Locally Grown Organic Produce: Amazing, Ethical, Fresh Food

Knowing where and how our food is grown should be an important part of our lives but for most it isn’t. Reclaiming a connection to your food is a positive step for us as individuals and the communities that we live in.

Slade Farm is an Organic Farm sitting between St Brides Major and the picturesque Heritage Coast in the Vale of Glamorgan. The food that is produced is grown and raised to Organic standards in a system that produces its own nutrients meaning that the food is truly sustainable.

Why Choose Locally Grown and Reared Organic Produce?

1. Flavourful Freshness:

When you buy locally grown produce from Slade Farm Organics, you're getting food at the peak of its flavour. Just-harvested vegetables not only taste better, but also retain more nutrients compared to produce that has travelled long distances. Buying seasonal food also reduces our carbon footprint. Supermarket veg brought in from South America can have up to 28 times the carbon footprint of veg grown here in Wales.

2. Supporting Local Farmers:

By purchasing from Slade Farm Organics, you're supporting local farmers and strengthening the community. When we set up the veg bag scheme we established it as a CSA, Community Supported Agriculture. Why is that important?

• It looks after the farmer by binding in the members to the success and failure of the crop.

• It looks after the community ensuring that people have a consistent source of highly nutritious food.

• It looks after the land by ensuring commitment to Organic and Agroecological principles.

By becoming a member of our schemes, you help sustain small-scale agriculture and keeps money circulating within the local economy. Being an asset to the local community is what it is all about. We build on that through working with local school children and community groups to promote a connection to the land and our food.

3. Environmental Benefits:

Our way of farming and growing is to work with nature. We are not attempting to mass produce food. Consequently our impact on the land that we occupy is much less than industrial farms. We don’t use pesticides, herbicides and fungicides that damage the ecosystems that we all rely on. Likewise, we don’t over stock the ground and we don’t over produce waste products that can’t be used in the system. If you are supporting local farms with our ethos, you are actively contributing to a better environment that is encouraging and growing biodiversity.

Discover Slade Farm Organics

At Slade Farm Organics, we consider a commitment to organic farming practices and sustainability as central to our identity. Some people who shop with us value that, others just like the way the food tastes. Our farm shop is open every Thursday from 2-5 (expanding to 2-7 from the end of May) and every Saturday from 10-2. Make a plan and come and see us if you have the time.

1. Fresh Organic Vegetables:

With over 8 tonnes of fresh organic vegetables produced every season (May-December), Slade Farm Organics offers a wide variety of seasonal produce to get you working in the kitchen. From salad bags to juicy tomatoes, our vegetables are bursting with flavour and nutrients.

We offer weekly veg bags filled with a selection of our finest organic produce that comes from here on the farm. When you prepare a meal with Slade Farm Organic veg it is a direct connection to the land here in the Vale of Glamorgan.

2. Monthly Organic Meat Deliveries:

In addition to our Organic vegetables, Slade Farm Organics also offers monthly Organic meat deliveries to the local community. We rear rare breed Organic beef, pork, and lamb using sustainable and ethical farming practices. It’s a slow process that can’t be rushed.

Organically reared meat tends to be richer in essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, offering a healthier option. We also create organic sausages and burgers from our meat, perfect for summer BBQs! Ultimately, choosing organically reared meat is not just a culinary preference but also a conscientious decision towards sustainable agriculture and personal well-being.

3. Organic Welsh Flour

Yes, we grow organic wheat on the farm that is then milled at two Welsh water mills, Y Felin in St. Dogmaels and Felin Ganol. The Wheat that we grow is a heritage variety, a landrace called Hen Gymro (Old Welsh), that is perfect for home-made breads. When buying our organic flour, you are not just supporting our farm, but two traditional Welsh mills too.

Reconnect With Your Food!

Buying locally grown organic produce from Slade Farm is a conscious choice to eat healthier and to live more sustainably. We dedicate ourselves to producing food the way it should be. Visit our farm shop, book a monthly meat delivery  or try one of our veg bags.

Welsh Farmers Leading the Way On Sustainability: Demanding Support

We are constantly being made aware of the Climate Crisis and Welsh farmers are leading the way on sustainability. In Wales, our precious natural ecosystems, stretching from the rugged coasts to the mountains, are facing unprecedented challenges. Biodiversity loss and depletion is amongst the biggest challenges here in Wales.

