Podcast - My Rural Tribe

Podcast

Sian from My Rural Tribe LOVES to talk to people and hear thier story, i especially love to talk to farmers, who I find so inspiring. My podcast is asking the question ‘What makes a farmer’, we delve into thier farming story and let the conversation take us on a journey! I hope you enjoy.

Episode 10 – Susan & Shay @Seaviewfarms

I loved talking with Susan and Shay about their #regenerativeagriculture journey. They are so passionate about they are doing, regenerating the environment while producing nutrient rich food. An unhealthy obsession with the dung beetle and the love of electric fencing are some of the things we talk about. Most research and books about regenerative agriculture are North American based, Susan is keen to so their own research on the farm, to show Uk farmers that it really does work! Susan and Shay are just starting out on their journey and realise they have the flexibility to take risks, and this is a privilege!

I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as i did!

@seaviewfarms

Episode 9 – Charlie Beaty

It was a pleasure talking to Charlie aka @globetrottingfarmgirl, as we sat under a tree in a field Meridan, literally middle earth, where she farms with her Dad and Uncle Tom, sheep, beef and arable. Charlie has done so much in such a short time, having grown up on the farm she was ‘actively encouraged’ to help with the jobs, especially the child friendly sized sheep and steer the Landrover set in low gear (I love being a farm kid!), to going to Harper Adams to study, a placement year with Claas dealership as a demo driver, then off to Oz and NZ on a gap year, saying YES to opportunities! saying YES to getting involved from YFC to NSA bursaries and YES to education! YES to social media and the communitiy and friendship it opens up! YES to new ideas and ways of thinking… The next step… Regenerative farming; after reading Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown, 3 times herself and getting Dad and Uncle Tom to also read it and get on board. Charlie IS one to watch… find her on Instagram for her daily farming life!

Episode 8 – Sam Kenyon

It was lovely to spend time talking to Sam on her sunny farm in Denbighshire in North Wales. Sam, who met her husband, Alex whilst backpacking around Australia and Thailand came back to the farm a few years ago. Both had been diving instructors in Thailand and had seen the destruction and pollution being created by humans. On coming back to Wales, to take over the running of the family farm, Sam has taken on the gauntlet of ‘If we want to be SEE the change, we need to BE the change’.

Sam is building up her flock of sheep, and her herd of goats to work with the farm, not against it. Living alongside a river that floods annually, she is reclaiming tenanted land back along the river and returning it to meadow land, to ease erosion and take advantage of the nutritious silt that is left behind. Being curious, asking questions, working on other farms and taking advantage of training by Farming Connect has been invaluable.

Sam’s passion for what she has achieved and will achieve is inspiring! Enjoy hearing her talk about Glan Llyn.

@glanllyn_farmher www.glanllynfarm.co.uk

Episode 7 – Helen Owens

It was a joy to speak with Helen the @wernbachshepherdess, especially in these strange times of Covid-19, of week 4 of Lock-In.

I follow Helen on instagram and love seeing life from her smallholding in Flintshire. Helen and her husband started their own flock of South Down sheep, for no other reason that they look cute, but have soon realised what a great terminal sire they are! With help from breeders, friends , neighbouring farmers and Farming Connect, they have received help and advice as well as the old ‘get stuck in and have a go’. We spoke about the joy each season and Helens slight obsession with her flocks sex life come September! Being open about her post-natal depression and how having to get on and out to look after the livestock with a new born baby has given her confidence in herself.

And in the great words of Chaka Khan ‘I’m every woman’ will now follow me as I strut around in my waterproofs! Hurrah!

Episode 6 – Olly Harrison

It was a pleasure to speak woth Olly Harrison whilst he sprayed his crops! I met Olly last year at an NFU Education day at a school in Derby and then saw him being interviewded on BBC news the other week from the isolation of his tractor. Olly speaks about why being dyslexic is a gift, how sunflowers can change lives and how he takes on diversification opportunties.

Follow Olly on the socials as @agricontract or @ollyharrison for updates from his Isolation Diaries from his tractor as he gets the crops in the ground!

Episode 5 – Lucy Owens

It was a pleasure to speak with Lucy and hear about her life growing up on the farm and how it is an industry so close to her heart. Lucy farms alongside her husband, works for local businesses and has her own clothing brand – i Care Clothing – with slogans for farming, community and feral children! Profits go to a farming or countryside charity every quarter, which is a great philosophy to give back.

Lucy is also passionate about showing how you can make your food go further, starting with the humble sunday roast, she makes another 3 days worth of meals for her family of 5. Follow Lucy on instagram @thismumcares

Episode 4 – Heather Wildman

My Rural Tribe host Sian Mercer, had the pleasure to speak with Heather Widman of Saviour Associates – about all things farming, from growing up on the farm, skills needed to be a a rep driving up the farm lane, to the importance of shouting about how good our British farmers are AND the need to take holiday!

Heather talks about why the S word (succession) should be spoken about – and it all starts with a conversation. I hope you enjoy!

Episode 3 – Ruari Martin

Ruari Martin wears the most amazing hat, but boy does he put across some good points.

Having grown up surrounded by the countryside and farmers in very rural Hexham, where a 8 mile walk to do his maths GCSE was taken in his stride, to realising that following your passion meant working in paradise every day – and for Ruari that is farming. From gaining practical experience from the low lands to the uplands, Ruari is now (fancy title!) farm manager at Myerscough College, where he can combine his love for the practical along with science and technology. Embracing learning and getting off farm to have conversations and make the magic happen….

Follow Ruari on Twitter – @RuariMart

Episode 2 – Claire Stead

In this episode I speak with Claire Stead, who I follow on instagram @claires_farmlife – I really enjoy seeing Claire’s life on the farm, it makes me envious and want to be out on that quad bike, but as you’ll find out it isn’t all sunsets and cute lambs!

Claire came home to the farm after 7 years working in an office, because some things are just in your heart, to be a farmer is to be part of the earth and of nature, and that calling is there.

Episode 1 – Abi Reader

Behind every great person there is a great community. Abi is a dairy farmer, spokesperson, representative and educator. Farm life is busy but add in the other commitements and Abi is one busy lady. Having a great team behind her, from mum, farm staff and those external but equally important to a farm business, mean the show goes on.

By taking a chance and saying yes to opportunities Abi’s world opened up, from being interviewed on national TV, becoming dairy Chair for the NFU Cymru to collecting her MBE from Prince Charles.

Having a vision and people behind you to help push you forward is how Abi has achieved the success she has.

Location

Warwickshire

Travel: UK Wide and the World!

Contact

07970 298 908
hello@myruraltribe.com