From e-sheep to microdairies, there was plenty of inspiration at the Oxford Real Farming Conference.
January sees the largest gathering of farming folk of the year when two very different farming conferences take place in Oxford: the Oxford Farming Conference, which has been going for 80 years and is sponsored by the farming giants, and the Oxford Real Farming Conference, now in its ninth year. The ORFC is a gathering of the sustainable food and farming movement. Its guided by three principles of agroecology, food sovereignty and economic democracy and has a distinctly practical slant, providing something for everybody, with topics on farm labour, access to land, trees and livestock, micro dairying, animal welfare, permaculture and more. So here are just a few of my personal highlights from the two days.
With so much happening to affect farming, the ORFC organisers invited the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Rt Hon Michael Gove, to speak. During his one-hour conversation with Zac Goldsmith, a wide range of topics were covered. His green stance and genuine concern for farming and the environment won over many. It’s worth listening to the session here http://www.campaignforrealfarming. org/2018/01/michael-gove-at-the-oxford real-farming-conference-2018/ So now the hope is that he stays in post long enough to implement these ideas.
An inspirational market garden
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2018 من Country Smallholding.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2018 من Country Smallholding.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
The Secret World Of The Honey Bee
Who knew that honey bees are the best builders? Nicola Bradbear from Bees for Development reveals how they build their parallel wax combs with extraordinary accuracy
Tip the light fantastic
The latest offering from Ifor Williams Trailers is the Single Axle Tipper, which is simply perfect for small-scale farmers
The legacy of The Good Life
The Good Life captured the public’s imagination when it first aired in 1975. On Country Smallholding’s 45th birthday, Jeremy Hobson looks at this and other programmes with a self-sufficiency slant that have captivated urban and rural dwellers alike over nearly half a century
‘The hens took shelter under the pig trailer in the paddock'
A tree Armageddon frightens poultry diarist Julian Hammer’s flock and leaves him with a mammoth clear-up job
Tools of the trade
In the second part of his mini-series on tools that are useful around the holding, Kevin Alviti takes an in-depth look at the iconic scythe, a thistle paddle and forks that were once virtually indispensable to small-scale farmers
The nightclub bouncer of the sheep world
Adam Henson waxes lyrical about the Texel, which boasts such a stocky body that it resembles a box of muscle on four legs
Buying on a tight budget
As demand for smallholdings increases and prices continue to rise, is there a way to achieve your dream without forking out a fortune? In the first part of a new mini-series, Liz Shankland explores the possibilities
Crazy for crafts
In an ordinary back garden and single paddock near Kidderminster, Kay Dalloway has created both a thriving smallholding and a successful fibre business — all while working full time for the NHS. Helen Babbs drops by to find out about her ventures
Game on
A little preparation in the autumn months will help to make the transition into winter smoother and put your garden and tools on a better footing come the spring, says Stephanie Bateman
1975 And All That
Country Smallholding is 45 this month. To celebrate, Jeremy Hobson takes a look at some of the changes — both good and bad — to small-scale farming over that near half-century
