Meadow Barn Farm

Bringing regenerative agriculture to Meadow Barn Farm

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:23:06 GMT

John goes back to school

Autumn always feels like a new start to me. I guess that goes back to the time when I would be starting a new school year. It’s a time to begin learning something new and to get back into the positive habits and routines that might have slipped away over the summer.

This year, I did actually go back to school in a way. In September I started a regenerative agriculture course at the Apricot Centre in Dartington (a Community Interest Company that aims to create and run a sustainable diverse farm, well-being services and business for adults and children. I encourage you to take a look at all the wonderful things they do and offer).

I attend the course every week and diligently do my homework. Each week I sit and listen to the Trainers and have my mind blown. Being on the farm at the Apricot Centre feels to me like being right at the forefront of a new way of small-scale farming. To say I am inspired would be an understatement. I hope to share some of what I learn on this blog and explain how Liz, the boys and I integrate some of that learning on our small farm.

So, what is regenerative agriculture? Well, that was the first assignment question.

Below is my answer (which going on my GCSE track record is probably a D+ / C - / ‘could do better……’). So, for a further explanation, you may like to to head to a search engine….!

Regenerative agriculture describes farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity – resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle.

Regenerative agriculture can help repair the soil biome, and through this restore the carbon cycle. It can restore nutrient cycling in the soil and the water cycle. Regenerative agriculture increases biodiversity from the soil up. It can also help restore the human economy and community by putting farms back in the centre of our communities. Promoting soil health (through its regeneration) is key to regenerative agriculture.

Methodologies used on an organic farm include:

1) Composting on the farm

2) The use of ‘green manure’ crops

3) Minimise soil disturbance

4) Keeping the soil covered

5) Maximising plant or crop diversity

6) Integrating livestock

7) Harvesting water

8) Increase agroforestry

9) Holistic management

10) Keyline ploughing

The benefit of using the above techniques is to create a ‘closed loop’ of regenerative systems that restore the soil, sequester carbon, help increase biodiversity and benefit the community.

These systems and processes help farmers become less reliant on oil and chemicals. They can also help reduce production costs while being profitable. It is believed by many that regenerative agriculture is good for the planet, good for farmers, as well as bringing good for the general public.

Our pigs and what they eat

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:20:55 GMT

A feast fit for a pig

When visitors come to Meadow Barn Farm they are often curious about the different animals we have. However, it’s our pigs who capture most people’s interest.

Firstly, people are intrigued about the striking differences between breeds. Our pigs are rare breeds, including Devon Large Blacks, Saddlebacks and Berkshires. Rare breeds are generally rare as they don’t fit the criteria needed for modern industrial farming methods, for example they may take longer to grow or convert too much feed to fat.

Secondly, visitors also enjoy watching the pigs out and about, going about their (sometimes mischievous) piggy business. Pigs really are quite charming animals, however they are not a common sight in our rural landscape, unlike sheep and cows. A statistic I heard a few years ago is suggests that only 2% of pigs in the UK are really free range. This probably explains why none of us see pigs that often but see plenty of bacon, ham and sausages, etc,. in the supermarkets, and why visitors enjoy seeing them on the farm.

The Meadow Barn Farm pigs are truly free range. They live outdoors and are moved regularly from patch to patch. This means they enjoy a varied diet, but have plenty of space so they can go about their natural behaviours like foraging, rooting for grubs, grazing on grass and wallowing in mud.

We also have relationships with local producers who generously give us produce that may otherwise end up in the bin. For example, a local brewer passes us the ‘spent grain’ which is a by-product of the brewing process, but the pigs absolutely love it (even though it makes our car smells rather interesting…)! We also get a large amount of seconds vegetables local organic supplier. This means that our pigs regularly feast on all manor of very delicious fruit and vegetables - those that would not go amiss in the smartest of home-delivered veg boxes! On top of this we have a large quantity of organic grain from a local farm that we soak (in order make the proteins digestible for the pigs).

What all this means is that our pigs are very happy, and they are fed on very little (soon to be no) soy. Many people do not realise quite how much soy is imported into the UK to be used as animal feed. Soy if often used for animal feed because it is particularly high in protein and other nutrients, and it is also cost effective. However, is does have implications on the environment, so we'd rather avoid it if we can.

