FAMILY FYFE

Milly Fyfe lives on a farm in Northamptonshire with her two sons, Angus and Dougie, and husband Andrew. As well as tending to 100 suckler beef cows, 300 breeding ewes, 350ha of land for arable production plus chickens and pigs, the family also maintain a walled garden where they grow fruit, vegetables and flowers.

- Milly Fyfe

You have two young sons and love growing your own produce and cooking it as a family. How important do you feel it is that they share these experiences?

My father involved me in growing food from a young age. I remember spending time in his greenhouse pricking out cabbages and the enjoyment of podding peas to eat for our lunch. My two boys are immersed in everything we do on the farm and in the garden, following in mine and my husband’s footsteps. I can see how being involved with caring for animals and plants has helped their confidence grow as well as their general development. The boys love being outside, getting their hands dirty, and they love scrumping all the things that are growing; beans, strawberries, sweetcorn, and raspberries are their particular favorites.

The children already have a good knowledge of the different things we grow as well as the pests we try to protect them from. They also understand the life cycles of certain animals, species of birds and how they can all exist in harmony.

Tell us about your lovely walled veg garden. Has it been in the family for a long time?