Here’s the approach we adopt on our own farm at Fowlescombe:
Happy Animals
100% grass-fed cattle and sheep with no grain supplements, to allow for slow, natural growth. A stimulating environment for our animals:
Pigs living in small groups in the woods, free to root in the undergrowth 24/7
Cattle grazing in multi-generational groups with access to streams, reed-banks and trees, and eating a varie
d diet of different pastures and mineral-rich herbal leys. Sheep grazing the valleys and browsing the hedgerows. Cattle kept outdoors for the majority of the year. They spend as little time as possible in our spacious barns and only come indoors when the land starts to churn underfoot in the wet months. Healthy Land:
Grasses and herbal leys are fertilised by grazing animals, giving healthy soil, building organic matter and sequesting carbon
No pesticides or artificial fertilisers - organically certified
Pigs rooting in the woodland turn over the soil, disturbing dominant plants and allowing wild flowers and young plants to germinate
Traditionally managed hedgerows provide habitat corridors for wildlife
Herbal leys hold carbon and nitrogen in the soil naturally and improve soil structure
Bee colonies encourage pollination (buy the honey at www.stones-honey.co.uk)
Habitat for owls and bats
Healthy meat
In our Pasture-for-Life certified meat:
Lower total fat levels, lower saturated fat and higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed animals. Higher levels of vitamin A and E and minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium than grain-fed animals
In our cooked and smoked products:
Organically-certified
Made from completely natural ingredients - free from artificial preservatives, flavour enhancers, nitrates and fillers.
