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Keep in touch with the Food Alliance Blog - sign up here Follow on Instagram here, Facebook here Here's where you can see what's happening for good local food in Herefordshire. From local food events, through farming to food waste - we use the Sustainable Food Places topics so you can see the things you're interested in at a glance. Click on each one for more information or scroll down the most recent. Contact us to tell us what's going on in your part of the County and sign the food charter to add your voice! |
Do you have land that you would like to ensure stays in ecological agriculture in the future? Would you like your land to support the next generation of agroecological farmers?
"The Ecological Land Cooperative is a not-for-profit community benefit cooperative, creating access to land for new entrants to ecological farming.
We have huge ambitions, but we need your help. We are inviting landowners to consider gifting land to the ELC, to help support a new generation of agroecological farmers- now and into the future.
Assistant Flower & Veg Grower Sought at Wye Organic
"Wye Organic was established in early 2021, and following a successful first two seasons we are looking to expand the team. We currently grow ½ acre of vegetables and flowers in an historic Walled Garden along with ¼ acre of polytunnel space; and this year we will start growing in an additional ¾ acre walled garden, all entirely no-dig.
Set in the stunning landscape of the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean, the garden is part of a traditional estate producing organic beef, lamb and more, all to principles of Regenerative Agriculture.
The application deadline is Sunday 26th February 2023."
The government has announced new funding for small abattoirs - and campaigners say it will be 'integral' to the future of local and sustainable farming.
"The availability of funding will help abattoirs to invest in new technology and improve productivity and animal health and welfare, allowing our agriculture sector to get its high-quality produce to market.”
Sustainable Food Trust who have been campaigning for this for years say "funding will be vital to help the small abattoirs modernise and thrive. Their services are the cornerstone of sustainable, local meat supply chains.
Farm for the Future
Explaining Sustainable Farming Initiative & Country Stewardship with Kate Speke-Adams
Wednesday 15th February 2023 Bunch Of Carrots, from 12 noon.
To book please email
Saturday 25 February 2023 at Lansdown Hall, Stroud.
Marina O’Connell is a Director of the Apricot Centre CIC, a carbon negative regenerative farm and wellbeing service in Devon. She is an experienced permaculture designer, trainer and author of Designing Regenerative Food Systems and Why We Need Them Now. Her approach weaves together permaculture design, agroforestry, biodynamic farming and other regenerative techniques.
Event through the Rural Hub:
Thursday 9th February 2023
10.00am – 12.30pm
At Leadon Vale Farm, Crowfield Lane, Dymock, Glos, GL18 2AE
(courtesy of Mark and Fiona Woodall)
"This workshop with Lucinda Lewis (Wye & Usk Foundation) will give an introduction to carrying out some basic soil assessment tests, with the aid of the Soilmentor App.
Do you farm in a way that restores your soil, increases biodiversity, minimises carbon emissions and also feeds people?
Or do you want to support farmers that do in what and where you buy your food?
A new website has launched, by a group of farmers in Somerset to make it easier for both these things to happen.
It has a map - which is currently very sparsely populated but we can change that :)
Farming in the Wye Catchment area - Regenerative Methods
Catchment Sensitive Farming invite you to an evening of discussions with Ed Horton and Billy Lewis. Both farmers will share their experiences using
different ‘re-gen’ and mixed farming practices and how these benefit not only the environment, but the productivity of their
businesses.
Wednesday 25th January – 7pm start (prompt) at Luctonians Rugby Club, HR6 9SB
Evening food will be provided, and a pay bar will be open. Text or call Alice to book 07557 315 435.
Herefordshire Council have a document out for consultation on agricultural planning.
It's aiming to do two things - "outline the issues that may arise in relation to agricultural development" and also provide a tool for working out the amount of phosphates a development may produce.
If you have the brain for it, please take a look from a food perspective - does this guidance on agricultural planning support the production of local sustainable food here in Herefordshire? Does it support the people that are producing our local sustainable food?
Let the food alliance know what you think - and contribute to the consultation.
You can see contributions so far here
Wicton Farm have an opportuity!
"We are a regenerative dairy farm in Herefordshire and we are reaching out to connect with people who have passion to join us. We are searching for a young dairy farmer / new entrant and also for a person who desires to make cheese or process high quality milk. Ideally you will already be skilled in the job role, but for the right worth while person we will happily train you or allow you to learn.
Looking for a new challenge for 2023? Here's a message from Tudge Farm who sell at Leominster (tomorrow) and Hereford Farmer's (19th Jan) markets.
"We are on the hunt for someone to help us out on a part time basis with our meat packing and processing. Approximately 15-20 hours a week, mornings with some full days.
Work includes packing and labelling our meat ready for our farmers' markets, cooking hams and sausages rolls, curing bacon, slicing and dicing. Based on the farm in Richards Castle.
Love of sausages essential!
For more information and a chat about what's involved please call Guy on 07977 592028 or Chris on 07789 274775 or email
Please share with anyone you feel may be interested."
