Tomorrow is World Soil Day. Regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems all start with the soil, so here’s Ian on a farm walk at FarmED, talking about how diverse herbal leys build soil structure and fertility, help build organic matter and lock in carbon. ‘This is gold. This is what we should be growing our food in.’ Come and see us at FarmED to learn more. #soilhealth #worldsoilday #worldsoilday2020 #regenerativeagriculture #organicmatter #carbon FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

Jonty talks to Jimmy Woodrow, Manager of the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association. What does Pasture For Life mean and where is it heading? What’s the difference between pasture for life and the more common term, grass-fed? Jimmy talks about everything from stocking rates to yields, the nutritional benefits for humans, evidence of reduced med bills for farmers and how rotational grazing can lock-in carbon and improve depleted soils on arable land. Crucially he explains how the pasture-fed culture in the UK can promote regenerative agriculture. FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

We have some fascinating visitors here at FarmED and last month we welcomed life scientist, Nigel Winser, who has conducted geographical surveys all over the world, for the Royal Geographical Society and Earth Watch. He spoke to us about his passion for increased biodiversity and how our work promoting regenerative agriculture makes FarmED, in his words, ‘one of the most important new centres for people to meet and talk about a better tomorrow.’ FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

Jonty, our General Manager, is joined by Claire Thayers from Happerley Transparent and Dr Richard Baines, Senior Lecturer at the RAU.  What is food tourism and how can it aid the rural economy? What’s the best way to create enhanced experiences for locals and visitors? What are the opportunities and challenges facing rural entrepreneurs post Covid and Brexit? Jonty, Richard and Claire discuss everything from how to create immersive local food and drink experiences with farm walks and food and drink tasting, to the importance of authenticity. The crucial link between food tourism and agritourism and the importance of collaboration between producers and tourism operators is also explored.  Richard Baines talks about his work with Cotswold Taste, setting up the first agritourism trails in the Cotswolds with food hubs to sell local food. Jonty talks about the new FarmED Kitchen as a destination. There’s also plenty of advice for entrepreneurs looking to get involved with food tourism.  Food tourism helps join the dots, adds value and local economic multipliers, and connects with consumers - it’s arguably the capstone of a regenerative farming and sustainable food system. FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

The Cotswold Grain Partnership met at FarmED last month to discuss the Heritage Wheat Project, which began here at Honeydale Farm. Bertie Matthews, MD of FWP Matthews Ltd, spoke to us about how the partnership of local farms, millers and bakers and agronomists is connected by a shared desire to collaborate and share new ideas, develop new growing opportunities and promote sustainable food and farming. Going forward, the Heritage Wheat Project will involve milling and promoting heritage grains, renowned for their superior flavour and nutritional properties. ‘This project means a lot to me,’ says Bertie Matthews. ‘We are hopefully going to be milling the heritage grain from local farms in the Evenlode Valley, on our stone ground plant which is just a few hundred metres away from FarmED.’ FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

Last week a group of Cotswold Seeds customers came to FarmED for a socially distanced farm walk to learn more about the benefits of regenerative agriculture. They heard about our eight year rotation, the seed mixtures we’ve used, and how our crops and livestock are managed to promote biodiversity, sustainability and soil health. FarmED was founded by Ian and Celene Wilkinson, the owners of Cotswold Seeds Ltd, which supplies over 15,000 UK farmers with grass seed, legumes, herbs, wildflower and environmental mixes for conventional and organic livestock and arable farmers. ‘Many of our customers have worked with us for decades and have watched the development of FarmED since we first acquired Honeydale Farm,’ says Ian. ‘It was wonderful to welcome old and new friends, to share thoughts and ideas and talk about the future of farming.’ We hope to be able to organise more Customer Days in 2021. FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

Building evidence and sharing knowledge is key to our work at At FarmED. Two researchers, Rob Owen, from the University of Exeter, and Matt Tarnwoski, from the University of Bristol, came to talk to us about their project Farmers are Scientists, which aims to link academics with the farming community. The goal is for the network to co-develop participatory research into how to create productive food systems that are environmentally, economically and socially just. ‘Using an agroecological approach, we hope to bring together practitioners with traditional farming knowledge and a cross-disciplinary group of academics and non academic experts,’ says Rob. FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

