Latest...
Power to the pedal: going the distance to inspire more young people to start careers on the land
Three young people are cycling the length of Britain to inspire more young people to work on the land in sustainable farming.
» Download the press advisory [PDF, 19KB]
Conservation farming apprenticeships
Farmers within the Isle of Purbeck can get 50% of an apprentice's salary funded through the Purbeck Keystone Project.
» More
Organic hero - Charlotte Hollins
Read our interview with Charlotte Hollins - part of our Organic Heroes series. She tells about her life, job and what keeps her awake at night.
» Read the interview
Podcast - Young people and organic farming
What avenues are available to young people wanting to enter organic farming as a career? Find out from the Soil Association's Jim Twine.
» Listen to the mp3 [2,477 KB]
» Read the transcript
» More podcasts
Today's News
Find out what's happening in the media with our daily digest of all things organic.
» Today's News
Organic Futures is a grass-roots movement led by young people who want to ensure the continuity of sustainable food, farming and rural life in Britain.
With the average age of farmers in Britain at nearly 60 and few opportunities for young people to enter organic food and farming as a profession and way of life, the root causes of the problems must be fundamentally addressed. Organic futures was set up by a group of young people, all with a deep commitment and connection to organic farming to change this trend. It seeks to overcome the key barriers that are preventing more young people from entering farming. People of all ages and backgrounds who care about the future of food, farming and rural life in Britain should get involved.
March 2008
The main Organic Futures website www.organicfutures.org.uk is up and running or visit the new Organic Futures blog www.organicfutures.org.uk/blog.htm
Read more about Organic Futures from this article that appeared in Organic Farming magazine, Spring 2005
Newsletter
» February 2008 [PDF, 354 KB]
» January 2008 [PDF, 121 KB]
» November 2007 [PDF, 179 KB]
» November 2007 - part 2 [PDF, 252 KB]
» October 2007 [PDF, 328 KB]
» September 2007 [PDF, 218 KB]
» August 2007 [PDF, 318 KB]
» July 2007 [PDF, 379 KB]
» May 2007 [PDF, 658 KB]
» April 2007 [PDF, 123 KB]
» March 2007 [PDF, 120 KB]
» Courses
How did it all begin?
At the Soil Association annual conference in 2006, two young people described their vision for the future of Fordhall, their family farm near Market Drayton in Shropshire. It all rested on the small matter of raising £800,000 in just seven months to secure the farm from land development.
Ben and Charlotte Hollins were among a group of speakers at a workshop at the conference, all talking about the challenges for young people seeking to become part of the organic farming community. Inspired by the energy of those involved in the session, a group was formed to give impetus to the issues raised and to provide space for the further development of ideas.
From a crumpled page of email addresses gathered after the session, to an active discussion forum, Organic Futures was born.
And Fordhall Farm? Visit their website to read about their success story.
Contact
For further information, please contact Jonathan Smith on j.smith@scillyorganics.co.uk