Last month the team spent a gloriously sunny day at Ripple Farm, a 100-acre farm set over three sites, nestled between Crundale and Wye in Kent. For me, this is arguably one of the best ways to appreciate exactly the time, scale and effort that goes into producing the veg we receive in our bag each week. The farm land has been leased by Martin MacKay for over 20 years and is a fantastic example of a healthy and sustainable farming system fit now and way into the future.
Ripple Farm-a farm full of good food and passionate people.
I remember when I was starting out working in London my first ever boss said to me “do whatever you like Caroline, as longs as it’s credible, clear, simple and measurable.” It’s something that has stuck with me and after my visit to Ripple last week it appears that Martin and I may have received the same pep talk from the very same boss!
Martin’s vision and growth strategy for his farm is simple, and very effective. This is coupled with the fact that he has the utmost respect for the land he farms and the people he works with. From keeping the soil on a 4 year crop rotation (i.e. rotating different crop families, brassicas, alliums etc) and having a 1 year veg, 2 year green manure rotation, through to working with local colleges to offer practical farming apprentices, employing 9 full time staff as well a seasonal part time team, developing a weekly presence at the local farmers market and producing their own veg boxes aswell as working with other veg bag schemes like ours Martin has managed to keep his produce centre stage and all under the banner of sustainability and securing a better food future for the UK.
The reason for outlining Ripple’s achievements is that it is a great way to understand, in a nuts and bolts way, what it means to be 'sustainable'- it’s the credible part of that pep talk, the part which delivers social benefits, such as safe and nutritious products, and improving people’s experiences of good quality food.
Their steady, and focused growth has meant they have been able to contribute to the local economy by creating good jobs, educational opportunities and securing livelihoods, whilst also ensuring the health and variety of both plants and animals.
Ripple Farm- what's next?
As society wakens up to the benefits of purchasing, supporting and sharing the benefits of Sustainable Food it is important that the 'veg champions' amongst us have a clear idea of what is going on within farms up and down the country to ensure a secure a good food system in the future. Whilst Ripple Farm are most definitely an exemplar for UK Organic farming they do, like most farms, face big challenges in day -to-day life, particularly with the impact of Brexit (more on that in the next blog).
The challenges
- Securing a fair price for produce and labour
- Price increase for imports
- Competition for UK supply
The opportunity
- Trial growth of 'new/trend’ veg types e.g. sweet potatoes
- Consider alternatives to packaging
- Looking to the future e.g. awareness raising via social mediia
- Developing a post Brexit strategy
Huge thanks to Martin, his wife Sarah, The Ripple Farm Organics team and the neighbour’s dog ‘fly’ who were all so welcoming.
Handy tips to share with Sustainable Food newbies
If you’re keen to spread the word of Good Food in a fun, easy way then these two articles are a fantastic starting point.
1. British seasonal food chart: highlighting vegetables, salad, fruit, meat and fish. It plots their availability across the year and the nutrients they provide. Thanks to the Children’s food Trust for producing this awesome resource.