Farmerama

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.