We are also working towards growing our own crops to feed the pigs and have them grazing a wider area. In the meantime, we will continue to turn the waste of others into food by feeding it to our pigs.

We feel privileged to care for these rare breeds of pig. They are a joy to be around and have wonderful characters.

If you’re passing-by or staying with us on the farm, and fancy it, you can buy some sausages, bacon or joints in the knowledge that every care has been taken in the welfare of the animals and the wider environment. We would also be happy to introduce you to our rare and happy pigs.

The 'Sheep Shack' is ready at last.....!

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 14:15:22 GMT

The 'Sheep Shack' is (finally....) finished and available to book

After a very (very... ) long time our latest offering is finally ready. The Sheep Shack is available to book for families and couples as of last month. I learnt countless skills building the shack. The shack was designed by Liz, started by me and finished by Ollie (Swonk). Kian from Blackdog Carpentry guided us patiently through the whole process.

Many aspects were reclaimed from the locality including the teak floor, the doors, most of the windows some of the tin, and all of the furniture inside. The Shack uses solar power, has a compost loo, is insulated with sheep's wool and feeds a reed bed with the shower and sink water. It is next to a brook and is a sublimely peaceful spot.

You can walk out from the hut to Gara Rock, Salcombe Estuary, Millbay beach and many other stunning nearby locations. Come and experience cabin life. We are sure you will love it.

Our best kept secret - Camp Isopel

johntaylor9903@gmail.com (John Taylor) — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 10:19:38 GMT

Why our Shepherds Hut and Camp is our best kept secret

A bit of scene setting.....

We call our Shepherds Hut camp ‘Camp Isopel’ after the character Isopel in George Borrows famous 18 ^th century travel book ‘Lavengro’. The Shepherds Hut itself is built on an original chassis which is wonderful to look at and exudes character and history. I hope the below decription helps you understand why our set up is so special and is not like all shepherds huts……

So why is the ‘Camp’ so special.....?

Firstly there is the location:

Not only is the camp close to the beaches of Gara Rock, East Prawle, Salcombe, Millbay and East Portlemouth but it is situated atop the coast plateau. This means that the view from the camp stretches out over South Pool and all the way to Dartmoor. It really has to be seen to be believed. The Camp is located in our top field (‘Hassey’) with its own private access. Often there are sheep grazing in the field and our pigs live 200 yards away. The chickens roam freely and will come and see what you are about as you relax. Staying on a working smallholding is a wonderful experience, sharing the animals home.

The East Portlemouth and Gara Rock area is known for its bronze age activity. In the late 1980s it was discovered that there has been a bronze age settlement in the very field where the camp is now located. Concentric rings or crop circles were spotted from above using the ariel technology of the time (a plane…?). So the bronze age folk clearly thought Hassey field was a good spot.

There is also no light pollution up here on the coastal plateau so the night sky can be absolutely incredible.

In summary the camp is in a stunning location with amazing views, close to the beaches and coastal path, near to Salcombe and East Portlemouth. On top of this the sunsets are wonderful.

Secondly, there is the unique set up

The camp is made up of the shepherds hut (with a wood burner), a five metre bell tent, an awning covered dining area with a picnic bench, a horsebox with a kitchenette at one end and a bathroom / loo at the other. There is also a fire pit and you have access to a fridge and charging points for your phones etc. Mains water is piped to the camp. As a result of the addition of the bell tent families of up to 5 or potentially even 6 can sleep very comfortably in any configuration. The shepherds hut sleeps 2 people and you could put a young one on the floor if you like. The bell tent is huge so you could sleep up to 4 children inside (if your kids are a bit older and like the idea of their own space). You can set sleeping arrangements up however they work for you and your family to ensure you all get some good rest. The bell tent also works as a good space to play games, read and generally chill out if the weather is not so good. This coming year we hope to add and outside cast iron bath tub, so watch this space!

Thirdly, there is the suitability for children and dogs

The camp is fenced in so it is perfect if you have wandering toddlers or a dog. You are welcome to venture out into the fields but the fence means that young children / dogs will stay in easy range if you want them too.

In summary....

