Beyond Farming 1

One of the reasons for setting up this site was to try to explore the issues about succession. I have been thinking about diversification and what it really means. When farms diversify, are they not using a sound new business idea to prop up a failing old business?

Isn’t it true that many farmers do this more because they want to stay on the land, rather than as a good business model? Perhaps we can think differently, reinventing the farm as a multi activity business, rather than as a bad idea propped up by better ones?

My first idea was all about trying to re-establish a basic farming business here at High Leas Farm, and to build on that, in other words start diversifying it. But that must be the wrong approach. Wouldn’t it be better to leapfrog straight to the next thing?

But what is the next thing? When we show people around the farm and the wood they see lots of potential and opportunity for sympathetic, sustainable development, especially so if Littlemoor Wood and the adjoining property - which is also owned by a member of our family - is included. But the challenges in terms of work and money needed are immense. Most of the people I have spoken to agree that it needs additional people living and working here, working on the project (eg putting up buildings, installing infrastructure, growing biomass or fuel crops, rearing livestock to produce meat, making things or repairing things or providing professional services to generate income, providing facilities for visitors).