/treedom_trees/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/treedomtrees/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC4LB9MIGsvGknvcSzA9Affg
Sun, August 30, 2020
59: Upland restoration, agroforestry in Kenya and the language of regeneration
This month we explore an innovative model for ecological restoration in the uplands that’s a combination of rewilding and regenerative farming techniques. We head to Kenya to hear about tree planting with farmers there and why the future is bright. And we end up in Los Angeles speaking to a gardener who is reckoning with the words we use and proposing a new approach to the language of regeneration. This month’s episode is supported by Treedom - a platform that makes it easy to support a farmer in Africa or South America to plant a tree. When you buy a tree with Treedom you’re financing farmers to plant trees as part of small agroforestry systems, and providing the local know-how and support to ensure those trees have the best start in life and truly benefit the farmers, their communities and the soil. Once you buy a tree you can also follow its journey online. Since they started in 2010, Treedom have planted over a million trees. Let’s green the planet. Website: go.treedom.net/rh5f Instagram: www.instagram.com/treedom_trees/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/treedomtrees/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC4LB9MIGsvGknvcSzA9Affg
Wed, August 26, 2020
Shorts: Roger Dixon-Spain, Lismore, Scotland
Roger Dixon-Spain farms with his wife, Gilly, on Lismore, a 10-mile long island in the Inner Hebrides, just off the west coast of Scotland. Roger spent most of his life as a conventional farmer in Cambridgeshire, before a series of chance events led him to Lismore – and to a radically different approach to farming. Here, Roger traces that journey, introduces us to the concept of “holistic land management”, and explains how he and Gilly are building a viable business on marginal land – as well as preparing the ground for the next generation of farmers. Find out more about Roger, Gilly and their work at www.lismoregrassfedbeefandlamb.co.uk. Roger recently gave a webinar titled “Starting my Life’s Work at 70” – available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcpZ1net3f0&feature=youtu.be
Sun, July 26, 2020
58: Cooperative land, holistic management, FMNR and the secret life of insects
This month, two new farmers share their experience of getting land through the Ecological Land Cooperative, and tell us why having a stake in the land is so crucial. Then, we hear from a farmer on a small Scottish island about moving from conventional agriculture to a more holistic way of farming, and making a living from marginal land. We learn how a simple system of nurturing chopped down trees back to life is restoring soils and supporting rural communities in Uganda. And, finally, a naturalist shares his research into insect migrations – and tells us why they’re so important to agriculture. This month’s episode is supported by Treedom - a platform that makes it easy to support a farmer in Africa or South America to plant a tree. When you buy a tree with Treedom you’re financing farmers to plant trees as part of small agroforestry systems, and providing the local know-how and support to ensure those trees have the best start in life and truly benefit the farmers, their communities and the soil. Once you buy a tree you can also follow its journey online. Since they started in 2010, Treedom have planted over a million trees. Let’s green the planet. Website: http://go.treedom.net/rh5f Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treedom_trees/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treedomtrees/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4LB9MIGsvGknvcSzA9Affg
Sun, June 28, 2020
57: Fibreshed UK, Chestnuts, The Edible Schoolyard and Welsh poetry
This month we bring you an inspirational farmer who’s helping to build a more resilient local textile economy through Fibreshed UK. We hear about a project reintroducing a one-time staple crop – chestnuts – into the Southern United States. We learn how The Edible Classroom is bringing regenerative agriculture into schools, cafeterias and community kitchens, and we finish in Wales with a poem that speaks to the heart of rewilding. Featuring: Gala Bailey Barker Ranan Sokoloff Angela McKee Brown Sam Robinson Poetry by Megan Elenid Lewis
Sun, May 31, 2020
56: The Bowhouse
In this special episode, we visit the Bowhouse, a food hub in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. The East Neuk is a coastal region dotted with picturesque fishing villages and blessed with fertile volcanic soils. But – as is the case in much of the UK – very little of the food produced here is destined for direct local consumption. The Bowhouse is changing that by creating opportunities for local producers to reach customers, grow their businesses, and collaborate. We hear from founder Toby Anstruther, Market and Events Manager Rosie Jack, and some of the many producers who’ve found a home at the Bowhouse. At the end of the episode, we’ll get an update from Rosie Jack on how the Bowhouse has been affected by the pandemic, and how it’s adapted to ensure customers can still access local food – and that producers still have a route to market.
Sun, May 17, 2020
'Cereal' Bonus Episode: High Rise Bakers
A *bonus* episode following on from our 6 part series, 'Cereal': uncovering the hidden truths behind our bread and the people who are building a new grains movement. This episode dives deeper into the work of High Rise Bakers: community bakers creating delicious nutritious bread in a shared kitchen on the ground floor of a high rise flat in The Gorbals area of Glasgow. High Rise Bakers were featured in episode 5 of 'Cereal' where we heard that bread is not just money, bread is nourishment, deliciousness, companionship, connectedness, pride, politics. If you enjoy this episode then definitely listen to the full Cereal series which was released on Farmerama from mid-Nov to the end of Dec 2019. 'Cereal' shows that the radical changes that bread has undergone are revealing of much wider truths about our relationships with food, to farmers, with the land, the environment, and with each other. If you eat food, you have a stake in this story. Please listen, share, review and subscribe, and support the farmers and food producers instigating change. All episodes can be found on Soundcloud and all podcasting platforms. And if you’d like to support Farmerama, visit patreon.com/farmerama. This bonus episode of Cereal is produced and edited by Katie Revell, with support from Abby Rose and Jo Barratt. Our theme music is by Owen Barratt. Photo Credit: High Rise Bakers, Glasgow
Sun, April 26, 2020
55: Enlightened agriculture, sustainable economies, and regenerative businesses
As we bring this episode to you, we know that the Coronavirus pandemic is putting many of the farmers and growers out there are under more pressure than ever to provide food for your local communities and to rapidly find new markets for your produce – all whilst being concerned with the health of those around you. So we wanted to take a moment to say as ever we and so many others are grateful for all the work you do: thank you - Farmerama is made for you! This month, we go back to the Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) one last time, this time to focus on the economic system and ask the question: what form does our economy need to take if we want to support a regenerative farming future? To start helping us answer this question, we hear from biologist, author and co-founder of the ORFC Colin Tudge, who helps us understand today’s dominant economic paradigm, and shares his vision for an economy that supports regenerative farming. Next, we speak to Tony Greenham, a finance professional, economist, sustainability consultant and Executive Director at South West Mutual, who explains how, in his view, the economy has failed us and what he thinks a more sustainable economy might look like. We share some of the final episode of CEREAL, the 6-part series we released at the end of last year, to illustrate how everything Colin and Tony spoke about is embedded in our food systems, including in our bread. Two of the key characters in CEREAL were baker and regenerative retailer at Small Food Bakery, Kimberly Bell, and Fred Price, farmer at Gothelney Farm. They both run regenerative businesses that produce food to nourish people, bring joy, promote healthy lifestyles and build communities. We hear from them about what shifting towards regenerative business and a regenerative economy means to them. This episode of Farmerama was made by Abby Rose, Louis Hudson and Hanna Soderlund. With me Jo Barratt and Katie Revell. We’re extremely grateful to our Patreon supporters, who help us make the show. If you'd like to support Farmerama, visit patreon.com/Farmerama. Community support is provided by Hanna Soderlund, Fran Bailey, Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins and Olivia Oldham. Our theme music is by Owen Barratt.
Sun, March 29, 2020
54: Land reform, stewardship, community ownership and land justice
This month’s episode brings more inspiring stories from the Oxford Real Farming Conference. We hear from a former MEP about UK land reform, learn about land stewardship in Scotland, talk to a community owned family farm, and chat about land justice and the future of land ownership in the UK. We also share an exciting new opportunity for you to get involved in a shared land-ownership model.
Sun, February 23, 2020
53: Storytelling, Nutrient Density, Fashion and Community Farms
This month, we bring you the first of 3 special episodes focusing for the most part on stories from the Oxford Real Farming Conference, or ORFC. This year, we were delighted to be the ORFC’s official media partner. So, fresh from the conference, we hear about the role of myth-making and storytelling in building the regenerative farming movement and we learn about a new initiative to put nutrient density at the heart of good food and farming. Then, we hear from a young fashion designer about her innovative accessory collections re-awakening our connections between fashion and farming. And we have an urgent call for councils across the UK to recognise the value of real farming.
