We are the Jeans Family. We run a small traditional family farm in the beautiful Tamar Valley. We have been farming here since 2009. We have developed a deep connection with the landscape and see our role as custodians of the land.
We farm in harmony with nature. Every decision we make about what crops to grow or what kind of animals to raise is prefaced with the question, “how does this help nature?” Our farm is an intricate patchwork of tiny fields, the legacy of the market gardening industry that used to be so prevalent here.
We nurture the hedgerows and wild corners to link habitats so that wildlife can move through the farm landscape and flourish.
The beating heart of our farm are our traditional native cattle and our flock of free range hens. We use these gentle creatures to manage the meadows and pasture to create diverse grassland habitats but also to turn sunlight into steak! (and eggs)
Whilst we are not certified organic, we farm along pretty much the same lines. We use the livestock to graze in a rotation around the farm – much like wild buffalo they eat in one place for a day then move on, allowing the pasture to regrow while the dung feeds the soil and insects which form the base of the biodiversity pyramid.
Regenerative farming is a bit of a buzzword but at its heart it simply means, ‘regenerating the land’ – that is leaving it in better condition each year through your farming practices. On our farm this means creating more wild spaces for nature and improving the capacity of the soil to hold water to reduce run off and make our land more resilient in times of very wet or dry weather.
We want our farm to produce all its own nutrients, so we plant crops that make their own fertiliser by using bacteria in their root systems and we only spread the manure from the cattle on the land, a bit like making your own compost in your garden. We don’t feed any additional feed to our cattle or sheep when they are at pasture.
That means that the farm supports only the animals that can be fed from our own soil. This means fewer animals per acre than on more intensive farms where a large amount of their feed is bought in i.e. grain and soya.
We are passionate about sharing our knowledge and experiences with people who want to develop their own understanding of farming and nature. That is why we chose to open the farm up to the public through our visitor experiences.
We love the traditional British breeds and how well they fit into our low impact farming methods. They also produce the most incredible tasting, high welfare meat and we are proud to be able to supply it to local customers.
We believe that one of the best ways to impact climate change and biodiversity loss is through the food on our plates. Farming in harmony with nature and therefore eating in harmony with nature for the health of our planet.
I grew up on a smallholding and I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a ‘proper farmer’. I am passionate about British wildlife and love spending time walking around the farm taking photographs of the changing seasons.
I have a strong belief that farmers have a huge responsibility to take care of the landscape and we are on the front line in the fight against biodiversity loss. I am proud of the way we look after our little patch of Cornwall.
I also love to spend time with our livestock. My favourite thing is turning cattle out to grass in the springtime, it so lovely to see them skipping around and sunbathing.
I am so passionate about connecting people with their food. i love talking to customers about our produce and believe that when farmers and consumers are better connected, the whole ecosystem benefits, from butterflies in the meadows to the health of our families.
Farming is my passion. I’m never happier than when I’m sat on my tractor watching the world go by. My cattle are my pride and joy. I have spent my entire farming career developing a herd of cows ideally suited to our farm.
At the heart of our farm is our family. I look at what we have achieved here over the last decade and see my children growing up surrounded by nature and it makes me very proud.
As a true countryman, I intend to spend my farming career working hard to leave the farm in better condition than how we found it. I may be a farmer, but butterflies and birds are just as important to me as cattle and crops.