Conservation grassland on the farm
I have come back home to Ferry Farm for a few weeks. A 180 acre 'conventional' arable farm in the East of England. My family have farmed in this area for three generations, over 100 years. Over that time, things have changed a bit. 'The powers that be' have pushed and pulled and squeezed. What used to be a diverse, mixed farm producing food for local people, with low levels of external inputs, now grows three crops, spends thousands on chemical inputs every year and produces commodities which are expected to compete on a global market. All in the name of cheap food. But who really benefits?
The more I learn, the more I realise how hard my family have worked to keep this place going. And I don't blame them for making the decisions they did, they just responded the best they could to the situation. I also realise the deep connection my Dad has to this land, to caring for the soil and love for nature. He has also taken some brave steps over the last few years to reduce tillage, lower chemical use and apply some organic composts.
But it upsets me to think that the way we are farming is probably still damaging natural ecosystems, soil and water and depleting resources for future generations. I am also disturbed that we are feeding a completely unsustainable global food system that works for markets over humans and nature.
I am inspired by those farmers who through sheer determination, refrained from going down this path despite the pressures to do so. Farmers like Arthur Hollins (at Fordhall Farm - another incredible story I hope to come to later on in the summer!).
I am also interested in the alternatives to the globalised food system that are popping up all over the world and the opportunities that comes with greater consumer awareness and interest in food provenance.
But I think it is also important to remain objective and continually question assumptions about what is right and wrong.
For now, I am taking some time over the summer to learn a bit more about what my Dad does here, hopping on my bike to visit and work on other farms and ponder the most valuable (in environmental and social as well as economic terms) options for the future of Ferry Farm and the reality of that for me and my sisters and how we live our lives.
In this blog I am hoping to scribe my musings from this journey. The good and the bad. The opportunities and the challenges as it is!
Be warned I also intend to traverse the organic vs conventional debate. I feel it is often too polarised, which does not allow for meaningful engagement from either 'sides'. In my heart I feel like organic is 'right', But the reality is more complex than that, and I am interested to explore and share those learnings and thoughts from a more objective stance. So I may say things you disagree with!
Here we go...!
But it upsets me to think that the way we are farming is probably still damaging natural ecosystems, soil and water and depleting resources for future generations. I am also disturbed that we are feeding a completely unsustainable global food system that works for markets over humans and nature.
I am inspired by those farmers who through sheer determination, refrained from going down this path despite the pressures to do so. Farmers like Arthur Hollins (at Fordhall Farm - another incredible story I hope to come to later on in the summer!).
I am also interested in the alternatives to the globalised food system that are popping up all over the world and the opportunities that comes with greater consumer awareness and interest in food provenance.
But I think it is also important to remain objective and continually question assumptions about what is right and wrong.
For now, I am taking some time over the summer to learn a bit more about what my Dad does here, hopping on my bike to visit and work on other farms and ponder the most valuable (in environmental and social as well as economic terms) options for the future of Ferry Farm and the reality of that for me and my sisters and how we live our lives.
In this blog I am hoping to scribe my musings from this journey. The good and the bad. The opportunities and the challenges as it is!
Be warned I also intend to traverse the organic vs conventional debate. I feel it is often too polarised, which does not allow for meaningful engagement from either 'sides'. In my heart I feel like organic is 'right', But the reality is more complex than that, and I am interested to explore and share those learnings and thoughts from a more objective stance. So I may say things you disagree with!
Here we go...!
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