Sun, February 23, 2020
Shorts: The Herdsman
At ORFC in 2020, Georgia shared a story called ‘The Herdsman’, a true story which shows what cheap food is doing to the land, the animals and the people involved in its production. Georgia shares the story here for Farmerama Georgia talks about the role of myth-making and storytelling in building the regenerative farming movement in Episode 53 of Farmerama https://georgiawingfieldhayes.org/ https://twitter.com/georgiawingers?lang=en-gb https://www.theethicaldairy.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/theethicaldairy/?hl=en Photo used is from the ethical dairy's instagram feed.
Sun, January 26, 2020
52: Oxford Real Farming Conference, social justice & land, new forms of land ownership
As the new decade dawns we bring you stories of hope and diversity from the Oxford Real Farming Conference. We hear from black farmers and growers who are working with the land to bring social justice and connection to their communities. We also hear from a long time landowner in the UK about building new ownership structures to bring the land back into community. Throughout the episode there are songs and themes that weave the conference together.
Fri, January 03, 2020
Shorts: Norwich Farmshare December 2019
Regular contributor Joel Rodker continues to share his experiences working at Norwich Farmshare. This week he’s talking reflecting on the experiences of contributing to the CSA with other volunteers and members. Reporting: Joel Rodker Editing: Louis Hudson https://www.instagram.com/norwich_farmshare/ https://www.norwichfarmshare.co.uk/
Sun, December 29, 2019
‘Cereal’ Episode 6: Grain futures
We are the bread system. If you eat bread – or any grains – you are part of it. So how can we all get involved, and what can we do to usher in the new grains movement to build joy, nutrition and resilience in all of our communities? In this final episode, we explore what a more efficient, nutritious, regenerative and joyful bread system might look like. We hear some of the ways people are coming together and building networks to strengthen the movement in the UK and further afield. It’s clear that in this beautifully complex, entangled system, even just a conversation can spark much wider change. This is a story of hope and a blueprint that has the potential to cause reverberations far beyond bread. It turns out that bread is political – and you, too, can take a stand for the world you want to live in. This might be our final episode of Cereal, but it isn’t the end – it’s just the beginning! Join the new grains movement. Talk to your local bakers, seek out local millers, thank your farmers, be open-minded, be curious. A huge thank you to everyone who’s contributed to Cereal. As well as the voices you hear in this episode, many more conversations have helped to shape the series. Thanks to Andrew Whitley (Scotland the Bread), Kim Bell (Small Food Bakery and UK Grain Lab), Mark Lea (Greenacres Farm), Fred Price (Gothelney Farmer), Steven Jacobs (Organic Farmers & Growers), Ben MacKinnon (E5 Bakehouse), Anne Parry (Felin Ganol), Rupert Dunn (Torth y Tir), Josiah Meldrum (Hodmedods), Tomaso Ferrando (University of Antwerp) and Fintan Keenan. Thanks also to the Lost Revellers and everyone who came to the Nottingham Cereal launch harvest party and lent their voices to make the Flour Ambassador's Pledge. This series was made possible thanks to the generosity of the Roddick Foundation. Please listen, share, review and subscribe, and support the farmers instigating change. All six episodes can be found on Soundcloud and all podcasting platforms. And if you’d like to support Farmerama, visit patreon.com/farmerama. Cereal is produced and edited by Katie Revell, with support from Abby Rose and Jo Barratt. Suzie MacCarthy and Hanna Söderlund also worked on the series. Our theme music is by Owen Barratt. Voices: Andrew Whitley, co-founder of the Real Bread Campaign, and Scotland the Bread Kimberley Bell, founder Small Food Bakery, Nottingham Steven Jacobs, Business Development Manager, Organic Farmers and Growers Ben MacKinnon, founder E5 Bakehouse, London Anne Parry, Felin Ganol Watermill, Wales, and Welsh Grain Forum Rupert Dunn, Torth y Tir Community-Supported Peasant Bakery, Wales Josiah Meldrum, co-founder Hodmedods Mark Lea, Greenacres Farm, Shropshire Fred Price, Gothelney Farm, Somerset Tomaso Ferrando, Bread as a Commons Fintan Keenan, farmer, miller and engineer, Denmark/Ireland
Sun, December 22, 2019
‘Cereal’ Episode 5: The best thing since sliced bread? Unsliced bread
The UK is the fifth largest economy and has some of the cheapest bread in the world - is that something to be proud of, or is it a convenient outcome of a system that prioritises shareholder profit, fobs off economically deprived people with poor quality food, and throws away a third of what it produces? It’s so ingrained in us that cheap food is better for everyone, but in this episode we ask you to stop and really think - are we supporting a system that is efficient for lining the pockets of a few, whilst impoverishing everyone else? What if the real cost is our collective health, and the health of the planet? Bread is not just money, bread is nourishment, deliciousness, companionship, connectedness, pride, politics. In this episode we hear from bakers up and down the UK who are redefining the value of bread. Bakers who are making a stand for their communities and the planet. Bakers from some of the most economically deprived areas who are bringing meaning, intention and joy to their baking. Bakers who are being recognised for their craft and sharing the benefits with their local communities. This is about food networks, not food chains -- this is about reaching true efficiency that takes into account the whole system (health, environment, waste, community, joy), not just the financial balance sheet. The radical changes that bread has undergone are revealing of much wider truths about our relationships with food, to farmers, with the land, the environment, and with each other. If you eat food, you have a stake in this story. Voices: Chris MacCormack, Govanhill bread man Theo Laffargue, Riverside Bakery, Stirling, Scotland Ben MacKinnon, E5 Bakehouse, London Catriona Milligan, High Rise Bakers,The Gorbals, Glasgow Rupert Dunn, Torth y Tir, Wales Kimberley Bell, Small Food Bakery, Nottingham
Sun, December 15, 2019
‘Cereal’ Episode 4: The miller is missing
Last year the majority of wheat grown in the UK went to feed animals. And of the wheat that did become flour in our homes and bakeries, most of that flour had to have nutrients added back into it - by law - because it was almost nutritionless by the time it came out of the mill. In episode 4 we ask how did the milling process lead us to producing flour with almost no nutritional value? And why would the majority of the wheat grown in the UK go to animal feed? We meet millers around the UK who are doing things differently, providing flour with terroir, flour that is fresh and filled with nutrition, using locally grown heritage varieties that are benefiting people and planet. The radical changes that bread has undergone are revealing of much wider truths about our relationships with food, to farmers, with the land, the environment, and with each other. If you eat food, you have a stake in this story.
Sun, December 08, 2019
'Cereal', Episode 3: Farms produce food
Intensive chemical (or conventional) farming systems can be incredibly efficient in perfect conditions, but in a global climate emergency this method of farming is out of date. We hear how soil health, biodiversity and regenerative farming are enabling farmers to move to a new system of farming that is nutritious for humans and the land. What is the experience of farmers growing the wheat, that’s ground to flour, that makes our bread? We explore why farmers are moving away from intensive chemical systems to more ecological approaches, why farmers are reclaiming their autonomy, detaching themselves from exploitative commodity markets, re-building connections with seed breeders, millers, bakers, and consumers – and once again finding reasons to celebrate diversity and distinctiveness. The radical changes that bread has undergone are revealing of much wider truths about our relationships with food, to farmers, with the land, the environment, and with each other. If you eat food, you have a stake in this story.
