Simply, we believe that local organic farming is the simplest, best way to produce food. Organics means balancing natural inputs with outputs to produce food in harmony with the environment. And you don't just have to take our word for it - we are certified by the UK's longest established Organic Certifying body, the Soil Association. We seek to meet or exceed their stringent standards so that you can enjoy good, honest organic food without worrying about pesticide residues, additives, GM seed, and knowing that our animals enjoy some of the highest welfare standards in farming. We work together with other local organic suppliers to keep costs and food miles down whilst bringing you the very best seasonal produce.
The Soil Association publish their own list of reasons why Organic food continues to grow in popularity:
Many people buy organic food because they believe it tastes better than non-organic food. No one is quite sure why this should be. It’s thought it might be because organically reared animals and fruit grow more slowly and the fruits have a lower water content than non-organic ones.
Eating organic food also means you’re reducing your exposure to potentially harmful pesticides, additives and antibiotics. On non-organic farms, over 440 pesticides can be used. Their residues can often be found in the food they produce. Organic farms strive to control pests using natural predators. They maintain fertile soil using traditional methods such as crop rotation. Non-organic animals are routinely fed antibiotics to help speed up their growth. These antibiotics are linked to bacterial resistance to the same and closely related antibiotics in humans – making any antibiotics we may take when we’re ill less effective. Soil Association standards prohibit the routine use of antibiotics.
Organic farming is better for the environment.Organic farms have 44% more birds and five times as many wild flowers as non-organic ones, helping to preserve biodiversity.
The UK government has admitted that organic farms cause less pollution from sprays and create less dangerous wastes. They also admit they produce less carbon dioxide, the main global warming gas.
Organic farming is better for animals. No system of farming has higher levels of animal welfare standards than organic farms working to Soil Association standards. All organic farmers aim to keep their animals happy, comfortable and contented. Unless they are ill, organic animals are never given antibiotics. This means that they grow at a rate that is natural and healthy. As a result they live longer and have a better quality of life. If our dairy cows are treated with antibiotics, they’re removed from the herd and their milk is not used until the antibiotics have cleared their system. Organic dairy cows produce more milk over their lifetimes than non-organic ones.
For more details see the Soil Association website