Slade Farm Organics

24/08/2026

21/08/2026

We really enjoyed an evening at Slade Farm Organics last night, meeting some of the farms community, especially the lovely people who have contributed to our veg bag scheme.

It was so interesting having a tour of the veg patch and poly tunnels and was great to see where all that beautiful organic veg is being grown! 🥒🍆🍅

Now we’d love to see what you’ve been making with it! 😋

If you’ve received one of our veg bags, pop a photo of one of your meals in the comments.

Lovely organic veg, from field to plate. 💚

27/07/2026

Ever wondered what’s actually happening under the skin when a green tomato turns brilliant red? It’s molecular chemistry in action! 🍅✨

Here is the breakdown of what happens on the vine:

1. The Chlorophyll Fade 🌿
Unripe tomatoes are packed with chlorophyll—the pigment responsible for absorbing sunlight for photosynthesis. As the fruit matures, warmth and a natural plant hormone called ethylene signal the tomato to stop producing chlorophyll. As it breaks down, the bright green colour vanishes.

2. The Lycopene Takeover 🔴
As chlorophyll degrades, the tomato starts synthesising a powerful antioxidant molecule called lycopene. Belonging to the carotenoid family, lycopene reflects red light waves, giving the fruit its vibrant crimson glow.

💡 Why Red Pigments Matter For Your Health
Eating the red spectrum of the produce rainbow isn't just visually satisfying—it packs a serious nutritional punch:

Cellular Shield: Lycopene is an exceptional antioxidant that helps neutralise free radicals, lowering oxidative stress and helping protect your cells from damage.

Heart Health: Regular intake of lycopene is linked to reduced LDL cholesterol and improved vascular health.

Skin & Sun Protection: While it doesn't replace sunscreen, lycopene helps defend skin cells from the inside out against UV-induced oxidative damage.

Tip: Unlike many nutrients that degrade with heat, lycopene becomes more bioavailable when cooked! Gentle heating breaks down the plant’s cell walls, releasing the molecule. Pair your cooked tomatoes with a splash of quality extra virgin olive oil—since lycopene is fat-soluble, the healthy fats help your body absorb it far more efficiently. 🍝🫒

🍆🥕🌶️ 🌱 🌈

27/07/2026

🌿 We farm alongside nature to help protect native wildlife, including threatened arable plants that are now rare but were once a common sight in traditional farming landscapes. We have dozens of these rare plants growing across the farm.
Here are just a few to look out for this summer! ☀️
🌱 Let us know what you find! Happy hunting!

27/07/2026

thanks to all the local families who visited the farm at the weekend ~ for our biodiversity walks, hosted by Poll & Graeme in the middle of Harvest 💚🌱 great work gang!
📸 by Poll

26/07/2026

We’re thrilled that our resident-on-the-farm artist  (aka Polly’s sister!), has recently been working with Culture Roots Collective culturerootscollective a Global Majority-led collective uniting Black, Brown, Asian and People of Colour working in farming, to document farmers across the UK (she has clearly had a blast travelling the UK to visit all these farms!)
culturerootscollective just launched a photo bank featuring over 100 of her images on culturerootscollective.com > go and check it out! 📸🌱
& 🙏🏻👌🏻 big thanks to BVEDS Navaratnam Partheeban OBE Willowbrook Farm | Oxford Kumar  Flavian Obiero 🇰🇪 for hosting her
& shout out to Theeb for getting a great snap of her in action with the vets!

23/07/2026

I love local organic veg from my head TO MA TOES

In our fortnightly organic veg bags this week:
- tomatoes
- french beans
- courgettes
- cucadukes
- spring onions
- aubergines
- spinach
- yummo

In our weekly ones:
- tomatoes
- french beans
- courgettes
- cucadukes
- spinach
- onions
- bubarb
- yummy

Enjoy lovely veg heads! 🥰

23/07/2026

08/07/2026

We'll be open for you during the summer holidays,,lots planned, starting Wednesday 22nd July with a trip to Slade Farm Organics, enjoy a tractor ride around the farm, see what they grow and where your food comes from. Free transport, details from and book your place at youth club.
All welcome including families.