The Agriculture (Wales) Act and the Sustainable Farming Scheme

The Agriculture (Wales) Act and the associated Sustainable Farming Scheme offer a holistic approach to managing land sustainably in the future. The legislation presents an opportunity to revolutionise our agricultural practices. However its implementation will need to take account of, and recognise, the enormous shift that it is demanding. The schemes place agroecology at the forefront. By incentivising regenerative farming methods and prioritising the well-being of farmers, food producers, and citizens, it hopes to pave the way for a sustainable future. To realise it the schemes will need significant support and funding for an already over-stretched farming community.

W.W.F.

In collaboration with partners such as the Landworkers’ Alliance and Food Sense Wales, W.W.F. case studies recently delved into the potential of agroecology. Through first-hand accounts from Welsh farmers, they explored the transformative benefits of embracing sustainable agriculture. Likewise, they offered policy recommendations to drive positive change.

The heart of their report lies in the stories of six diverse Welsh farms showcased in the "Land Of Our Future" report. These farms serve as beacons of inspiration. They demonstrate the immense potential of agroecology in revitalising our agricultural landscape. We are delighted that Slade Farm is one of them, leading the charge towards a brighter future.

Farming lies at the core of Welsh identity. Nearly 90% of our land is dedicated to agricultural pursuits. Therefore, supporting farmers in adopting climate-friendly practices is not just desirable but imperative. We need to safeguard our future and ensure food security.

Recent surveys conducted by WWF Cymru highlight the widespread recognition of farmers' vital role in protecting nature and combating climate change. The overwhelming majority of rural residents believe that government support should be contingent on farmers implementing measures to safeguard the environment.

Our recommendations for a sustainable future are rooted in evidence from our case studies:

1. Prioritise Financial Support for Agroecological Practices: Incentivise sustainable farming methods to accelerate their adoption across the agricultural sector.

2. Promote Farm-to-Fork Supply Chains: Foster connections between farmers and consumers to promote local, sustainable food systems.

3. Recognise and Reward Community Engagement: Encourage farmers to connect with schools and low-income families, promoting education and access to nutritious food.

4. Invest in Horticultural Initiatives: Support the development of horticultural practices to diversify agricultural landscapes and enhance resilience.

5. Provide Comprehensive Agroecological Training: Equip farmers with the knowledge and resources needed to transition effectively to sustainable farming practices.

Slade Farm

As tenants of Slade Farm, Polly and Graeme exemplify the spirit of resilience and sustainable management that defines Welsh farming. Over two decades, they have nurtured their 800-acre organic mixed farm. They embody the ethos of leaving behind a positive environmental legacy for future generations.

Their commitment to organic farming not only benefits the environment but also enriches the community. Through initiatives like the Community Supported Agriculture scheme and farm visits for local schools, they are fostering meaningful connections between people and the land, bridging the gap between communities and farming.

As Polly eloquently puts it, "We have a story to tell – that we can produce high quality, nutritious food beneficial to the environment of Wales and connect people to where their food has come from." Indeed, during their vegetable growing season, working with a local charity, they are able to supply families on lower incomes with delicious organic vegetable bags.

Nature and Climate

Built on sustainability, Slade Farm do not add any nitrogen fertilisers or pesticides on their land. They feed livestock solely on food produced on their farm. They even grow clover in their grass, fixing nitrogen into the soil, a natural fertiliser. ‘We don't use any pesticides or herbicides. As an organic farm we work with experts to develop natural habitats for our native farmland birds, wildflowers and animal species.’

In addition to this, they farm to encourage wildlife, particularly bird populations. ‘Most farmers grow cereals in the winter as you get higher yields. However we sow most of ours in spring as it means there is stubble in the fields for the birds to feed over winter. On our last bird count we were so pleased to see over 50 yellowhammers overwintering on one of our designated wildlife areas.’

With Welsh Farmers leading the way towards sustainability, let us cultivate hope and resilience in the face of environmental challenges. Through collective action and a commitment to sustainable farming practices, we can forge a path towards a brighter, more sustainable future for Wales and beyond.