Trailblazing organisations
United Kingdom
THE SUSTAINABLE FOOD TRUST - A brilliant newsletter and website around soil and food. The brilliant Patrick Holden is at the centre of it. Definitely worth following. - www.sustainablefoodtrust.org
THE UK SOIL ASSOCIATION - Lots of wonderful information about soil and farming. Do not hesitate to ask for help - there are lots of people with expertise there to help you. We went organic a few years ago and we have had lots of support along the way. They are doing amazing things around the country - definitely worth joining and getting involved. - www.soilassociation.org
FARMS TO FEED US - Connecting with Farmers for Food during the Covid-19 Crisis. UK-wide Database of Farms & Regenerative Agriculture Gatherings. - @farmstofeedus
THE SUSTAINABLE SOILS ALLIANCE - A partnership of farming organisations, businesses, NGOs, applied science and academia working together to restore our soils to health within one generation. - www.sustainablesoils.org
SUSTAIN - THE ALLIANCE FOR BETTER FOOD AND FARMING - The main way that Sustain fulfils its aims is through running a multitude of different projects and campaigns to improve food and farming, with the help of our members and other supporters. - www.sustainweb.org
GROUNDSWELL - THE REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE SHOW AND CONFERENCE - Entering its fifth year, The Groundswell event provides a forum for farmers and anyone interested in food production or the environment to learn about the theory and practical applications of Conservation Agriculture or regenerative systems, including no-till, cover crops and re-introducing livestock into the arable rotation, with a view to improving soil health. - www.groundswellag.com
PASTURE FOR LIFE ASSOCIATION - The idea for the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association arose in 2009, when a small group of British farmers decided to join together to extol the wide-ranging benefits of producing meat from animals fed exclusively on pasture. Since then, the Association has developed, into an active, credible organisation that successfully champions the virtues of grass-based farming and meat production. - www.pastureforlife.org
FARM CARBON TOOLKIT - The aim of FCT is to encourage and support farmers and growers to reduce their farm greenhouse gas emissions, increase their farm energy resilience and in doing so also improve their farm business in the future. - www.farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk
THE UK BIODYNAMIC ASSOCIATION - A super helpful organisation with many of the Biodynamic preps and lots of good information and information on courses. - www.biodynamic.org.uk
INNOVATIVE FARMERS - This is a great organisation bringing together farmers and science and providing an outlet for sharing knowledge around farming and growing. - www.innovativefarmers.org
RIVERFORD ORGANIC FARM - A brilliant place to get your vegetables in the UK if you cannot grow it. Sign up for Guy’s newsletter even if you do not get the box. Full of information (‘The reality of small-scale farming in the UK is hard: we expect to spend only 10% of our income on food, with just 0.6% going to farmers’ ) around food and great recipes!! - www.riverford.co.uk
DARINA ALLEN AND THE BALLEYMALOE COOKERY SCHOOL - Darina Allen is an inspiration and is at the centre of many things involving food and its production in the UK. She is running a 6 week course at her cookery school and 100 acre organic farm teaching students how to build a viable future through food systems and culture.- www.cookingisfun.ie
Around the World
ACRES USA - For books and a great newsletter and Agricultural seminars in the US.- www.acresusa.com
LAND MANAGEMENT - UNITED RESEARCH FOR SOIL (AUSTRIA) - Angelica Lubke and Urs Hildebrandt's website on soil and compost. These two are an amazing source of knowledge and expertise. They hold courses in Europe and around the world, are consultants and have soil labs in Austria. - www.landmanagement.net
KISS THE GROUND (USA) - Kiss the Ground has become a premier online educational hub for regenerative agriculture, offering an online “pathway” for anyone to find resources and their unique way forward in contributing to this expanding global movement. - www.kisstheground.com
LA FERME DU BEC-HELLOUIN (FRANCE) - An organic market garden in Normandy drawing on the principles of permaculture, 19th Century Parisian Market Gardeners, Asian EM and Amazonian tribes people. Their Book - Miraculous Abundance is great. - www.fermedubec.com
NUTRI-TECH SOLUTIONS (AUSTRALIA) - Run by the talented Graeme Sait. He has a brilliant blog talking about all things to do with soil and plant health. He has given some very inspirational TED talks. He is also now working with a UK agent - Eugene Hackett in Ireland eugenehackett@newgenagri.com - www.nutri-tech.com.au
KOANGA INSTITUTE (NEW ZEALAND) - An amazing resource of years of knowledge built up by Kay Baxter and her team. - www.koanga.org.nz
While writing and researching for our book Soil to Table we came across wonderful producers and growers across the world all producing incredible food and caring for their soils. We have shared some of them below. We are always keen to learn of others so please do contact us with producers you love.
