The 'stead...

Taken almost exactly a year ago...Yes I am very tall....

Attendees at Landworkers Alliance meeting this weekend were mostly young, clearsighted, intelligent, well educated sorts; all of whom have experienced the joys of endlessly weeding leeks in the rain; and other associated bucolic blissfullness....

Yet they are still keen to get on with realising their ambitions of, making a sustainabiy scaled,  environmentally benign living, from producing decent, affordable food, for folk in their locality.

But the barriers to them achieving those aims; in this age of the ever increasing commodification of land and food production; are possibly even more insurmountable now; than when the pictured plot  was purchased; with the same intentions.

  Back then, nearly ten years ago  it was a featureless pasture field; most likely destined for 'horseyculture' not food growing..

After an amount of work; and some investment of energy, time, and money, it is starting to shape up as a viable small farm...

So it might be time for me to step up; as someone who could be regarded as an 'old hand' (eeek) to join the ranks of those campaigning on behalf of the new generation. 

Those keen; energetic (and crazy) enough to take on the task of feeding the country properly, need encouragement.

Multiple studies have shown that smaller farms are more productive overall per acre. And employ more people...

But policy documents? (gulp) Position papers?(arrghh) European consultations, and lobbying? Well maybe......

Those girls and boys certainly do furnish a decent nosh; and knees up.......And not a knitted knicker; or whittled spoon; in sight...