OGPod40: The Organic Growers Gathering part 1
This month we will be hearing short but sweet interviews from the Organic Growers Gathering that was hosted on Sandy Lane Farm in Oxfordshire. The themes that emerged across the weekend and across these interviews include
- The role of community in farming
- Soil health, soil testing, and why it is important
- Farming with challenges such as soil type, money, land, labour
- The climate and drought - climate change is hear, and how will growers cope.
All the interviews were around the theme of sessions to get a brief taste of what attendees experienced. For some of the interviews Liv James had the wonderful Michael Kennard from Compost Club co-hosting.
In part 1 of the OGPod at OGG I talk to Amy Luck from the Community Supported Agriculture Network or CSA network and Amy Cairns who is a grower at School Farm CSA in Devon about getting communities involved in farms. With Edwin Brooks we dived into farming on challenging soils but meandered around the theme of knowing your limits a farmer and your land. And finally Tony Little, a farming advisor from Wales. With Tony we covered why test your soils and why this is important.
There are more insightful interviews for Part 2. Watch this space!
Guests
Amy Luck - Community Supported Agriculture Network
Amy Cairns - School Farm CSA
Edwin Brooks - Ed's Veg
Tony Little - Sustainable Farming
01:13 Introduction to the Organic Grower Podcast
Amy and Amy
02:57 Introduction to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Engagement with Amy and Amy
05:36 Practical Strategies for Community Engagement on Farms
08:33 Funding and Evidence for Community Engagement
11:43 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Tony Little
12:11 Innovative Weeding Tools and Their Impact
Ed's Veg
24:04 Introduction to Ed's Veg and Soil Challenges
26:49 Soil Management Strategies and Composting Techniques
29:45 Economic Sustainability in Farming
32:43 Climate Challenges and Resilience in Agriculture
36:03 The Importance of Soil Care and Realistic Farming Practices
37:49 Overview of the Organic Growers Gathering
This podcast is brought to you by the Organic Growers Alliance, the UK's only grower-led organisation providing technical and practical advice and support on organic growing. For more information about the OGA head to www.organicgrowersalliance.co.uk and become a member.
Liv James is taking the reins from James Butterworth as host in 2026. Liv has been a grower for 10 years mainly at Down Farm Market Garden in Devon and is now a storyteller at Soil Association. Alongside this Liv is a plant nut, wordsmith, music lover, life enthusiast, surfer and Mum.
