The Story Farms

Whilst trying to teach my children the art of farming that grazing animals like cattle or pigs can produce vital nutrients on land we can't crop, eating foods humans can't digest. Too often, the many environmental benefits of livestock production (making use of non-arable land, improving soil health, and providing manure for crop systems) are overlooked or dismissed. This is even true by my 10 year old and though I try to discourage the use of phone technology she thought whilst learning the farming way she would rather make the video than star in it. So what I was trying to teach them was that Pigs and cows, in their natural environment, rooting and a tooting on grasslands, when properly managed, can act as significant carbon sinks. The process involves grasses growing rapidly and absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. When cows or pigs graze on these grasses, they trim them down, which stimulates further growth and leads to more carbon absorption, same goes for their poo which fertilizes the soil. Additionally, the movement of the cattle encourages a diversity of plant species and soil aeration, enhancing the soil’s ability to store carbon. Lesson no 1 outside of school grounds just not sure they listened!!. #farmeducation #farming #pigs #pasture #regenerative

Whilst trying to teach my children the art of farming that grazing animals like cattle or pigs can produce vital nutrients on land we can't crop, eating foods humans can't digest. Too often, the many environmental benefits of livestock production (making use of non-arable land, improving soil health, and providing manure for crop systems) are overlooked or dismissed. This is even true by my 10 year old and though I try to discourage the use of phone technology she thought whilst learning the farming way she would rather make the video than star in it. So what I was trying to teach them was that Pigs and cows, in their natural environment, rooting and a tooting on grasslands, when properly managed, can act as significant carbon sinks. The process involves grasses growing rapidly and absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. When cows or pigs graze on these grasses, they trim them down, which stimulates further growth and leads to more carbon absorption, same goes for their poo which fertilizes the soil. Additionally, the movement of the cattle encourages a diversity of plant species and soil aeration, enhancing the soil’s ability to store carbon. Lesson no 1 outside of school grounds just not sure they listened!!. #farmeducation #farming #pigs #pasture #regenerative

We have just gone to feed the sows and this wonderful creature has just given so much again! It is amazing that twice a year they can farrow up to 15 piglets each time, natural selection does seem to give us an average of 10 piglets per litter but these sows are amazing and with deepest respect i really enjoy looking after our pigs. We have gone for rare breed pigs, we have Gloucster old spots / large blacks / Tamworth and saddlebacks, 8 sows in total. We are trying to raise our pigs off of our own fermented feed produced almost entirely on the farm and has been something we've long been experimenting with. It's a difficult process getting the recipe just right, and it's something we still haven't nailed. Our pigs grow, and it's wonderfully satisfying to eat something raised entirely organically and through your own land and labour, but they do not grow big enough or fast enough for commercial production. We are not trying to breed anymore pigs at the story, we have a small supply chain and would not be able to expand too much more with the limited amount of suitable land we have. However it is amazing to see them rooting and eating pasture so readily with a strict regime of moving them into new area every 18 days we find less destruction to the soil structure, resting it for 42 days before they are able to return to the same plot. The regeneration of the rested plot recovers enough for them to eat the previous plants that were left the time before, I never thought it would work but it is astonishingly productive. We follow that the next season with a break crop of barley peas and vetch or straight barley. These crops are used for winter feeding mixing up home brew rations and big bale whole crop silage mix. The basic principle behind permaculture, and regenerative farming in general, is finding what works best within your system (in your climate, with your particular soil conditions, pest problems, etc, rather than trying to fight nature. It just goes to show that diversification is everything! Get as much variety as possible, because you never know where unexpected treasures lay! What's that saying..? "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans”.

We have just gone to feed the sows and this wonderful creature has just given so much again! It is amazing that twice a year they can farrow up to 15 piglets each time, natural selection does seem to give us an average of 10 piglets per litter but these sows are amazing and with deepest respect i really enjoy looking after our pigs. We have gone for rare breed pigs, we have Gloucster old spots / large blacks / Tamworth and saddlebacks, 8 sows in total. We are trying to raise our pigs off of our own fermented feed produced almost entirely on the farm and has been something we've long been experimenting with. It's a difficult process getting the recipe just right, and it's something we still haven't nailed. Our pigs grow, and it's wonderfully satisfying to eat something raised entirely organically and through your own land and labour, but they do not grow big enough or fast enough for commercial production. We are not trying to breed anymore pigs at the story, we have a small supply chain and would not be able to expand too much more with the limited amount of suitable land we have. However it is amazing to see them rooting and eating pasture so readily with a strict regime of moving them into new area every 18 days we find less destruction to the soil structure, resting it for 42 days before they are able to return to the same plot. The regeneration of the rested plot recovers enough for them to eat the previous plants that were left the time before, I never thought it would work but it is astonishingly productive. We follow that the next season with a break crop of barley peas and vetch or straight barley. These crops are used for winter feeding mixing up home brew rations and big bale whole crop silage mix. The basic principle behind permaculture, and regenerative farming in general, is finding what works best within your system (in your climate, with your particular soil conditions, pest problems, etc, rather than trying to fight nature. It just goes to show that diversification is everything! Get as much variety as possible, because you never know where unexpected treasures lay! What's that saying..? "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans”.

This week I’ve been reflecting on the start of the year I’ve not only learnt a lot, but feel positive about the future having met a lot of interesting people that are doing amazing things on the ground and beneath it. In my mission to become a better advocate for food and farming we need to get behind those who are challenging the status quo. I was moved by the screening of Six Inches of Soil at Yeo Valley Organic who are doing amazing things in show casing how it is possible to work in harmony with nature. Farmers face huge challenges ahead but by building a community that is proud about the food we produce and being able to literally shake the hand that feeds you, we can drive change and create a human connection to land soil and food that nourishes your soul. If you haven’t seen this fantastic film yet I would highly recommend it, together farmers can solve a lot and shift the paradigm of what is not working. Congratulations to the team at Six Inches of Soil and massive thankyou to Yeo Valley Organic trail blazers for 30 years, let’s get on board this train and change the world for a better future! #regeneration #regenerativefarming #regenerativeagriculture #changemakers #soilhealth #soil #farmerslife