Sun, December 01, 2019
'Cereal', Episode 2: Nature hates uniformity
Today, wheat covers an estimated 218 million hectares of the planet – more than any other food crop. The quality of a loaf starts with the wheat. Most bread we eat today is made using modern varieties of wheat that were bred for yield at the expense of everything else. These seeds produce a monoculture of plants that can yield a lot in a good year, but are reliant on chemical inputs and extremely vulnerable in the face of climatic extremes. Most shockingly international legislation dictates that trading any wheat seeds that don’t fit the modern wheat breeding criteria is essentially illegal. We hear from a top scientist about new findings showing we need to dramatically rethink the seeds we sow if we want to feed the planet in years to come, re-focusing on diversity and quality. And there’s real hope – stories of people all over the UK who are finding ways around these oppressive laws, building up a seedbank that supports diversity, low-input ecological farming and nutritious grains to feed people. This is just the beginning. The radical changes that bread has undergone are revealing of wider truths about our relationships with food, to farmers, with the land, the environment, and with each other. This if the second episode in a 6 part series, Cereal, uncovering the hidden truths behind our bread and the people who are building a new grains movement. Cereal is written and produced by Katie Revell and made possible by the generous support of the Roddick Foundation. Featured in this episode: Andrew Whitley, Bread Matters, Chairman of Scotland the Bread, currently based at Bowhouse Fife Rupert Dunn, Torth y Tir, community supported peasant bakery, Wales John Letts, Heritage Harvest Martin Wolfe, Wakelyn’s Agroforestry (previously Professor of Plant Pathology at Cambridge) Mark Lea, Green Acres Farm, Shropshire Kimberley Bell, Small Food Bakery, Nottingham Josiah Meldrum, Hodmedods
Sun, November 24, 2019
'Cereal', Episode 1: Flour, water, salt
Bread. How did something so basic, so fundamental, get so complicated – and even start making us ill? How have the needs of industrial production come to dictate the way that seeds are bred, grain is grown, flour is milled, and bread is baked and eaten? And why are more and more people cutting this age-old staple out of their diets? In this episode, we hear from bakers and researchers who reveal the hidden truths about what goes into our bread, and explain how that’s impacting our health. And we’re introduced to the Real Bread Campaign, a movement promoting bread that’s nourishing, tasty and environmentally sound. The radical changes that our bread has undergone are revealing of much wider truths about our relationships with food, farmers, the land, the environment, and each other. If you eat food, you have a stake in this story. This if the first episode in a 6 part series, Cereal, uncovering the hidden truths behind our bread and the people who are building a new grains movement. Cereal is made possible by the generous support of the Roddick Foundation. This episode features: Chris MacCormack, a home baker (Govanhill Bread Man) Kimberley Bell, founder of Small Food Bakery, Nottingham Chelsea Marshall, Trustee of Scotland the Bread Andrew Whitley, Bread Matters, co-founder of the Real Bread Campaign, and Scotland the Bread Theo Laffargue, Riverside Bakery, Stirling
Mon, November 18, 2019
Shorts: Celebrating #SeedWeek with seed sovereignty champions Katie Hastings and Gerard Miles
November 18th marks the start of #SeedWeek - a great opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of local, organic and open pollinated seed. In this special short Katie Hastings, Wales coordinator for the Gaia Foundation’s Seed Sovereignty Programme, takes us on a walk with Gerald Miles, a Welsh organic farmer who recently protested the planting of GM crops by driving his tractor down to London. Katie and Gerald talk about growing black oats, and the work of Llafyr Ni to trial new oat varieties and strengthen seed resilience. This short was recorded by Katie Hastings, and produced by Jo Barratt, Hanna Soderlund and Abby Rose.
Thu, November 14, 2019
Rhonda Sherman: The Worm Farmer's Handbook
In this special episode, part of our Women of the Land series with Chelsea Green Publishing, Abby chats with Rhonda Sherman, vermicomposting and recycling queen! Rhonda’s book, ‘The Worm Farmer’s Handbook’ is a fascinating how-to guide, demystifying the science and logistics of the process of vermicomposting, or composting with worms. We were so inspired by Rhonda’s worm wisdom, and loved learning all about how effective worms can be at encouraging microbes and building soil health! Check out the ‘Worms Can Recycle Your Garbage’ fact sheet Rhonda mentions in the interview below. Thanks to Chelsea Green Publishing for supporting this episode. Rhonda’s ‘Worms Can Recycle Your Garbage’ factsheet: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/worms-can-recycle-your-garbage Our title photo is by Zachary Brooks at Arizona Worm Farm
Sun, October 27, 2019
51: Compost, soil carbon vs soil health, a call to farm, CEREAL, and community beer
This month, we chat with compost pioneers in the USA about compost’s role in building microbial life and how to produce a more fungally dominated compost. Abby has some thoughts on soil health and soil carbon, and we share a rallying cry from a member of La Via Campesina to get us all in action growing food. Next, we give you a teaser with one of the characters from our upcoming series, CEREAL, which uncovers the secrets behind the bread we eat. Finally, we hear about a community project growing and brewing their own beer.
Sun, October 06, 2019
Shorts: XR Farmers
A quick ‘breaking’ news story for you all: At Farmerama we don’t always agree with some of the Extinction Rebellion messages, but this week we met Dagan James of the Broughton Water Buffalo Farm and asked him about about what is XR Farmers and what they are doing to share the regenerative farming message far and wide.
Sun, September 29, 2019
50: Regenerative agriculture and climate change, Seaweed entrepreneurship and noticing nature
This month we begin by looking at the links between regenerative agriculture and climate change, then we take a walk on a Scottish beach with a seaweed entrepreneur, and we have some more from Bee lover extraordinaire Bridgit Strawbridge. As we embark on our 5th year, we would love your ideas on how we can make Farmerama even better. Do you have a few minutes? What would you like to hear more of? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/fCSxaSUcEM4dRetK7
Thu, September 05, 2019
Brigit Strawbridge Howard: Dancing with Bees
In this special episode, part of our Women of the Land series with Chelsea Green Publishing, we chat to Brigit Strawbridge Howard, a bee advocate, wildlife gardener and naturalist. Her new book, ‘Dancing With Bees’, is a love letter to the natural world. It brings the world of pollinators alive, and makes it overwhelmingly obvious that, once again, we humans have gravely oversimplified nature by allowing our desire for honey to blind us to the complex life of bees. In ‘Dancing with Bees’, Brigit awakens us to a new world where we are reminded that diversity is key, and inspires us all to get in action where the first step is just to start noticing our pollinator friends. Thanks to Chelsea Green Publishing for supporting this episode.
Sun, August 25, 2019
49: The Sustainable Cooperative, wilding, beneficial insects and connecting faith with farming
This month, we begin on the island of Jersey where the community have come together to build sustainable supply networks benefiting both smaller-scale farmers and local people. We revisit rewilding and how it fits into the farming landscape. Then, it’s off to Somerset to hear how one regenerative farm is working with nature to build pollinators and many other beneficials into their system. Finally, we hear from a Malawian reverend about the connections between faith, farming and agroecological principles.
Mon, August 12, 2019
Shorts: Norwich Farmshare introduction
Regular contributor Joel Rodker previously reported for Farmerama on his progress in setting up a market garden from scratch. In 2019 he has moved to working for Norwich Farmshare and is continues to share his experiences.
Sun, July 28, 2019
48: Cover crops, pigs to pork, wilding and Chilean agroforestry
In our 4th birthday episode we have some super stories from multiple continents. We begin in the United states with a cover crop guru from North Dakota, we nip a few states East to hear from the queen of pastured pigs and then back to the UK to be immersed in some wilding. And we’re in Chile again, this time to learn about the native trees and how they can form part of an agroforestry system.
Thu, July 25, 2019
Alice Percy: Happy Pigs Taste Better
This is a special interview with author and farmer Alice Percy, part of our Women of the Land series with Chelsea Green Publishing. In her new book, ‘Happy Pigs Taste Better’, Alice draws on a decade of experience raising pigs on pasture to bring you (the first book of it’s kind) an in-depth guide to organic, high-welfare pig farming on both smaller and larger scales. In this interview Abby sits down with Alice to talk about how pigs raised on pasture are different to intensively reared ones, how to utilise their rooting instinct as part of a holistic system, and the joy of new piglets.