A bubble of children (aged 2-9) from the North Oxfordshire Homeschooling Co-operative came to FarmED to spend the day at our kitchen garden with The Kitchen Garden People, learning about where their food comes from. Ian shared stories about FarmED and the need for diverse farming. The children harvested squash and made soup and picked blackberries from the hedgerows to make crumble. Their questions covered everything from vegetables, farm jobs, types of squash and where to find conkers! Two budding media stars volunteered to be interviewed by Dan about what they liked most about the day and what they’d learned. We will be launching a Schools Programme in 2021 in partnership with The Country Trust. FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

When writer, broadcaster and environmental campaigner George Monbiot returned to FarmED to continue his journey to learn more about sustainable food production, we took the opportunity to gather together some young farmers and environmentalists to ask him some probing questions and record a podcast. Areas up for debate ranged from the need for criteria to define regenerative agriculture, plus processed foods, plant based diets and what George describes as ‘the fantastically complex’ debate about food production and the environment. He also discusses his views on how agritech can be used to scale up regenerative farming, CAP, ELMS, and how soil is ‘the basis of our entire lives’. Encouragingly, George described how he’s ‘very interested in what’s happening here’ (at FarmED) and the ‘strong argument in favour of integrated regenerative rotational farming.’ ‘It was wonderful to welcome George Monbiot to FarmED,’ says Manager, Jonty Brunyee. ‘Though his somewhat controversial view on alternative proteins, rewilding and land management, runs contrary to the work of many farmers, our mission is promote regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems, and in order to do that we need to provide a space for healthy debate, giving a platform for those of different views to meet and air their opinions and ideas. It certainly makes for stimulating discussion.’ The interviewees are Lucy, a biology student, Sophie, FarmED’s Event Coordinator, who studied Geography at Exeter Uni, Will, who is heading to Bristol University to study geography, Abbie, a young farmer and agricultural student, Chris who completed an MSc in Agricultural Technology and Innovation and Jack who, until recently, worked in natural food retailing in London. FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

We’re joined by FarmED Founder, Ian Wilkinson; Ali Mirza from Cotswold Made Co; James Butterworth from the Cotswold Market Garden and Nick Pullen from Wild Thyme restaurant in Chipping Norton. Chaired by FarmED Manager, Jonty Brunyee, they talk about their personal stories of how the pandemic has impacted their businesses and the challenges and opportunities facing growers, restaurateurs and farm shops. The discussion ranges from food security and sourcing local food, to the importance of biodiversity and human diversity, and the issue of how to engage everyone from farmers, GPs, schoolteachers and supermarket shoppers. ‘It’s about how to make good local food accessible to all, finding the gaps in the food chain and how to fill those gaps,’ says Jonty. FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

Held in partnership with RuRALink, the Military Rural Careers Insight Day (Sustainable Farming and Small Holding) took place at FarmED on August 22nd, during which FarmED Manager, Jonty Brunyee, signed the Defence Relationship Management (DRM) Armed Forces Covenant with Hon GP Capt Guy Austin from 601 Squadron - a commitment to proudly support those who serve or have served and their families. FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk

FarmED is the new Centre for Farming and Food Education based at Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds. Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming and sustainable food systems by providing space and opportunity for inspirational education, innovative research, practitioner-led knowledge exchange events and personal development. The farm is a diverse mix of low input arable and temporary grass, and organic permanent pasture. Our trial plots include blocks of sainfoin, herbal ley, barley, heritage wheat, wild bird seed and various cover crops. The grassland is managed by mob grazed sheep. At the heart of FarmED are two impressive eco-buildings – one providing space for conferences, lectures, workshops and special events; and the other a farm to fork kitchen and food space, and a regenerative business incubator. Our audience includes local communities, schools, universities, researchers, farmers, new entrants, foodies, businesses, environmental groups and policy makers. Our Website - https://www.farm-ed.co.uk