PRODUCERS AND GROWERS
United Kingdom
e5 Bakehouse - Considered by many the best bread in London e5bakehouse.com
Agua de Madre - Sparking water kefir www.aguademadre.co.uk
Apricot Centre - Organic fruit and vegetable farm www.apricotcentre.co.uk
Babbins Wood Farm - Organic fruit and veggie boxes, and Organic Little Dairy with raw milk www.babbinswoodfarm.co.uk
Bayntun Flower - Organic flowers www.bayntunflowers.co.uk
Bold Bean Co - Heirloom beans www.boldbeanco.com
Bowhouse - Supporting local producers & weekend markets www.bowhousefife.com
Coleshill Organics - Organic veg boxes www.coleshillorganics.co.uk
Coombeshead - Sourdough bakery, local veg box for collection www.coombesheadfarm.co.uk
Crocodan Farm - Soil-centric farm with a restaurant at its heart www.crocodan.farm
Daylesford - Organic farm, shop & café www.daylesford.com
Duchess Oil - Extra virgin cold pressed rapeseed oil, Stone milled heritage grain flour www.duchessoil.co.uk
Elliot’s Studio - Cooking classes and pop-up restaurant www.elliotsedinburgh.com
Farm Wilder - Wildlife friendly beef, lamb and game www.farmwilder.org
Fellows Farms - market garden, micro bakery, vineyard, weaving studio, campsite and flock of sheep www.fellowsfarm.co.uk
Fir Farm - Mobile Abattoirs, pasture fed meat www.firfarm.co.uk
Flint Owl Bakery - Breads made from organic stoneground flour and basic organic ingredients www.flintowlbakery.com
Flourish - Organic vegetables, herbs, salads for collection www.flourishproduce.co.uk
Gothelney Farm - Forage-fed native breed pigs, bakery, regional grains www.gothelneyfarmer.co.uk
Grampian Graziers - Native breed pasture fed beef www.grampiangraziers.co.uk
Growing Communities - Fruit and Vegetables boxes and farmers’ markets www.growingcommunities.org
Halen Mon - Anglesey Sea Salt www.halenmon.com
Happy Kombucha - Kefir, Kombucha and other fermented foods www.happykombucha.co.uk
Hodmedods - Pulses, grains & flours from British Suppliers www.hodmedods.co.uk
Homegrown at Hampen - Regenerative, no-dig market garden, Saturday popup shop selling pasture-fed meat, wool, honey, jams etc www.homegrownathampen.co.uk
Indie Farmer - Native breed pasture-fed beef & farming magazine www.indiefarmer.com
Keveral Farm - Organic farm community, provides organic veggie boxes www.keveral.org
Margent Farm - Organic hemp www.margentfarm.com
Nancarrow Farm - Award winning Organic Beef and Lamb www.nancarrowfarm.co.uk
Pesky Fish - Sustainable fish delivered to your door www.peskyfish.co.uk
Pipers Farm - Grass fed organic, meat, dairy, bread, pantry www.pipersfarm.com
Plaw Hatch Farm - Grass fed meat & dairy, pasture-raised poultry. www.plawhatchfarm.co.uk
Real Seeds - Heirloom and heritage seeds www.realseeds.co.uk
Riverford - Organic Farmers, produce boxes www.riverford.co.uk
Shrewsbury Market Hall - Winner of Britain’s favourite market - food, drink and shopping destination www.shrewsburymarkethall.co.uk
Small Food Bakery - Sourdough bakery, heritage grains sold locally www.smallfoodbakery.com
Sole of Discretion - Sustainable fish delivered to your door www.soleofdiscretion.co.uk
Tablehurst Farm - Organic farm and shop - BBC Food & Farming Awards Best Producer Winner 2022 www.tablehurstfarm.org.uk
Tamarisk Farm - Farmshop, organic grass-fed meat, grains, vegetables www.tamariskfarm.co.uk
The Dartmoor Shepherd - sheepskin products from a farm of rare breed Dartmoor sheep www.thedartmoorshepherd.co.uk
The Free Company - Rare breed Pig Club, Veg Club & seasonal restaurant www.the-free-company.com
The SSAW Collective - Florists using organic british grown flowers www.ssawcollective.com
Trinity Farm Shop & Cafe - Organic farm shop & home delivery www.trinityfarm.co.uk
Wakelyns - Organic vegetables, bakery, heritage grains www.wakelyns.co.uk
Yallah Coffee Roasters - Coffee grown using environmental practices, transported by sail boats, plastic-free packaging, roasted in small batches www.yallahcoffee.co.uk
Australia
Black Barn Farm - Slow orcharding farm and nursery. www.blackbarnfarm.com.au
Duck Foot Farm - No till small vegetable farm www.duckfootfarm.com.au
Eco Bananas - Ecologically farmed bananas www.eco-banana.com.au
Feather and Bone Butchery - Sydney's leading organic, regenerative, whole animal butchery www.featherandbone.com.au
Grassland Poultry - Pasture fed poultry www.grasslandpoultry.com.au