Sun, June 30, 2019
47: Women farmers in Chile, woodchip, pasture-happy pigs and regenerative vineyard management
This month, Abby spends some time with Josephina, a former art teacher, on her ranch in the Chilean mountains. Josephina started a group for women farmers in the region, which has grown to become a network of community support and friendship. Then, we hear about the Woodchip for Fertile Soils project run by Sally Westaway from the Organic Research Centre. As part of the project, Robert Benford of Down Farm takes in wood from William Hamer’s Hampshire Woodfuel Cooperative, and uses it to improve his soil. Next, we speak with Fred Price from Gothelney Farm, Somerset, who was on the show back in January. This time, he talks to us about a key part of his system: the pastured pigs. Fred explains how he uses a forage-based system to build soil, keep the pigs happy, and make sure the farm is ecologically and financially resilient. We also hear back from another old friend from a few episodes ago, Dan Rinke. As well as his farming experiments with Kim Hamblin at Art and Science, Oregon, Dan manages Johan Vineyards in the Willamette Valley, and he walks us through his regenerative vineyard management system. Finally, we return to the nuances of no-till and conservation agriculture, focusing this month on the application of glyphosate right before harvest in the UK, also known as pre-harvest crop desiccation. We can understand why farmers might want to do this, but this use of herbicides makes us uneasy. What do you think? Thanks for listening to Farmerama this month, and every month. Farmerama is made by Abby Rose, Katie Revell and Jo Barratt. This month, editing was by Suzie McCarthy, Louis Hudson and Zack Ekpe. Community support for the show comes from Hanna Soderlund, Annie Landless, Eliza Jenkins and Olivia Oldham, and our theme music is by Owen Barratt.
Sun, June 02, 2019
Short: Vandana Shiva
Vandana Shiva is an is an Indian scholar, environmental activist and food sovereignty advocate. She’s spent much of her life in the defence and celebration of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge. This is a recording of a talk at the Farming the Future event, organised by the Roddick and A Team Foundations. A shorter version of this episode is featured in Episode 46 of Farmerama. Edited by Suzie McCarthy
Sun, May 26, 2019
46: Vandana Shiva, Loans for enlightened Agriculture, mulching systems and talking no-til
This month we hear from an inspirational woman who’s long been banging the drum for biodiversity and small-scale farmers around the world. Then on to a field mulching evangelist and finally, loans for enlightened agriculture. And we finish off with some discussion of how no-till on its own is not always rooted in a more ecological approach.
Sun, April 28, 2019
45: Gardens of Sanctuary, the adventure of organic farming, and biodynamic wines
This month we start off by hearing about the power of gardens to provide sanctuary to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Then we head across the pond to Maine, where we tap into the knowledge of an organic farming legend and hear what has inspired him over his 50 years in farming. We hop over to Oregon to talk large scale biodynamic wine and we end with a few words of farewell from our resident market gardener. Thanks to Rebel Kitchen for supporting this episode
Sun, April 07, 2019
Shorts: Woody Tasch of Slow Money
Woody Tasch is an environmentally responsible financier. He worked for over 30 years in finance, managing other people’s money but ten years ago he took a radical step and started the Slow Money movement.Slow Money walks a fine line between philanthropy and investment - the return on an investment is the regeneration of the soil and, ultimately, the the health of the local community and planet. This is a full length interview with Woody that we featured in Episode 44 Interview by Abby Rose and Editing by Suzie McCarthy for Farmerama https://twitter.com/woodytasch?lang=en https://twitter.com/SlowMoney https://www.facebook.com/SlowMoney https://www.instagram.com/slowmoneyinstitute/ https://slowmoney.org
Sun, March 31, 2019
44: Radical roots, Slow Money, CSAs and Allies.
This month we explore radical roots and cider apples with a farming couple in Oregon. We hear about a different type of investment, the Slow Money movement, where healthy soil is a good return for your money. We talk CSAs in Northern Ireland and we end with a call for allyship in the kitchen from a passionate chef. Thanks to Rebel Kitchen for supporting this episode.
Sun, February 24, 2019
43: Children growers, travelling cow laboratory, silvopasture, and a taste of sustainable wine
In February, we hear how easy it is to get very young children interested in growing food. From an old friend of the show, we learned a few grazing tips, including how to use animals to remineralise the land. We learn about the benefits and challenges of setting up a silvopasture system, and get to join in on a sustainable wine tasting session in Sicily. Thanks to Rebel Kitchen for supporting this episode.
Tue, February 19, 2019
Shorts: Jubliee Farm Brexit
Jonny Hansen of Jubilee Farm talks to Conor Macauley, the BBCs Northern Ireland Agriculture & Environment Correspondent about the implications of a No-Deal Brexit Jubilee Farm is Northern Ireland's first Community-Supported Agriculture scheme.
Sun, February 10, 2019
Shorts: Harvest Barn Market Garden January
Regular contributor Joel Rodker is creating a market garden from scratch and recording a diary for Farmerama as he goes. Here's is his report from January 2018
Wed, January 30, 2019
Shorts: Kathy Dice
The Savanna Institute are laying the groundwork for widespread agroforestry in the Midwest. Over 100 farmers and researchers gathered to share learnings from different agroforestry and silvopasture operations. Kathy Dice and her partner own Red Fern Farm in Iowa. They were some of the pioneers of the agroforestry movement in the Midwest and their farm is now a successful u-pick perennial polyculture operation, where customers pick their own produce.
Sun, January 27, 2019
42: No-cost agriculture in Zambia, Biofertilisers and a Regenerative farming journey
This month we are at the 10th annual Oxford Real Farming Conference. First up we hear the inspirational story of 5000+ women who are now practising natural agriculture, or no-cost agriculture, on farms and smallholdings across Southern Zambia. Back in the UK we get the lowdown on biofertilisers that provide food for microbes, and we hear the ups and downs of a regenerative farming journey from a young farmer in Somerset. Thanks to our supporters Rebel Kitchen, for making this episode possible!
Thu, January 03, 2019
Shorts: Harvest Barn Market Garden December
Regular contributor Joel Rodker is creating a market garden from scratch and recording a diary for Farmerama as he goes. Here's is his report from December 2018
Sun, December 30, 2018
41: Turtle Island, banana bonanza, soil regeneration and market garden updates
This month we hear from the people of Turtle Island who have created a Slow Food Indigenous association that represents a collective of over 500 nations on one continent. We head to Java, to celebrate the fantastic diversity of Indonesian bananas. In North Dakota we learn about the ecological potential of regenerative farming, and how farms can (and should) boost their local economies. We end up in the UK, with an end-of-year update from our regular marketing garden reporter. Thanks to our supporters Rebel Kitchen, for making this episode possible!
Sun, December 09, 2018
Shorts: Jubliee Farm Cooperative Alternatives
Jonny Hansen of Jubilee Farm speaking to Tiziana O'Hara of Cooperative Alternatives, a the local cooperative enterprise agency supporting the farms share offer. Jubilee Farm is Northern Ireland's first Community-Supported Agriculture scheme.
Sun, December 09, 2018
Shorts: Jubilee Farm Political Economy
In this short we hear Jonny Hansen from Jubilee Farm in Northern Ireland with an introduction to political economy in relation to food and farming. He’s in discussion with Professor John Barry from Queens University Belfast. Jubilee Farm is Northern Ireland's first Community-Supported Agriculture scheme.
Sun, November 25, 2018
40: Grain Lab, Flour Ambassadors, and Students helping to fix the food system
This month we’ve gone a little grain mad at UK Grain Lab. We learn about grain populations and heritage grains, innovative projects that connect millers, bakers and farmers and we chat to bakers around the world experimenting with more diverse flours. Then we jump across the Pennines to hear from students embedding sustainable food into student life. Thanks to our supporters Rebel Kitchen for making this episode possible.
Sun, November 04, 2018
Leah Penniman: Farming While Black
Leah Penniman is a farmer, author, activist and all-round inspiration who we were lucky enough to interview for this special show. Her book, ‘Farming While Black’, published by Chelsea Green Publishing, is a multi-layered journey with practical tips for beginner farmers, afro-indigenous recipes, leadership advice, the story of building a farm and serving a community. But at its heart, this is a call to action, empowering people of colour to reclaim traditions and cultures that have been suppressed by colonialism and slavery. Thanks to Chelsea Green Publishing for supporting this episode. Image: onion harvest at Soul Fire Farm, credit: Leah Penniman
Sat, October 27, 2018
39: Beginner farmer tips, Piglet to Plate and small-scale farmers feed the world
This month, we’re full to the brim with small-scale farming heroines. We start with a super-inspiring farmer in New York State, who shares her top 3 tips for setting up a small-scale farm. We speak to female farmers on either side of the Atlantic about life and death, and what it means to raise and kill animals. And we end the show looking at the power of photography to share the stories of small-scale farmers around the world. Thanks to our supporters Rebel Kitchen for making this episode possible.
