Celebrate British farming and food.
The Open Farm Sunday 2016 marks the 11th year that this countrywide event has offered the chance to meet local farmers who produce your food. It is an opportunity to experience first hand, where your food comes from and learn of the issues currently facing farmers today.
On Sunday 5th of June many farmers will be keen to show the public the ways in which they care for the countryside and their livestock. There will be tractor-ride tours of farms with demonstrations, workshops and displays including: sheep shearing, willow working, children’s activities (pond dipping, farm colouring) rare breeds, discussions on farming and eco building techniques plus the chance to sample the farm produce.
One farmer shares his perspective on the event:
Open Farm Sunday is a great way to engage with your local community and running a small event means you can tailor your visit accordingly and get some great one to one discussions going! During the tractor and trailer ride we stop at strategic points and I get off and explain more about what’s going on. It is very informal with lots of time for questions. We spend a lot of time talking about precision farming and always have a range of machinery on display including a combine with grain trailer under.
We also explain the green waste composter and anaerobic digester and explain how using organic manure helps save resources and conserve the world’s reserves of mineral fertilisers. Somebody rents a hectare of our land to grow organic vegetables giving the opportunity to discuss this type of production. There is always a lot of interest in our conservation activities and the barn owl boxes, with resident owl, always generates a lot of interest! Philip Chamberlain, Oxfordshire.
Alongside Open Farm Sunday LEAF also manages Open Farm School Days which run throughout June 2016. For more details contact Leaf: enquiries@leafuk.org
Leaf website: http://www.leafuk.org/leaf/home.eb