Alliance coordinator Rebecca has been at the Oxford Real Farming Conference this week. It's now the biggest event for 'agroecological' farming (modern, mixed, with nature and food production side by side) on the planet. It was great to see new and existing alliance contacts there!
Hear more about the ORFC on Farming Today here and below is one snapshot from Rebecca - for more snapshots check the blog.
Feeding Britain from the Ground Up.
One of the final sessions at the conference was centred around a report that makes the case for a Britain that can feed itself.
Feeding Britain From the Ground Up is an attempt to provide answers to the question: What should I eat to be healthy and sustainable?
Alliance coordinator Rebecca has been at the Oxford Real Farming Conference this week. It's now the biggest event for 'agroecological' farming (modern, mixed, with nature and food production side by side) on the planet. It was great to see new and existing alliance contacts there!
Hear more about the ORFC on Farming Today here and below is one snapshot from Rebecca - for more snapshots check the blog.
Joining the Infrastructure dots
Over the last 30 years, a vibrant network of 'agroecological' short supply chain and direct sales businesses has developed in the UK but they are currently a tiny portion of the market. We are also losing infrastructure that supports small farmers- small abattoirs for example.
Alliance coordinator Rebecca has been at the Oxford Real Farming Conference this week. It's now the biggest event for 'agroecological' farming (modern, mixed, with nature and food production side by side) on the planet. It was great to see new and existing alliance contacts there!
Hear more about the ORFC on Farming Today here and below is one snapshot from Rebecca - for more snapshots check the blog.
Financing the transition to Agroecology
There was lots of talk of baselines at this session - there are now global and national targets to reduce emissions, which requires measurement in itself, but also targets to protect nature, also needing to be measured with much of the work for this being passed to farmers.
Food Alliance Coordinator Rebecca will be heading to the Oxford Real Farming Conference in early January.
"With over 350 speakers across seven venues, January’s in-person programme offers an extensive range of keynote presentations, panel discussions and workshops on everything from farm practice to food sovereignty, land justice to farming policy, food politics to land-based traditions and knowledge."
Note change of time and date! It got popular!
6-8 pm Sunday 11th of December
Public Hall Bromyard
Talk: Creating a Community Farm for Bromyard
Peter Lane who is organising says:
I have access to funding to set up, and build a Research & Development facility to develop systems for vertical farms, and this will create up to about thirty jobs. As part of the project we will have training/meeting rooms as we will be providing training for those interested in the subject.
In addition to the above we want to set up the following:
- Petting zoo
- Cafe/shop
- Modern allotments suited for the less able.
"Just wanted to say how great the event was"
"Thanks for the meeting - interesting and useful"
Thanks to the 50+ farmers, community projects, caterers and others for coming to Food from the Shire - it was great to have a full room and many, many thoughts shared. We heard from farmers, caterers, community growers, food banks and larders - and we have many plans to take forward!
Many thanks to the Green Dragon Hotel for hosting, and for many Food Alliance members' input to make it happen.
Click on the image or the link to view notes, links and next steps from the event.
Food for the Shire November 2022 - Google Slides
What Next?
One Planet Developments were launched by the Welsh Government in 2011 as a policy for rural developments that enhance or maintain the environment on the land they are on. Many of the developments produce food, and out of this has come 'one planet produce' for food produce on these developments.
The One Planet Council has been supporting people to navigate their way through this and has launched a detailed review of the ten years of the OPD policy in Wales. They are seeking support with a crowdfunder so they can share the findings far and wide.
"Basically what we're doing here is trying to stop writing out cheques to people. Using the sun and the soil..."
It was such a pleasure to be taken around Billy's award winning Herefordshire farm. The Farm Carbon Toolkit's Soil Farmer of the Year at 25 years old - the whole thing was an inspiration!
Through changing some of their farming methods for methods that 'regenerate' the soil, the farm has more than halved its nitrogen fertiliser use, which has meant a drastic drop in outgoings and a big increase to the health of the soil.
Thanks for siging the Herefordshire Food Charter, Tuston Farm! Supplying freshly grown organic produce locally, through a veg box scheme, farmers markets, directly to food businesses and through farm shops.
Alice has transformed an 8 acre arable field into a brand new, organically certified, Market Garden and wildlife haven. She's in her fourth growing year on this site, alongside Dom who is an ecologist and keen on creating a meadow and encouraging wildlife along with the tasty veg.
Veg pick ups are in Tarrington, Ledbury, Hereford and Ashperton - and you can find them also at Farmers Markets in Bromyard, Knightwick and Ludlow.
THANKS FOR COMING! EVENT WRITE UP HERE
Are you a farmer, grower, producer or caterer here in Herefordshire? Do you know who could use your surplus food, where to take it and how to do it economically?
Come to a networking event to prevent food becoming waste and get it on to the county's plates!
- Green Dragon Hotel, Hereford
- 10th November 2022 3-5.30pm