Hazeldean Forest Farm - Organic apples & apple products www.hazeldeanforestfarm.com
Jonai Farms - Pasture-raised heritage pigs & cattle www.jonaifarms.com.au
Mac Forbes Wines - Wine Growers from the Yarra Valley www.macforbes.com
Malfroysgold - Wild honey www.malfroysgold.com.au
Moonacres - Organic cooking school & farm www.moonacres.com.au
Moorlands Lamb - Biodynamic lamb www.moorlandslamb.com.au
Mulloon Creek Natural Farms + Institute - Biodynamic pasture-raised eggs www.mcnf.com.au
Mungalli Creek - Biodynamic dairy www.mungallicreekdairy.com.au
Murrnung - Permaculture Organic farm www.murrnung.com
Schultz Organic Dairy - Organic dairy www.schulzorganicdairy.com.au
Thriving Foods Farm - Organic vegetable boxes www.thrivingfoodsfarm.com
Wildwood Organics - Organic vegetable boxes www.wildwood-organics.com
Wilimee Wines - Biodynamic wine www.wilimeewines.com.au
Woodstock Flour - Freshly milled organic flour www.woodstockflour.com.au
Young Seeds - Family business, selling seed directly to the farmer from the farmer Young Seeds facebook page
New Zealand
Bostock Brothers - Organic free range chickens www.bostocksorganic.co.nz
Hands in the Dirt - Sustainable Flowers www.handsinthedirt.co.nz
Little Farms - Organic weekly farm boxes www.littlefarms.com
Pakaraka Farm - Education Centre for Regenerative Living and Organic Market Garden www.pakarakafarm.co.nz
Phytofarm - Organic herb tisanes & remedies www.phytofarm.co.nz
Royalburn Farm - Organic farm & shop www.royalburn.co.nz
Tomtit Farm - Vegetable farm & PYO Flowers www.tomtitfarm.com
Untamed Earth - Organic vegetable boxes & farmers markets www.untamedearth.nz
Viberi - Organic blackcurrant farmer www.viberi.co.nz
USA
Apricot Lane Farms - Organic & Biodynamic produce, livestock farm www.apricotlanefarms.com
B&H Organic Produce - Organic vegetable farm www.bhorganicproduce.com
Boulettes larder - Larder, restaurant and bar - San Francisco www.bouletteslarder.com
Cafe Zuni - Honest, local seafood restaurant - San Francisco www.cafezuni.com
Carman Ranch - 100% grass-fed beef www.carmanranch.com
Chaplain Orchards - Organic orchards www.champlainorchards.com
Charlestown Farm - Organic vegetable farm www.charlestownfarm.org
Furnace Creek Farm - Organic herbal elixirs www.furnacecreekfarm.com
Greenwave - Ocean farmers training & support www.greenwave.org
Lost Nation Orchard - Organic apples & healing plants www.lostnationorchard.com
Massa Organics - Organic almonds & brown rice www.massorganics.com
Polyface Farms - Clean meats, pasture-raised eggs and grass-fed dairy www.polyfacefarms.com
Singing Pastures - Pasture-raised pork www.singingpastures.com
Taproot Farm - Organic produce farm www.taprootfarmpa.com
Willow Wisp Organic Farm - Organic vegetables, herbs, and cut flowers www.willowwisporganic.com
Europe
Le Doyenné - Restaurant, guesthouse, and farm set within the historical grounds of the Château de Saint-Vrain www.ledoyennerestaurant.com (France)
Aarstiderne - Organic Produce boxes www.aarstiderne.com (Denmark)
La ferme du Bec Hellouin - Organic grower, France www.fermedubec.com (France)
Two Fields - Small batch olive oil www.twofieldszakros.com (Greece)
Can Pep - Off-grid Eco-farm Honey & Mirto liqueur www.rebeccafrayn.com (Ibiza)
RECOMMENDED BOOKS + PODCASTS
These are some of our favourite books and podcasts on soil, plants and gardens.
A year of recipes from a farm and its kitchen - Fern Verrow
An Agricultural Testament - Albert Howard
Around The World in 80 Plants - Stephen Barstow
Biodynamic Gardening - Dorling Kindersley
Call of the Reed Warbler - Charles Massey
Common-Sense Compost Making - M. E. Bruce
Drawn to Nature, Gilbert White and the Artists - Simon Martin
Entangled Life - Merlin Shelldrake
For The Love of Soil - Nicole Masters
Harmony - HRH King Charles III
Led by the Land - Kim Wilkie
Miracle Abundance - Perrine and Charles Herve
Pig: Tales from an Organic Farm - Helen Browning
Regenerative Agriculture Podcast by John Kempf
Save Your Own Seeds + other titles - Kay Baxter
Silent Spring - Rachel Carlson
The Land Gardeners Cut Flowers - The Land Gardeners
The Living Soil - Eve Balfour
The Lost Orchard - Raymond Blanc
The Soil will Save Us - Kristin Ohlson
The Sustainable Food Trust Podcast
The Third Place: Field Notes on The Future of Food - Dan Barber
We Are What We Eat - Alice Waters
Wilding - Isabella Tree