We have found that it is hard to get across to people what the camp is, why it is so special and how best to use it which is why I have written this blog. If you imagine a travelling family who set up camp about 100 years ago and decided to stay put for a few months then you will have a good idea what we have created. There is even a washing line for your wetsuits and towels.

So if you fancy something a bit different, like to be close to beaches but also value plenty of open space then ‘Camp Isopel’ could work really well for you (alone, with children and even with your dog).

Please do get in touch if you have any questions. Thank you for reading this.

John, Liz, Joe and Jake.

4th of July 2020 - Reopening!

info@upsite.co.uk (John Evans) — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 09:42:00 GMT

We are going to be open from the 4th of July. This is a big moment for us. The pigs, chickens, sheep, dog and guinea pigs don’t seem to have registered this momentus event yet but there is still time. We have Oyster the Boat, Driftwood Cabin and Isopel’s Wagon (shepherds Hut) available for lots of dates through the summer. If you fancy an of grid, very relaxed break then get in touch. All our accommodation rests in its own plot and has its own facilities. Please get in touch if you have any questions at all. Here are some pictures to remind you who and where are:

The Cabin at Dawn

info@upsite.co.uk (John Evans) — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 09:09:00 GMT

I took this early this morning when letting out the chickens. The sun is rising on the Cabin. The view looks over towards South Pool and Halwell Wood. The cabin is nestled in a beautiful valley but is just 1/2 a mile from Gara Rock Beach. In the evening you can sit in the field next to the Cabin and enjoy the sunset or sit down at Gara Rock and stare at the Ocean.

Very Low Tide at Gara Beach

info@upsite.co.uk (John Evans) — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 13:40:00 GMT

Jake and I headed down to Gara beach (Seacombe Sands) earlier in the lockdown. The tide was the lowest I recall seeing it. Very few people were able to enjoy this rare day at the beach and we were really lucky. I hope soon that families will be able to stay with us and enjoy all this beautiful area has to offer. This beach and coastline has thousands of moods. On this particular day it was hazy and serene as you can see.

The Cabin Journey

info@upsite.co.uk (John Evans) — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 12:00:00 GMT

So the cabin is here. It arrived from Ashburton on the back of Farmer Paul’s tractor. He made towing an 8 ton cabin though the lanes of Devon look easy as only a farmer could. Kian and Olly (Blackdog Carpentry) worked tirelessly to get the Cabin into it’s final resting place (seen below). John (Kian’s) dad though heard muttering ”who would have children…??” was a huge help too.

The Cabin arrived in the streaming sleet and rain in the week of storm Ciara and Dennis. The boys have been working in a quagmire. But, after a very delicate unloading phase, it is here – and just look at the view. Thank you Kian, Olly, John and Paul.

Our New Log Cabin is Nearly Finished….

info@upsite.co.uk (John Evans) — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 13:43:00 GMT

Made by local craftsman (Kian and Olly from Black Dog Carpentry, Ashburton) from local wood and reclaimed items we think our new cabin is absolutely beautiful. It is off grid and will sleep individuals, couples or families up to 5 persons. There are some more details here: https://meadowbarnfarm.com/driftwood-cabin .

The picture below is of the cabin but it is not in situ here. We hope it will arrive in February in time for bookings at Easter.

Summer 2019

info@upsite.co.uk (John Evans) — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 09:59:00 GMT

What a lovely summer we have had. On a personal level I have managed to take some time out from full time work to dedicate sometime to Joe and Jake and to the running of the Farm / smallholding. We now have 2 children who ”don’t want to go to the beach…again” and then seem to love it when we get there!

This summer we added Isopel’s wagon to our growing offer. Isopel’s Wagon is a refurbished traditional English shepherds hut. We looked at a number of different structures but decided that nothing looks better or more in keeping on the land than a shepherds hut. Isopel’s Wagon immediately transports you to the simple way of life that so many of us crave. We have had some lovely people to stay from all over the place. It is truly a pleasure to get to know so many great people and to share our lovely area with them.

I have added some nice pictures below. Isopel’s Wagon has her own dedicated page on our website here .

In case you were wondering Isopel is a Character in some of the 19th century travel writers George Borrow’s books. I have read one of them (Lavengro). I have have not read the others so I hope she does not disgrace herself at some future point..!

Anyway here are the pictures: