Sasha Marsh and Jock Pettitt, who started the farm nearly a decade ago, were accepted to join the Top 50 Farmers programme this year alongside 49 other regenerative agriculture enterprises across Europe, gaining access to its year-long accelerator programme as well as the organisation’s network of similar farming businesses.
‘It’s a collective of farmers across Europe who are all working towards the same thing, building better food systems through regenerative practices,’ said Ms Marsh.
‘The whole idea behind it is to shift how farming is seen. To recognise farmers, connect them with each other, and open up more opportunities.
‘For us, the value is being part of that network. There’s a lot of knowledge in the group, and farmers tend to learn best from other farmers. Being able to share experiences, see what’s working in different countries, and learn from that is a big opportunity for us.’
The couple were inspired to start the farm after finding it increasingly challenging to source food of the quality they wanted for their family, and, since them, have expanded to include a market garden, a flock of laying hens, a beef herd, pigs, compost production and The Farm Shop – an independent store where both they and fellow local producers sell their wares.
‘The more we explored the more we realised that the food system generally isn’t working – not for farmers, for the land, or for the community,’ Ms Marsh said.
‘It felt as much of a responsibility as an inspiration, but one that engages and motivates us on a daily basis.’
Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming that attempts to embrace nature rather than working against it, focusing on building up soil health and reducing reliance on artificial chemical agents.
The practice has increased significantly in popularity over the last decade, particularly sparked by a 2014 paper on regenerative agriculture’s environmental benefits.
There are now several farms on Guernsey focused on using regenerative methods, including Les Jaonnets Farm, Rowan Tree Farm, and the more recently established Les Adams Farm.
‘It feels like Guernsey is really in a food movement at the moment,’ said Ms Marsh.
‘Seeing people connect with the food is the best part of our job.
‘When people walk through our market garden and taste the produce straight from the ground and experience the flavour, you can’t beat it.’
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