Sun, September 30, 2018
38: Alice Waters, Terra Madre, Palestinian teenager, intercropping trials and cooperative farming
This month we are connected to the voices of farmers and fishers around the world at Terra Madre in Turin. There we bump into a rather well-known chef and sustainable food activist who celebrates small-scale farming. We also hear from an extraordinary young Palestinian farmer, with her story of making olive oil against all odds in conflicted lands. Back in the UK, we talk nationwide farmer-led intercropping trials, and in Northern Ireland we hear from an expert in community share offers.
Fri, August 31, 2018
Shorts: Greg Judy on mob grazing tips and cow pats
Greg Judy is an enthusiastic mob grazer based in Missouri. He talks to us about getting animals back on the land and building biodiversity in grasslands, including the importance of cow pats... all with the goal of increasing the long-term viability of your farm. We spoke to Greg at the Groundswell Show 2018.
Sat, August 25, 2018
37: intergenerational tensions, compost tea revisited, agroforestry and Dutch innovation
This month we start with some thoughts from one farmer about ways of resolving the inevitable tensions of family farming over different generations. Next, we hear from a Dorset farmer, with an update on the highs and lows of her compost tea trials on arable cropland. Moving on to Herefordshire, we discover the exciting potential benefits of agroforestry for disease prevention in apple orchards. And finally, we end up in the Netherlands, where we learn about an innovative business model that is being used to create farming communities! Thanks to our supporters Rebel Kitchen for making this episode possible. Thanks to the contribution this week from the Investing in regenerative Agriculture Podcast. More here: https://soundcloud.com/investinginregenerativeagriculture
Sun, August 19, 2018
Shorts: Ex Fuedo Stallaini
In this short, we take a walk with Loredana. With her husband Roy, she runs Agriturismo Stallaini in the south east of Sicily. They prepare food for the guests all from within walking distance of the mine. Encounter lucid, vivid scents, smells, colours and be present in this ancient place. This podcast was made by Jo, with Lizzie Ostrom, and was originally published on the Life in Scents, a podcast about smell. http://www.agriturismostallaini.com/ https://www.acast.com/lifeinscents
Mon, August 13, 2018
Shorts: Harvest Barn Market Garden July and August
Regular contributor Joel Rodker is creating a market garden from scratch and recording a diary for Farmerama as he goes. Here's is his report from June and July 2018
Sun, July 29, 2018
36: Wondrous worms, cow pats, biodynamic vines and Free Range Families
This month we hear all about wiggly worms and their wondrous work. We get some tips on cow pats and profitability from a Missouri-based mob grazer. Then we head over to California for thoughts on regenerative agriculture on a biodynamic vineyard, and finally we dip into the Free Range Families initiative at Jubilee Farm in Northern Ireland. Thanks to Rebel Kitchen for supporting this episode and to all of you for listening in!
Thu, July 26, 2018
Shorts: Charles Schembre on Carbon Farm Plans & Monitoring Soils
Charles Schembre is Vineyard Conservation Co-ordinator at Napa County Resource Conservation District. His work sees him leading the implementation of California’s Healthy Soils Program, a scheme which compensates farmers for increasing their soil health – with the goal of sequestering carbon and increasing water retention. Charles also helped create the first ever carbon farm plans for 4 vineyards in Napa county, working with their partners the Carbon Cycle Institute. You can hear more about these carbon farm plans and details of how they monitor soil health and carbon sequestration in this month’s short.
Sun, July 01, 2018
Shorts: Harvest Barn market Garden June
Regular contributor Joel Rodker is creating a market garden from scratch and recording a diary for Farmerama as he goes. In this report he lets us know what he's been up to during the month of June. Time have been tough but he's enjoying being outside and working in the English summer sun.
Sun, July 01, 2018
Shorts: Harvest Barn market garden May
Regular contributor Joel Rodker is creating a market garden from scratch and recording a diary for Farmerama as he goes. Here's is his report from May 2018
Sat, June 30, 2018
Shorts: Tony Lovell, carbon-canny cattle rancher at Atlas of the Future event
Hear from Tony Lovell in his talk at Atlas of the Futures recent Barcelona event on 'Fixing the Future'. Atlas of the Future reports, 'by giving the animals a more holistic hook, carbon-canny cattle rancher Tony Lovell, co-founder of SLM Australia Livestock Fund, has raised a whopping $100 million to help to regenerate the billions of hectares of damaged Australian grasslands – using soil management, biodiversity restoration and grazing techniques: “Cows and sheep are just cows and sheep. They are neither good nor bad. The piece most people are missing is how cattle are managed.”' Atlas of the Future is an online resource of hope, raising the profile of people working for a better future. Check out their recent interview with Dan Barber and the question we put to him about bringing regenerative soil practices to the table: https://atlasofthefuture.org/6-questions-for-a-food-futurehero-dan-barber/
Sun, June 24, 2018
35: soil carbon, Greek traditional seeds, starting a market garden and educators in Indiana
This month we begin in California, where they are paying farmers to sequester carbon, using practices proven to increase soil health. We head to the home of democracy to hear how Greek citizens are bringing seed saving back to the people. In Somerset we get some tips on starting a market garden and we end up back in the USA, this time deep in Indiana, to hear how one college is using the power of education to transform the landscape of the mid-west.
Tue, May 29, 2018
Shorts: PERKA
In this Short Pavlos Georgiadis and Olly Moore are taken on a tour or PERKA. The group PERKA was created in the beginning of 2011 by people living in Thessaloniki, Greece, whose goal was the communal and in season cultivation of vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs in a field or an appropriate space. The GROW Observatory is an EU-wide citizen science project helping people grow food and care for their soils using regenerative practices. They do so through massive experiments using low cost soil moisture sensors and online courses. GROW also uses people’s observations of soils to improve environmental monitoring by satellites. In so doing, the project helps with climate change adaptation. Farmerama are partnering with GROW to bring you interviews from the teams travels and investigations. www.growobservatory.org http://perka.org/node/226
Mon, May 28, 2018
Shorts: Jubilee Farm volunteer day
Jonny Hanson is an environmentalist who’s involved in setting up Northern Ireland's first Community-Supported Agriculture scheme, at Jubilee Farm. We’re going to be following their progress over the coming months. Jonny reports from Jubilee Farm’s first community volunteer day and provides a perspective on farming that’s I think a first for us on Farmerama. This was originally published as part of episode 31 of Farmerama
Mon, May 28, 2018
Shorts: Peliti
In this interview Pavlos and Olly from GROW Observatory learn about the Peliti seed saving initiative in Greece. The GROW Observatory is an EU-wide citizen science project helping people grow food and care for their soils using regenerative practices. They do so through massive experiments using low cost soil moisture sensors and online courses. GROW also uses people’s observations of soils to improve environmental monitoring by satellites. In so doing, the project helps with climate change adaptation.
Mon, May 28, 2018
Shorts: GROW Observatory farm tour summary
The GROW Observatory is an EU-wide citizen science project helping people grow food and care for their soils using regenerative practices. They do so through massive experiments using low cost soil moisture sensors and online courses. GROW also uses people’s observations of soils to improve environmental monitoring by satellites. In so doing, the project helps with climate change adaptation. In this short, Pavlos Georgiadis and Olly Moore look back on their tour of 5 very different types of farm across Greece and reveal some of the other projects they will be visiting. Many of these visits can be heard on the Farmerama Soundcloud pages, collected on the GROW Observatory playlist.
Mon, May 28, 2018
Shorts: Rob Havard on herbal leys
Hear from Pasture For Life farmer Rob Havard who was at the Future of UK Farming Conference. He tells us some clever tips on how to harvest your own seeds for planting herbal leys and how he has been experimenting with terminating herbal leys, working solely with his animals.
