farming writers

Category: SupportLocalFarmers #DairyLife #FamilyFarms #FarmersOfInstagram #DairyFarmingCommunity #CowCare #FarmingFuture #SaveFamilyFarms #SmartFarming

  • Farming with Purpose: The Inspiring Story Behind The Story Farms


    Discover how farmer Luke Hasell is transforming British farming with sustainability, ethical meat production, and a heartfelt mission to bring real stories to your table — from field to fork.

    🌿 A Real Story, Rooted in the Soil

    In the lush countryside of the UK, The Story Farms is doing something refreshingly different. Founded by Luke Hasell and his neighbour Jim Twine in 2004, this isn’t just another farm — it’s a movement. One that believes in ethical farming, organic meat, sustainability, and most importantly, honest food with a story.

    Luke’s motivation is simple, yet profound:

    I just want to make the future a little bit brighter for the next generation, for my kids to eat healthier and to encourage farming in a more sustainable way.” — Luke Hasell

    🐄 Ethical Meat with a Traceable Past

    The Story Farms rears cattle organically and ethically, ensuring that animal welfare, environmental health, and food integrity go hand-in-hand. It’s not just about producing meat — it’s about producing food you can trust.

    Their products are available both online and at Luke’s three butcher shops, where each cut of meat comes with a story — of the farmer, the land, and the care behind its journey.

    🌍 More Than Just a Farm

    What truly sets The Story Farms apart is how it integrates agriculture, hospitality, and culinary arts into a single, cohesive ecosystem:

    🌾 Festival on the Farm – A celebration of community, land, and music

    🏕️ Stunning Glamping Sites – Where people reconnect with nature in style

    💍 Thriving Wedding Business – Love stories start in the most scenic countryside

    🍽️ Root Restaurant – Co-founded with Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton, and proudly featured in the Michelin Guide

    All these ventures are united by one core principle: quality and sustainability.

    👥 Collaboration for a Better Future

    The Story Farms doesn’t work in isolation. They collaborate with like-minded partner farms and ethical producers who share their values. This collective effort ensures customers get the most flavoursome meat, produced with love and care, while also supporting small-scale farmers and sustainable agriculture.

    Luke Hasell

    Their mission is clear:

    To give customers a true and honest story behind everything they eat, from field to fork.

    🔄 Why The Story Farms Matters Today

    In a world where food has become industrial and impersonal, The Story Farms reminds us that food is personal. It’s about knowing:

    🌱 Where it came from

    👨‍🌾 Who raised it

    🍴 How it was prepared

    🧒 Who benefits from its quality

    With growing concerns about health, environment, and transparency, farms like Luke Hasell’s are leading a quiet revolution — one pasture-raised steak, one organic roast at a time.

    📣 Final Word

    The Story Farms isn’t just about business — it’s about changing the story of farming. From forgotten fields to flourishing festivals, from livestock to love stories, every corner of Luke Hasell’s land is a testament to what happens when you lead with values, not volume.

    ok Want food with a story
    Start with The Story Farms — where every bite begins with trust.

  • From Factory Farming to Faithful Farming: The Inspiring Journey Behind “Fed From The Farm”

    Discover how one Missouri farm family left behind factory farming for regenerative agriculture, transforming their land, health, and future. A story of hope, healing, and faith.

    🌱 A Journey Rooted in Faith, Family, and Farming

    In the heart of Sedalia, Missouri, a remarkable story unfolds — one that’s not just about livestock or soil, but about deep transformation, resilient faith, and the regenerative power of truly nourishing food.

    David and Mariah Boatright, along with their four sons Judah, Ephraim, Asher, and Levi, are the founders of Fed From The Farm — a regenerative, pasture-based farm born out of a desire to restore land, nourish families, and reconnect people with real food.

    But their story didn’t begin in green pastures. It began with questions, heartache, and the unsettling realization that the modern food system is broken.

    🚜 From Conventional Agriculture to Regenerative Roots

    Both David and Mariah grew up in farming households. David watched as small, independent farms disappeared — swallowed by a system that prioritized scale over sustainability. Farm meetings repeated the same mantra: get bigger, buy more, borrow more. But the numbers never added up.

    Mariah’s childhood was shaped by factory chicken farming — a high-speed, high-stress environment she quickly grew disillusioned with.

    They both wanted to raise their future family in the country, but not like this. Not by compromising their values or contributing to a failing food system.

    Then came 2012 — and with it, a devastating drought. In the midst of crisis, David discovered restoration grazing — a system where livestock mimics nature, trampling forage back into the soil to build fertility, retain water, and revitalize the land.

    It was simple… and revolutionary. The earth could heal itself, if only given the chance.

    🌾 From Pesticides to Pastures: Watching the Land Come Alive

    After marrying, the Boatrights began managing a farm focused on regenerative grazing and soil-first principles. They removed synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals from their land — and the transformation was incredible.

    The soil softened. The grass thickened. The pastures came alive with health.

    They introduced a multispecies system cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens each playing a role in a healthy ecological cycle It wasn’t just survival; it was restoration in action

    🥩 When Food Became Medicine: A Personal Health Revolution

    As their land healed, David and Mariah faced a private battle — they were told they might never conceive children. Doctors recommended a series of hormone treatments and medications.

    But the side effects were severe. And the journey was exhausting.

    That’s when they turned inward. Despite growing the cleanest food on healthy soil, their own diet was still filled with ultra-processed, industrial groceries. There was a disconnect and they knew it

    So they began a slow, intentional change One item at a time, they replaced pantry staples with nutrient-rich alternatives starting with pasture-raised beef, then eggs, then fresh apples, and so on.

    They began eating with intention not for cost, but for health.

    Six months later, Mariah conceived naturally.

    🐓 Fed From The Farm Is Born

    With renewed purpose and faith, the Boatrights launched Fed From The Farm raising animals the way nature intended:

    Pastured broilers with rich, flavorful meat

    Grass-finished lambs with deep nourishment

    Free-range laying hens producing vibrant, healthy eggs

    Grass-fed beef raised without compromise

    They weren’t just producing food they were cultivating health, connection, and legacy

    Every cut of meat. Every dozen eggs. Every delivery box. It all carried the values they lived by faith transparency, sustainability and family

    🌍 Why Regenerative Farming Matters

    Regenerative agriculture is not just a buzzword it’s a real solution to some of the most pressing issues of our time

    ✅ Builds organic matter and topsoil

    ✅ Increases biodiversity

    ✅ Sequesters carbon

    ✅ Improves water retention

    ✅ Reverses environmental degradation

    But beyond the science it’s also about values

    Fed From The Farm is rooted in faith, stewardship, honesty, and trust. It’s about feeding families in a way that honors the land and leaves it better for future generations

    The only truly sustainable farming system is one that harbors trust between those who steward the land and those who eat of its bounty
    — David & Mariah Boatright

    🙌 Join the Movement: Your Plate Can Change the World

    When you purchase from Fed From The Farm, you’re doing far more than just buying food:

    💚 You’re supporting a small, family-run regenerative farm

    🌿 You’re investing in healing soil and sustainable ecosystems

    🛡️ You’re choosing clean, nutrient-dense, pasture-raised meat

    ✊ You’re voting against factory farming and deceptive food systems

    It’s not about perfection — it’s about purpose.

    And your plate? It’s powerful.

  • The Farmer Who Grows Forests with Just One Litre of Water”

    ✍️ True Story of Padma Shri Sundaram Verma, Rajasthan

    Introduction

    In the arid, sun-scorched lands of Rajasthan, water is life. Even a cup is precious. Imagine growing a full tree — not with gallons, not with buckets — but with just one litre of water.

    This is not a miracle.
    It’s the scientifically developed technique of a man named Sundaram Verma, a farmer, environmentalist, and visionary from Danta village in Sikar, Rajasthan.

    With his innovation, over 50,000 trees now stand strong in dryland zones — requiring almost no irrigation after planting. In 2021, his work was honored by the President of India with the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian award.

    Humble Roots, Revolutionary Mind

    Born in a farming family, Sundaram Verma faced the usual challenges of rural Rajasthan — limited rainfall (less than 25 cm annually), sandy soil, and dying crops.

    Despite clearing three government job exams, he chose to stay with the soil.

    A job pays you, but farming feeds your soul,” he says

    In 1982, he attended a dryland farming training program conducted by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research). There, he learned how to conserve rainwater in deep soil to grow winter crops. This sparked an idea.

    If crops can grow with stored soil moisture, why not trees

    The ‘1 Litre Water’ Tree-Planting Technique

    Sundaram Verma spent over a decade experimenting on how to grow trees in drought-prone zones.

    Here’s how his groundbreaking method works:

    1. Dig a pit – 15 cm long × 15 cm wide × 45 cm deep.

    2. Place the sapling in the pit and water it just once with 1 litre of water mixed with 1 ml organic pesticide.

    3. After 7–8 days, do light soil tilling around it.

    4. The plant’s roots will naturally reach moisture deeper in the ground, eliminating the need for frequent watering.

    5. In the first year, 3 rounds of tilling are recommended. By the third year, no tilling or watering is needed.

    That’s it — one litre of water for a lifetime tree!

    Field-Tested Success

    Sundaram first tested this method on Eucalyptus trees — known for needing the most water.

    Out of 1000 saplings, 800 survived, a success rate of 80%.

    Later, he planted mango, pomegranate, neem, guava, and medicinal trees — with 85–90% survival.

    Today, his dryland agroforestry method is adopted by farmers in Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.

    Water Harvesting at Farm Level

    When even drip irrigation became unaffordable, Sundaram invented a low-cost rainwater collection system:

    Plastic sheets (polythene) were spread over 60% of farm surface to prevent seepage.

    Rainwater naturally flowed and collected into farm ponds.

    This helped store up to 2 million litres of water per hectare per year.

    Total setup cost: ₹1 lakh per hectare, yet saved thousands in tanker costs.

    Agricultural Innovations Beyond Trees

    Sundaram Verma didn’t stop at trees. His contribution to sustainable agriculture includes:

    Developing SR-1 Kabuli Chana (chickpea) variety: drought-tolerant, high yield.

    Inventing a system to grow 7 different crops in 3 years on the same land.

    Collecting and preserving 700+ indigenous crop varieties and submitting over 400 to India’s National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR).

    Promoting traditional, climate-resilient crops like yellow mustard, native wheat, and hardy pulses.

    Awards and Recognitions

    Year Award

    1997 International Award for Agro-Biodiversity (IDRC, Canada)
    1997 ICAR’s Jagjivan Ram Krishi Puraskar
    2003 Chaudhary Charan Singh National Farmer Award
    2007 National Biodiversity Conservation Award
    2010 Mahindra Agriculture Excellence Award
    2021 Padma Shri, by President Ram Nath Kovind

    In total, he has received over 25 national and international recognitions, including those from:

    Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India

    National Innovation Foundation

    Rajasthan Forest Department

    Indian Agricultural Universities & KVKs

    Why This Story Matters

    Sundaram Verma’s story isn’t just about technique. It’s about vision, resilience, and self-belief.

    While most people migrate from villages to cities, he stayed behind to grow not just crops — but climate solutions, income models, and a movement.

    His work has inspired thousands of farmers to switch from water-intensive to low-cost, eco-friendly farming, especially in drought-hit areas.

    “We don’t need to chase the future. Let’s plant it.”

    Key Takeaways for Farmers

    ✅ Low water? No problem. Trees can grow deep-rooted with right pit and timing.
    ✅ Respect soil. Avoid over-ploughing; conserve its capillaries.
    ✅ Mix tradition with science. Indigenous seeds + dryland farming = long-term sustainability.
    ✅ One-time investment can yield lifetime benefits.

    A Salute to the Soil Warrior

    Sundaram Verma is not just a farmer — he’s a green architect, a living scientist, and a true patriot.

    His story proves that real change doesn’t need big money, just big heart.

    So the next time someone tells you you can’t do something because of “lack of resources,” tell them about Sundaram Verma, the man who grows forests with one litre of water.

  • 🐄 Grazing Toward a Better Future: How Dairy Farmers Are Surviving with Smarter, Sustainable Choices

    In the rolling fields of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, a quiet revolution is underway—one that could determine whether small family dairy farms survive or vanish altogether.

    For decades, dairy farming has been gripped by a financial crisis. Since 2015, milk prices have plunged and remained stubbornly low, squeezing already razor-thin profit margins. According to the USDA, feed costs alone accounted for nearly 70% of the operating costs for Pennsylvania dairy farms in 2018. Many farmers have had to make painful choices—some leaving the industry altogether, unable to compete in a system where efficiency often outweighs tradition.

    But Matt Bomgardner, a dairy farmer near Annville, believes there’s another way forward: managed rotational grazing.

    🌾 The Economics of Survival

    “Cost—that’s the most important part,” Matt says, standing in a pasture where his cows graze freely beneath a wide blue sky.

    Unlike conventional dairy operations that rely heavily on imported grain and expensive infrastructure, Matt’s cows are part of a carefully managed grazing system. Instead of being confined in barns, the animals rotate through lush paddocks of mixed grasses. This method not only reduces feed costs significantly but also improves soil health and water quality.

    Still, making the switch isn’t easy.

    “There’s infrastructure that’s an upfront cost,” he explains. “A farm can spend a million dollars on a barn, no problem, but won’t invest $50,000 in a solid pasture system with forages, fencing, lanes, and water sources. The perception is—‘that’s not what you do.’”

    But Matt is determined to change that perception.

    💰 Cost-Share Support Makes It Possible

    One of the lifelines for farmers like Matt has been cost-share assistance and technical support. Through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), he received funding that covered about 25% of the transition costs.

    That kind of support—financial and educational—can be the difference between progress and paralysis.

    More than just money, farmers need confidence. “These programs tell us: ‘You’re not in this alone. We believe in this system, and we’ll help you do it right,’” he says.

    🤝 Mentorship: Farmer-to-Farmer Change

    To keep this movement growing, experienced grazers like Matt are now mentoring the next generation.

    He works as a mentor through the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship under the Pennsylvania Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) and the Pennsylvania Grazing Lands Coalition, both partners in CBF’s Mountains-to-Bay Grazing Alliance.

    These programs pair aspiring dairy farmers with experienced grazers, helping to build knowledge, confidence, and community. It’s farming not just as a job, but as a shared legacy.

    🌱 A Future for Family Farms

    Ultimately, Matt believes rotational grazing is more than just an alternative—it’s a lifeline for small dairy operations trying to survive in a commodity-driven market.

    “This is how small farms are going to make it,” he says. “If you’re producing milk, it’s all about who can make it the cheapest. Grazing lets us do that while keeping the land healthy and the cows happy. It’s sustainable for the environment, for the cows, and for the next generation.”

    🐄 From Surviving to Thriving

    In a world where small farms are too often swallowed by industrial agriculture, grazing is offering a path not just to survival, but to renewal.

    With smart partnerships, well-designed programs, and the willingness to rethink “how it’s always been done,” farmers like Matt are proving that tradition and innovation can walk side by side. Or graze, rather.

    Because sometimes, the best way forward… is out to pasture.