Author Archives: FRAN

Rock and Roll Farming Podcast – Pure Kent

Tonight I’m delighted to be heading down to the far south East of England, to Kent, to talk to Guy & Claire Eckley @No1FarmerGuy @PureKent

We talk about their backgrounds growing up on farms in Kent & Mid-Wales respectively, and how after University Claire moved down to Kent and got involved with the local YFC where Guy was a member (Still not entirely clear who chatted up who initially..).

We also talk all about their diversification into Oilseed Rape Oil production and how it’s developed over the years, and the various ways they market and sell it, from wholesale to farmer’s markets.

We discuss the farm itself, and the crops they grow there, as well as the two different tillage systems they use, and the pros and cons of both.

We go into their continued involvement in YFC over the years, from being members themselves, to Claire forming a new club where their boys now both attend.

And we also talk about Claire’s breast cancer that she contracted in 2012, the difficulties it caused, and how that ultimately changed her perspective on life.

All this and much, much more.

Guy and Claire are great people, and great farmers, and it was an absolute pleasure to talk to them tonight and find out more about what they do.

Check it out folks..

Rock and Roll Farming Podcast – Farming in the City

Tonight I’m delighted to be heading down to London to talk to the CEO of Kentish Town City Farm, Gus Alston @GusAlston @KTCityFarm

We talk about his early life growing up very close to the farm, and how getting involved with Forest School Camps as a child eventually led him becoming a volunteer with the organisation at the age of 18, before going on to hear about how he got first got into the charity sector almost by accident, when helping to build an adventure playground he ended up as a deputy coordinator in charge of 120 children!

We discuss the various different jobs he’s done, including a spell at the Pirate Castle, a community boating charity, where he achieved his highest ever fundraising success, (an incredible £234k!) before going on to talk about his eventually working with Kentish town city farm as a consultant, and then gaining the job of CEO in December 2016.

We talk about the farm in detail, from the different animals they have there, to the regular events they hold, and the incredible role it plays in the community. We discuss the different ways they have to make money to keep going, with funding cuts making things increasingly difficult for small charities, as well as the different ways the farm helps all ages of people, either educationally or therapeutically.

All this and lots more.

I’m always humbled when I speak to individuals who dedicate their lives to helping others, and bringing people together, and Gus is definitely one of them. It was fantastic to learn more about what they do at Kentish Town City Farm.

Check it out folks..

Episode Sponsor:

NFU Cymru – for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk

Podcast Partners:

Farmer’s Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com

Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com