I’m penning this from a safari tent in Devon. It’s darkish, pouring with rain, the youngsters received’t fall asleep and I’m already a glass of wine down.
Oh, the fun of being an arable farmer and solely with the ability to vacation within the autumn and winter.
It’s received me considering although, about how we regularly find yourself on one other farm when holidaying within the UK.
See additionally: Lucy Nott – it’s been a yr of rebuilding myself
Concerning the writer
Lucy Nott
Farmlife opinion author
Lucy lives together with her husband, a sixth-generation farmer, and their two youngsters on a 100ha (250 acre) arable farm in Worcestershire. On the farm they’ve a ardour for regenerative agriculture and aspire to transition to a regenerative system. They’re additionally a part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot and are trialling a lot of new issues on the farm. They hosted their first LEAF Open Farm Sunday (LOFS) this yr and Lucy is now the LOFS Ambassador for the West Midlands.
Whether or not it’s for lodging or an exercise, I take pleasure in seeing how different farms exterior our area are diversifying and bringing extra revenue into their companies.
After all, this implies I inevitably set myself up for spontaneous farming chats with strangers, made all of the extra seemingly by the truth that my husband Ben’s chosen hat for the vacation has “Farming – the largest job on earth” written on the entrance. He’s actually a strolling billboard.
Diversification is commonly talked about as a necessity, nevertheless it doesn’t make sense for everybody.
Good diversification, nonetheless, will use your present ability set and placement’s strengths. Regardless of what the salespeople say, we don’t all want a glamping web site.
Don’t get me improper, I really like a break free from agriculture’s day-to-day workload, however I nonetheless all the time discover it motivational to see one other enterprise succeeding and discovering a solution to make their farm viable within the present panorama.
Plus, as we’re holidaying in a very completely different space to our farm, I can benefit from the agri-tourism with out the concern of competitors.
I assume it’s much like becoming a member of a farm stroll. However as an alternative of studying about livestock and crops, we’re viewing variations by shopper’s eyes.
Visiting numerous farms has made me see clearly how resilient farmers are. We incessantly face adversity and have little alternative however to hold on and attempt to make one of the best of the state of affairs.
It’s usually from that resilience – and a dedication to make the farm viable for an additional era – that variations are born.
We add one other spinning plate to our assortment and preserve going. Selection is the spice of life, proper?
