Why Organic Farming?

Organic farming is sustainable farming.
It’s better for the animal, the soil, the environment and the consumer, it’s as simple as that!

Organic farming is based on nature. It does not rely on unhealthy chemicals or damaging shortcuts such as artificial nitrate fertilisers.

“All the meat is produced on the farm and is certified organic by The Soil Association – which sets the highest ethical and organic standards, requiring excellent animal welfare along with sustainable and clean agricultural practices.”

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‘Conventional’ farming

… routinely uses numerous applications of different chemicals (pesticides) to kill plants, insects and fungi during a single farming year, causing great damage to our water sources, our air and our soils.

Soil life is destroyed and this in turn causes it to lose much of its organic matter and carbon stores, contributing very significantly to climate change (because the carbon ends up in the air).

The loss of soil life has also resulted in a major reduction in nutrients, vitamins and minerals in food, affecting crops of fruit and vegetables and also animals grazing on the land.

Organic farming

… helps to encourage and maintain healthy soil life which is essential for raising healthy plants and animals.

The billions of microscopic organisms in healthy soil provide plants with the minerals they need and also help the soils retain water in dry periods and during flooding, increasing climate resilience.

In an organic system, the nutrient-rich plants grown in healthy, living soils are available for animals to graze, resulting in vitamin-enhanced, high quality, healthy meat.

‘Conventional’ farming

… uses artificial nitrates to add fertility to the soil. Making and using these artificial fertilisers causes enormous amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.

It also disrupts the natural nitrogen cycle and causes a loss of soil life which in turn affects insects and worms and all the other animals up the food chain. For many decades, pastures have been routinely sprinkled with tonnes of artificial nitrates in order to drive up grass production.

This is a short-term benefit that causes major long-term problems.

Organic farming

… does not permit the use of artificial nitrates.

Animal manure, diverse pastures including nitrogen-fixing legumes and natural soil health are harnessed to maintain soil fertility.

Grass yields might initially be lower but there are no damaging hidden costs to the environment.

‘Conventional’ farming

… results in animals being routinely treated for worms, viruses and diseases they may not even have.

Long-lasting chemicals can remain in the dung and harm insects and damage soil and water life.

Organic farming

… ensures that animal welfare is paramount. Under an organic system, animals must be given more space and must be allowed plenty of access to the outside. We embrace this on our farm allowing the animals to live outside for as much of the year as possible.

Medicines can always be used when they are required. However, the health of the livestock must be carefully monitored with treatments only being given when actually necessary.

This avoids an unnecessary negative impact on wildlife and increased resistance to antibiotics.

Under organic farming, production might be lower and slower; pasture maintenance and animal husbandry might be more complicated and labour-intensive, but this is the sustainable way of doing things.

With high animal welfare, organic food certification requires high levels of transparency and documentation. Whilst this adds work, the customer can be confident that what they are getting has been produced in a healthy, natural way in accordance with organic standards.

“Organic food may be more expensive, but we do not take into account the true cost of non-organic food to our environment and ourselves.”

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Why Organic Farming?

“All the meat is produced on the farm and is certified organic by The Soil Association – which sets the highest ethical and organic standards, requiring excellent animal welfare along with sustainable and clean agricultural practices.”

‘Conventional’ farming

Organic farming

‘Conventional’ farming

Organic farming

‘Conventional’ farming

Organic farming

“Organic food may be more expensive, but we do not take into account the true cost of non-organic food to our environment and ourselves.”

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