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Voices from the Fields

Farmer Sam Beaumont on growing fruit and veg in the Lake District

England
horticulture
direct selling
Government
regenerative farming
fruit and vegetables
nutrition
food security
stacking enterprises

With 80% of our fruit and nearly 50% of our vegetables imported, it’s no surprise that reports about UK food security and the state of our horticulture sector often make the news. But growing in the UK is not only possible; it can thrive. Sam Beaumont, a mixed-system farmer in Cumbria, shows how nature-friendly horticulture can succeed - even in northern England -  benefiting both the farm business and the local community.

Growing fruit and veg isn’t always easy. It requires relatively high labour inputs, especially when compared to low-input livestock farming. Capital investments are needed to provide infrastructure for composting, beds and watering. Plus, a lack of knowledge and education can be barriers to getting started. 

Marketing, harvesting and distribution are also challenging. Throw into the mix battling unpredictable weather and pests (like the slugs this year!) and it can be seen as quite a risky business with relatively low financial returns. As a result, many farmers and landowners are hesitant to start growing fruit and veg unless supported by external funding or enthusiastic local volunteers.

However, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try growing more fruit and veg, or that the barriers can’t be overcome. As a society, we are becoming more disconnected from our food and how it’s produced. There is growing evidence that the nutrients in our food are declining, linked to worsening soil health. The Bionutrient Institute in the US has tested various food products and announced at this year’s Groundswell event that they found a direct correlation between "soil respiration rate" (the release of carbon dioxide by soil organisms as a result of respiration) and the nutrient density of vegetables.

These declines have occurred alongside a decline in the physical and mental health of the general population. Charities like Growing Well are pioneering a new approach that not only produces high-quality food but also offers people the chance to engage in rewarding physical work, benefitting their mental health and wellbeing.

Growing more fruit and veg, and selling directly, can help farms build connections with other local businesses and the public, who may then buy other goods or services from them, contributing to greater business resilience. This has certainly been part of our experience on our farm in Cumbria.

Venturing into veg growing

We have started growing fruit, vegetables, and herbs using a no-dig method, inspired by Charles Dowding and Richard Perkins, among others. By focusing on adding high-quality compost rather than digging, we reduce labour while producing a large quantity of food from a very small part of our farm (approximately 0.2 acres, including a 20' x 6' polytunnel, out of a total of 385 acres). 

For us, this is primarily about delivering a more diverse range of products from our farm, while keeping a strong focus on nature restoration, soil health and nutrient density.

The compost we use - a mixture of composted cattle manure, straw, woodchip, comfrey and veg waste - creates excellent soil, meaning we don't need to use artificial fertiliser, herbicides, pesticides or fungicides. This approach should also lead to higher nutrient density in our produce, which we hope to test and confirm one day.

For us, this is primarily about delivering a more diverse range of products from our farm, while keeping a strong focus on nature restoration, soil health and nutrient density. There’s also evidence that this farm used to produce more fruit and veg - my wife Claire remembers her grandad filling the old walled garden with raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries, sweet peas and other veg. We were keen to try this again!

About five years ago, we transitioned our farm away from a relatively high-input sheep system to a Pasture for Life beef enterprise. We then added pigs, but we felt we could do more. Around three years ago, we were lucky enough to meet a local GP, Dr Sally Brading, who has been instrumental in helping us set up our growing area and volunteers with us one day a week. Initially, our goal was to just feed ourselves, but the quantity and variety of produce we needed quickly led us to explore other avenues. 

We started talking to the manager of a campsite in our village, The Quiet Site, which has a small shop and a pizza oven. They now buy our produce weekly to supply their pizza cafe. The menu varies throughout the growing season, but we usually provide staples like rocket, chives, basil, beetroots, squash, onions, courgettes and potatoes. We are fortunate to have such a supportive customer nearby who understands the seasonality and challenges of growing vegetables in the Lake District. 

We've also started catering for courses and events held on our farm, and it's always a pleasure to serve dishes made entirely from our own produce.

The best part is probably watching our son, Ike, disappear into the raspberry cage and come out half an hour later with his face covered in raspberry juice!

The future of horticulture in England

The biggest challenge for us is figuring out what to do next. There aren't many training courses, and we’re pretty much navigating this on our own in our area, so we’re making it up as we go along. 

The most important change we need to support domestic growth is government investment in training and education for those looking to start out.

Our garden generates about £2,000 per year and we would love to expand. However, we want to avoid taking on too much too soon, so we are trying to grow steadily as the demand and market for our products hopefully increases. We plan to expand our social prescribing and therapeutic offerings along the lines of Growing Well. This would allow us to start paying Sally, and hopefully others, in the not-too-distant future!

On a broader scale, there are reasons for optimism. The Basic Payment Scheme previously encouraged landowners to maintain permanent grassland rather than pursue small-scale horticulture. With the end of this scheme, perhaps there will be a shift to more diverse enterprises, which will surely help farm businesses become more resilient in the face of the climate and societal challenges.

My advice to anyone looking to start growing fruit and veg in the UK is to go for it.

The most important change we need to support domestic growth is government investment in training and education for those looking to start out. This should include training aimed at landowners or farmers with a spare corner of a field who are willing to help someone get started. Support for establishing the necessary infrastructure should also be considered, especially for smaller farms.

My advice to anyone looking to start growing fruit and veg in the UK is to go for it. Be sure to talk to others, visit local growers, and try to form a group so you're not on your own.

We have been amazed by some of our successes. We never expected we’d be successfully growing and selling basil in the Lake District!