What do you think? We believe food production should be about respect for the land and the celebration of the produce it gives us. Of course, behind the scenes there is stress and weather and people and broken machines and all the other things that can be challenging but fundamentally the initial thought in our food growing should be one of love, love for our land and ourselves.
This may seem like a stretch in today’s world. I certainly have no love on certain days especially when we cannot compete with the big supermarkets and their juggernaut of food devaluation and a food system that is inherently broken and never more than one step away from falling apart. The supermarkets have the power to drive farmers out of business and where will we all be then?
Our mission in connecting people with the food they eat has been burning now for 18 years. After such a long time of talking about how important sustainable food production is, you can get tired and disillusioned, because what changes? Well, the reality of our farm walk last Saturday and of the fact that so many of you take the time to read this, is that a lot changes.
I learned something amazing from the people who attended our farm walk last and it was: that there definitely is an intense appetite to understand and connect with how our food is produced.
I was inspired and uplifted and felt reenergised to see so many people come out and visit us. But it was the energy, the interest and the amazing questions from you our readers, visitors and customers that showed me we are on the right path.
My favourite quote from Margaret Meade, sums up our farm walk and our growing community right here.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
The stars of the show, and there is no doubt in my mind about this, were the children. They demonstrated such an abundance of interest and fun. There lies the essence of what our lives and indeed our relationship with food should be: fun and happiness.
But delve a little deeper in our modern food supply chain and you find exploitation, biodiversity destruction, food that has literally been poisoned with chemicals and wrapped in a myriad of plastic. This I am afraid is what props up our modern-day food system. But we are all so busy it is hard to spare a thought for what, where or how our food has been produced.
But last Saturday on our farm walk plenty of thought was given. And you who follow us and interact with us and read our e mails or in the ultimate show of support buy from us, you care, and you represent the energy of change. We may not change the world today,
but we will change something, something that may be the small stone that starts the avalanche.
So, as always, thank you for your support.
Kenneth