Passionate about food, farming and the community
When I was asked to write a blog for Business Link about our farmshop and café project it was hard to know where to start. Then I came across something I had written back in 2001 in the midst of the Foot & Mouth outbreak. At the time I was frustrated at the way farming was going, with farmers struggling to pull together a living and losing the trust of the general public.
Personally, I was at a turning point in my life, at University (Harper Adams) deciding whether to follow in my father and grandfathers footsteps on the farm or to join my fellow students heading for careers in marketing, banking etc. What I concluded was that my heart wanted to “SAVE THE FAMILY FARM” and these were my reasons:
• It is definitely in the blood wanting to continue the farming tradition
• Wanting my own kids to have the same childhood advantages that we had growing up on a farm
• Desire to muster the community together, bringing farming back to the people
• Seeing animals less as a mass produced short-term commodity and more as a sustainable future
• More emphasis on taste and quality produce rather than price
It has taken seven years to put the cogs in motion to establish Roots Farm Shop and cafe, it has not been a smooth ride but we have been VERY fortunate to have help along the way from Business Link workshops, a 40% grant from Yorkshire Forward, a understanding landlord and most of all, huge support from friends and the local community.
The new venture is housed in a 19th century redbrick model farm building designed by the famous Art and Crafts movement architect Philip Webb. The building has been converted with utmost care, retaining all of the original features and the interior will be decorated to reflect the spirit of the movement.
We hope Roots will be a social hub, giving locals the chance to chat with their neighbours and for those from the town to enjoy a taste of the countryside. We also are pleased to be offering locally an outlet for the fantastic produce our farming neighbours are diversifying into. We are looking forward to the next stage of fitting out and will keep you posted on the developments.