Sun, May 27, 2018
34: 3D ocean farming, mental health, gene activation in plants & Chilean circle agriculture
This month we hear from a self-confessed non-environmentalist about an ocean-based farming solution that might inadvertently be saving the environment as well as providing a simple, new and sensible option for people wanting to make a living from the sea. In Northern Ireland, we get stuck into the very important issue of mental health in farming. We get the lowdown on plants activating genes and how this relates to seed saving, and we end with a farmer in the remote South of Chile telling us about the importance of community and how we can contribute to what he calls ‘circle agriculture’.
Thu, May 24, 2018
Shorts: Harvest Barn Market Garden April
Regular contributor Joel Rodker is creating a market garden from scratch and recording a diary for Farmerama as he goes. Here he reports from inside his new polytunnel.
Mon, May 14, 2018
Shorts: Hannes Lorensen
In this interview Pavlos Georgiadis speaks to Hannes Lorensen, after the European rural sustainability gathering at Lake Plastiras, who talks about the problems with the sustainability of modern food production, and makes the case for the urban consumer needing to do more listen to and support farmers and grow connections. The GROW Observatory is an EU-wide citizen science project helping people grow food and care for their soils using regenerative practices. They do so through massive experiments using low cost soil moisture sensors and online courses. GROW also uses people’s observations of soils to improve environmental monitoring by satellites. In so doing, the project helps with climate change adaptation. Farmerama are partnering with GROW to bring you interviews from the teams travels and investigations. www.growobservatory.org
Wed, May 02, 2018
Shorts: GROW Observatory
The GROW Observatory is an EU-wide citizen science project helping people grow food and care for their soils using regenerative practices. They do so through massive experiments using low cost soil moisture sensors and online courses. GROW also uses people’s observations of soils to improve environmental monitoring by satellites. In so doing, the project helps with climate change adaptation. In this spcial feature, Nikos Vrantsis speaks to Greek organic olive grower Pavlos Georgiadis, one of the initiators of the GROW Observatory, from one of the first GROW Places - Pavlos' own olive farm in Alexandroupoli. He explains how the project is able to provide benefit to growers, people passionate about soil and communities who will take part in the project. He also has some interesting things to say in support of the democratisation of knowledge for Soil Stewardship. www.growobservatory.org
Sun, April 29, 2018
33: Kitchen Table talks, Jersey soils, trade deals, pig clubs and bee-lieving
This month we have a political focus, but still manage to squeeze in talk of our fave topics, soil and microbes. First up, some personal stories from a ‘kitchen table talk’ on what good food means to the people in Scotland. A Jersey farmer tells us about trying out an innovative approach to growing the island’s favourite potato. We have an update on ‘Green Brexit’ and how global trade agreements affect farmers. We end with the launch of a ‘Pig Club’ and a catchy tune from the bee-lievers. 🐝 🐖🍭🍏
Sun, April 01, 2018
Shorts: Harvest Barn Market Garden update March
Regular contributor Joel Rodker is creating a market garden from scratch and recording a diary for Farmerama as he goes. Here is his latest report, recorded in March 2017.
Thu, March 29, 2018
Shorts: Good Food Nation Bill
If you live in Scotland – or even if you don’t – you might have heard that the Scottish Government will soon be introducing a “Good Food Nation Bill”. It’s set to be a wide-ranging piece of legislation, touching on health, sustainable production, food poverty, food culture, and a lot more besides. It has the potential to be radical and world-leading – or a huge missed opportunity. Katie spoke to Bella Crowe from Nourish Scotland about the Bill, the upcoming consultation, and the broader context for food in Scotland. Bella also explained the Scottish Food Coalition’s “Kitchen Table Talk” initiative: an effort to make sure the consultation is as broad and representative as possible. To find out more about the Good Food Nation Bill and the Kitchen Table talks, visit nourishscotland.org
Sun, March 25, 2018
32: Post-fire update, Welsh new farmers policy, farming as practice & organic matter
This month we get an update from Abby’s farm in Chile a year after the huge fires burned all their crops. We head to a farm in Wales to learn how planning legislation is opening doors for people wanting to produce, and live sustainably. Then we head to the US to hear how one farmer is taking a philosophical approach to sharing the practice of farming and connecting to the land. And finally, back on British soil to hear from a long-time soil scientist about organic matter. Plus if you listen to the very end you will hear a nice teaser about an exciting opportunity in Scotland.
Wed, March 07, 2018
Shorts: Sylvia Kay on land grabbing in Europe
Nikos Vrantsis reports from Greece for Farmerama where he had the unexpected luck to meet Sylvia Kay, among a visionary crowd of growers, food communities and experts gathered for 2017’s European Rural Sustainability Gathering. Sylvia is a researcher and member of the environmental and agrarian justice team of the Transnational Institute (TNI). Her team is monitoring policies around key natural resources like land, forests, food, trying to empower growers and put local communities in the heart of decision-making when it comes to how their resources are governed. A main obstacle, to achieve this, is the global phenomenon of land grabbing. Nikos Vrantsis a greek journalist reporting on urban regeneration & living cities initiatives as well as on land land grabbing and land speculation issues. He is currently writing a series of stories on the phenomenal, textbook land grabbing case taking place in Warsaw.
Sun, February 25, 2018
31: herbs, Christian perspectives on farming and aquaponics
This month, we hear from herb growers and suppliers about the opportunities for growing herbs in the UK. We have the first of a series of reports from Jubilee Farm in Northern Ireland, offering a Christian perspective on agriculture and the environment. We take a visit to Humble by Nature, a tenant farm in the Welsh Wye Valley run by TV presenter Kate Humble we hear from an artisan pasta producer in Italy.
Wed, February 21, 2018
Shorts: Alice Bettany from Sacred Seeds Herbal Project
the 2018 Oxford Real Farming Conference last month featured a panel on growing and selling herbs in the UK. It addressed a real need for suppliers of good quality Uk-grown herbs. In this Short, Abby Rosie spoke to Alice Bettany from the Sacred Seeds Herbal project, who was a participant in the panel. She runs a herb box-scheme based on a CSA model which is currently the only herbal box scheme in the UK. Alice talks to us about her work and her mission to bring back herbal medicine to the people. This short begins with a beautiful description of her own garden, topped to the brim with Medicinal herbs. Other panellists from the ORFC2018 panel on herbs can be heard in episode 31 of Farmerama. Image from Alice's instrgram @sacred_seeds
Sun, February 18, 2018
Shorts: Harvest Barn Market Garden update January
Regular contributor Joel Rodker is creating a market garden from scratch and recording a diary for Farmerama as he goes. Here is his latest report from week 7, recorded in December 2017.
Sat, January 27, 2018
30: Gove, agri-culture, Human Ecology, Sanfoin and Pollarding
This month we bring you stories from the 9th Annual Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC). We embrace agri-culture with new poetry from the front-lines of farming. We get an introduction to human ecology and hear about innovations in urban food systems from a group in Glasgow. Out in the field, we celebrate the wonders of a little-known crop: Sanfoin. And we get the low-down on animals browsing for their favourite fodder.
Sun, December 31, 2017
29: Biodynamic vines, Catalonian chickens & medicinal plants
We visit one of the lesser-known wine-making regions – Wales – to get one perspective on biodynamic farming. Then we’re off to the hills of Catalonia to hear from a small-scale chicken farmer. And, finally, we take a dose of medicine just outside Seattle – in the form of herbs, human connections, and the land itself.
Tue, December 26, 2017
Shorts: WeFarm
WeFarm is a free peer-to-peer service that enables farmers to share information via SMS, without the internet and without having to leave their farm. Farmers can ask questions on farming and receive crowd-sourced answers from other farmers around the world in minutes. In 2014, WeFarm was named one of the overall winners Google Impact Challenge. Amy Cooper spoke to Wefarm CEO Kenny Ewan for Farmerama at London Food Tech Week, 2017 Learn more about WeFarm https://wefarm.org/ See Amy’s TedX talk for Secret Seed Society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=7nUPqnsp8T4
Sun, November 26, 2017
Shorts: Maria Partalidou on urban farms in Greece
Rural Sociologist Maria Partalidou discusses Urban Farms in Greece. Maria spoke to Farmerama about the changing relationship between Urban and Rural communities in Greece in episode 28.
Sun, November 26, 2017
28: Farming films, rural-urban connections in Greece and fungi to manage weeds
We hear from two projects which are using film to share stories from the front-line of farming. We meet a sociologist who’s been studying the relationship between urban and rural communities in Greece. And we indulge in more fungi-love as we learn how it's possible to manage weeds simply by working with the microbial balance in the soil.
Sun, October 29, 2017
27: Agroforestry with sheep & chickens, female farming voices & starting a market garden
This month, we dip into the wonderful world of agroforestry: both the help on hand to support farmers planting/managing trees and the stories of two farmers who have been pleasantly surprised at the benefits trees bring to their farm. Abby has been in California and she reports from an event celebrating women’s leadership in farming. Finally we have the first in a series of dispatches from a young farmer who's setting up a new farm – from the ground up.
Sun, September 24, 2017
Shorts: David Montgomery
David Montgomery talks to Abi Glencross for Farmerama about his new book "Growing a Revolution"
Fri, September 22, 2017
26: Fungi above & below ground, our microbiome, chicken homes & vines in the UK
Lots of fungi this month, both in the soils and for eating. We explore the parallels between the principles for healthy land and our own bodies. A young farmer introduces us to an experimental ‘pizza-shaped’ chicken enclosure and we hear how UK vineyards are working with the changing climates.
Tue, September 05, 2017
Shorts: Adam Kaye on Polenta
Shorts: Adam Kaye on Polenta by Farmerama
Sat, August 26, 2017
25: Soil carbon uncovered, chef-farmer connections, happy bees & homegrown veg
This month we we hear from across the pond how close connections between farmers and cooks are giving birth to new dishes and revenue streams. We get to the bottom of carbon cycles and learn what it really takes to build humus. Bees buzz happily as they are allowed to express their characteristics in alternative beekeeping methods and finally you’re invited to get involved in a citizen science project that celebrates allotments and home-grown veg. Thanks to E5 Bakehouse for supporting this show, we love their commitment to working with farmers to grow heritage grains locally, mill them on-site and produce the best loaf of bread.
Sun, July 30, 2017
24: Soil Health Principles, dung beetles, potato blight & native breed cheese
Welcome to our two year anniversary edition of Farmerama supported by E5 Bakehouse, an East London bakery pushing the boundaries of baking to make the best bread. This month we get the low-down on 6 simple principles for soil health. We hear from small, smelly friends working away under the ground to support farmers, we hear the highs and lows of potato growers in The Netherlands and journey with a travelling cheesemaker on their research into native dairy breeds.
Fri, July 28, 2017
Shorts: Invertebrates
In Episode 24 we spoke to Dr Sarah Beynon from Dr Beynon's Bug Farm in South Wales about how dung beatles are supporting Farmers and the huge economic benefits they can bring. In this Short she goes on to explain some of the other ways in which invertebrates are beneficial to a fully functioning farm.
Sun, July 23, 2017
National Organic Combinable Crops 2017
The tenth National Organic Combinable Crops (NOCC) event was alive with farmers, traders, researchers, millers, processors and bakers exchanging ideas of how to work together to support ecological farming methods and grow and make healthy food. This is a special episode commissioned by Organic Farmers and Growers, one of the UK’s largest organic certification bodies, who organised NOCC. We hear discussions of new varieties: growing, milling and baking wheat populations and then organic and non-organic farmers experiment with relay cropping, compost teas and companion planting.
Tue, July 04, 2017
Shorts: Sea Buckthorn
Find out a little more about the Sea Buckthorn grown by David Eagle which we featured in Episode 23.
Sun, June 25, 2017
23: Indigenous Soils, regenerative farming in Malawi, Essex Sea Buckthorn & no-till Meet the Farmers
This month we visit a project in Malawi started by local farmers to regenerate soils and bring food security back to local people. Then we are back in the garden of England talking to an Essex farmer about his experiments growing Sea Buckthorn and how he and his son are dealing with the ever encroaching sea chipping away at their farmland. We talk no-till and have the first of several reports from our visit to the Soil Hack gathering.
Sun, May 28, 2017
22: Beauty, land, rewilding, upland sheep farming, spiritual ecology with Fiona Reynolds & Co
This month we weave in and out of a conversation we had with Dame Fiona Reynolds, former Director-General of the National Trust. As Fiona shares about beauty, land, rewilding and much more, we hear from Welsh upland sheep farmer Rees Roberts and spiritual ecologist & artist Nessie Reid with what they think about these issues and ideas. Beauty may seem a little airy-fairy and disconnected from the realities of running a farming business. But please do hear us out to the end…this is about bringing power back to the people. Fiona’s recent book The Fight for Beauty is a call to arms for all of us to pay more attention to matters of the earth and oceans. We caught up with Fiona and she told us how she sees farming fits into the future of a Britain built on beauty.
Sun, April 30, 2017
Shorts: Blue Corn
Shelley Spruit from Against the Grain Farm just outside Ottawa, talks to Abi Aspen from Future Farm Lab about the Blue Corn the grow in contrast with the more traditional GM grains favoured by their neighbours. Some additional content from our feature in the farm from episode 21
Sun, April 30, 2017
Shorts: Spoils
Spoils, written at Romshed Farm in Kent, Feb 2017 by Pasture for Life poet in residence Adam Horovitz and recorded at the Oxford Real Farming conference 2017
Sun, April 30, 2017
21: Care farming globally, cover crop porridge, small farmers activism, purple corn & PFLA Poetry
This month we hear about an amazing variety of Care Farming projects from around the world, we catch up with a La Via Campesina member from Berlin and we speak to a chef about the unusual dish he put together for the recent Dan Barber food-waste restaurant in London. We hear from a Canadian farm going against the grain and putting purple corn on the map and we have a special treat – some poetry written at this year’s Oxford Real Farming Conference by Pasture for Life poet in residence – perfectly highlighting the culture in agri-culture.
Sat, March 25, 2017
20: Halal & Tayyib meat, Open Food Network, growing veg in harsh conditions & human-scale CSA tools
This month we celebrate the dawn of Spring as we bring you stories from many different communities across the UK: Abraham Organics gives us the low-down on halal and the meat they supply to the Muslim community in London. We hear how the Open Food Network works and one farmer tells us how they are using OFN to expand their business whilst reducing waste from surplus crops. We have some clever tips from Chagfood market garden about growing great veg on the wild exposed moors (and more generally growing great veg in the face of unpredictable British weather). And Plotgate CSA growers tell us about the human-scale tools they are crafting to support people caring for the land.
Sat, March 11, 2017
Field Report: Urban Food Fortnight
This is a special field report for Farmerama, we dig into Urban Food Fortnight which descends on London from 9th - 25th of September. Urban Food Fortnight is London Food Link’s celebration of the fantastic amount of food being grown, made, cooked and saved in London and the amazing stories behind it. We teamed up with London Food Link to weave together tips, tricks and ideas from some of the people and projects involved: GrowUp Aquaponics farm, Dusty Knuckles Bakery, Plan Zheroes waste food savers and seasonal chef Oliver Rowe.
Sat, March 11, 2017
Field Report: Castello di Potentino
From time to time we get in a story that’s deserves a bit more attention to than we are able give in our regular monthly episode. And here one of those. A field report from Farmeramra reporter Camilla Williamson at Castello di Potentino, a small-scale sustainable vineyard in Italy.
Sat, March 11, 2017
19: Traditional methods & new tools, future growers, rewilding and Cambodian learnings
As spring draws nearer we bring you Joel Salatin talking traditional methods and modern tools, with a great example from Angus, Scotland. We begin to unpick the world of rewilding which is something that has caused much debate and upset amongst farmers, conservationists and wildlife fans alike. Next up are a collection of despatches from the Soil Association Future Growers apprenticeship and finally we hear from Cambodian farmers and teachers about their experience of learning to grow organically thanks to the Green Shoots Foundation.
Sat, March 11, 2017
18: productivity in small-scale farming, no-dig and street play as teaching tool
We have a few stories from the Oxford Real Farming Conference to share with you this month, firstly market gardener Rebecca Laughton from the Landworkers Alliance tells us about her investigations into the productivity of small-scale producers. We get stuck into no-dig experiments with Charles Dowding, learning about soil biology and the intriguing results from his latest forking trials. And we hear from Ashwini Shannikodi about Street play as tool to tackle social problems in rural farming communities in India, as well as the importance of women in farming. Abby also reports from Chile where she is currently evacuated from her family’s farm, vidacycle, as some of the largest forest fires in Chile’s history surround them.
Sat, March 11, 2017
17: A zero-waste food system, pigness of pigs and sustainable woodlands
This is a special edition of Farmerama recorded with a guest host, eco-chef Doug, from Silo restaurant in Brighton. He tells us how his zero-waste philosophy has transformed what it means to serve food, and a local pig-farmer tells us what it’s like to work with a zero-waste chef. In Norfolk we learn all about the craft of managing ancient woodland sustainably and profitably, now and for many generations to come. Finally farming celebrity Joel Salatin tells us about respecting the pigness of the pig and what future technology he hopes to see.
Fri, March 10, 2017
16: Agroforestry, small data, food sovereignty and people’s food policies
Farmerama have learnt that farming’s best economic models mimic nature’s clever ways and make many things from the same piece of land. Farmer Stephen Briggs tells us about one of these clever models. He fills us in on his agroforestry setup or ‘3D farming’, where he grows organic apples and cereals on his 150 acres in Cambridgeshire. We also hear a few thoughts from Ben Raskin, head of horticulture at the Soil Association, who is just starting a new agroforestry project in Wiltshire at Helen Browning’s Organic Farm. Our co-host Abby shares a tool she initially created for her family’s farm to help them build a more resilient business using ‘small data’. Now other farmers are using it in the UK and Chile, in particular we hear from Davenport Vineyards about how they have used it to help their vineyard prosper. We finish with a bit of a food sovereignty focus – two reports from different ends of Britain both building people’s food policies: in Scotland we hear about the ‘Good Food Nation Bill’ and Dee Butterly, talks us through ‘The People’s Food Policy’ supported by The Landworker’s Alliance. In our divided world we wonder if food and farming could be a web that will connect us all.
Fri, March 10, 2017
15: Dairy farming, transparent pricing, cheap soil testing, Wwoofing and the first Scottish Farmhack
After last month’s words from farmers around the world, we are now back on British soil. We have stories from Perthshire to Devon but we start on the west coast, with Patrick Holden from the Sustainable Food Trust. Patrick tells us about how he makes the most of the by-products from his dairy farm, and what a positive effect transparent pricing could have on farmers. We hear about a great little trick for soil testing on the cheap, the TBI – And then we are in Shropshire to find out about some of the ups and downs of Woofing. Finally, we get a collection of dispatches from the first Scottish Farmhack, an experience that had many people excited to share ideas and build tools together.
Fri, March 10, 2017
14: Terra Madre fishers, open-source tractor, holistic management, calves & eco-gastronomy
We recorded Farmerama ‘live’ from Turin, Italy this month where thousands of small-scale farmers, shepherds, fishers, chefs and people committed to more resilient food systems from over 100 hundred countries around the world have come together to celebrate and share food and farming knowledge at the Slow Food Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, it's like the UN for food systems. In Turin an eco-gastronomer tells us about feeding all of our senses, a once-fisherman shares storytelling as an alternative to certification and we hear the united voices of farmers from around the globe coming together thanks to the Slow Food Network. Back home the holistic management framework gives one mob-grazer some clear goals at home and in the fields, a dairy farmer has a super simple calf-feeding technique for his herd and we hear about the Alabama-Cuban Oggun Tractor - an open-source, easily fixable tractor.
Fri, March 10, 2017
13: Post-brexit perspectives, soil tests uncovered, practical farm advice & seed journeys
We are at a crossroads in British food and farming history, so this month we begin to probe the post-Brexit discussion. We hear a few candid kitchen-table chats with different farm families. Some hidden truths about soil testing are revealed, and we learn about practical knowledge sharing platform Agricology, bridging the gap between science and what really happens on the farm. Plus one of the projects they feature: Fit for the Future Network, sharing experiences of renewable energy. And Heritage seeds head from Norway to the Middle East, returning to their homeland on an artistic voyage of discovery. This is the beginning, we all need to and sew the seeds of an agricultural policy that leads to a positive food and farming future in the UK.
Fri, March 10, 2017
12: Post-brexit perspectives, soil tests uncovered, practical farm advice & seed journeys
It’s July and we’ve now been following the nitty gritty of the smaller-scale farming world for one whole growing year. One revolution of this world around the sun. We’ve chanced upon and dug up so many stories and met inspirational farmers and growers as the podcast has spiralled into an adventure leading us to uncover different ideas, perspectives and techniques along the way. This month we are in Utah for a garlic special in the Wasatch mountains. Hannah hears from a Dagenham farm trainee abou...
Fri, March 10, 2017
11: Organic Soil-less Growing?, landscape based eating, salad harvester, crowdfarming & more
This episode we are brimming with innovations and new perspectives from all over the world. We enjoy crowd farming oranges in Valencia, WeFarm’s farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing in Kenya and Peru and the community fuel of Food Assemblies around the country - all part of a panel discussion we chaired at the ReWork Future of Food Summit. Ben Raskin is back as he chats to Alan Schofield about an organic perspective on hydroponics, can soil-less growing be organic? Abby gets the low-down on a supe...
Fri, March 10, 2017
10: Giddy goats, no-till, mob grazing & herbal leys plus young growers & food poetry
Giddy goats, a no-till, mob grazing & herbal ley winning combo plus young entrepreneurial growers & food poetry
Fri, March 10, 2017
09: SoilCity in Glasgow, Farmhack, urban farm updates, glasshouses, plus rural entrepreneurs
SoilCity in Glasgow, Farmhack, urban farm updates, poetic landscapes and glasshouses, plus rural entrepreneurs
Fri, March 10, 2017
08: Small-holders, business for urban gardens, cellular agriculture and organics in India
The voice of small-holders, business tips for urban gardens, cellular agriculture and organics in Udaipur, India
Fri, March 10, 2017
07: Seeds on film, secret sauces, woodchip composts, Care Farming plus cheeky outdoor winter salads
Seeds on film, secret sauces, woodchip composts, Care Farming for health & finances, plus a few cheeky outdoor winter salads
Fri, March 10, 2017
06: Oxford Real Farming Conference, health CSA, Field of Wheat, cover crops + no-till, & land songs
Oxford Real Farming Conference, a positive health CSA, Field of Wheat uniting farmers & other folk, cover crops + no-till, & land songs
Fri, March 10, 2017
05: Lettuce lawns, no-dig compost, blight-resistant potatoes, mobile polytunnels and festive guests
We are in a festive mood this month. Spirits are high with some special guests making a late appearance. New reporter Hannah Shlotter chats lettuce lawns and compost with grower Alice Holden at one of London’s best known urban farms in Dagenham. CSA Network head Robert Simpson makes a comeback with his tips on polytunnels for goats. Ben Raskin brings us up to date on the newest varieties of blight resistant potatoes and we hear from a farmer without a farm.
Fri, March 10, 2017
04: Female farmers, dairy protests, walled gardens, cows & natural wine in Italy
Female farmers speak out, dairy protests, weed tangled walled gardens, we round up the cows & natural wine making in Italy
Fri, March 10, 2017
03: Scottish Crofting, alternatives to certification, Irish seaweed & young farmers around the world
Scottish Crofting, alternatives to certification, Irish seaweed farming and more from young farmers around the world
Fri, March 10, 2017
02: Natural Agriculture, CSAs, urban salads and ex-addicts
In the second episode of Farmerama, Nigel, Jo and Abby take a close look at Natural Agriculture after a visit to the Shumei farm near Yatesbury. They also investigate some of the ways farms are trying to get local communities more interested in growing and farming. There's a visit to a CSA farm near Swansea, a community garden in midlands, and an urban farm in Bristol.
Fri, March 10, 2017
01: CSAs, water buffalo, seed politics and a chicken speak-easy
Farmerama Radio shares great stories from the smaller scale farming movement in the UK. We are out in the field digging out what's really going on. In Episode one we went to the annual CSA gathering to learn the ins and outs of community supported agriculture, Nigel visits a Devon Water buffalo farm and Zarah Rahman investigates the historical significance of seeds.
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