Meet the Farmers

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle catches up with James and Katie Allen, a dynamic couple whose journey into farming began with conservation grazing and has evolved into something much bigger. Originally featured during the Meet the Farmers on Tour series in 2019, James and Katie return to the podcast with exciting updates from their new 170-acre holding near Swindon.James and Katie have built a thriving, nature-led enterprise focused on native breed cattle and sheep.Recently, their business took a major leap forward with the opening of a new on-farm tannery and classroom, funded by a £254,000 grant. These new facilities are already playing a vital role in their mission to connect farming, sustainability, and education — particularly in the realm of fashion. The Allens now host fashion students and others on the farm, sharing insights into the journey from hide and wool to finished product and their links with farming. We discuss their vision for the future, what the grant has enabled, sustainable leather production, and how they’re bridging the gap between agriculture and fashion. Topics covered:Starting out with conservation grazingMoving to the new farm. Building a sustainable tannery and educational spaceJames's Churchill scholarshipEngaging with the fashion industry and design studentsEngaging with the local communityImage credit: James and Katie AllenMeet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle is joined by US author and journalist Stephanie Anderson to discuss the transformative role women are playing in regenerative agriculture. Stephanie’s latest book, From the Ground Up: The Women Revolutionizing Regenerative Agriculture, shines a spotlight on female farmers and changemakers who are rethinking how we grow food in the face of climate change.From battling conventional norms to pioneering new practices rooted in sustainability and equity, these women are proving that leadership in agriculture can be diverse, resilient, and regenerative. Stephanie shares intimate stories, key insights from her research, and her vision for a more just and climate-conscious food system.Guest:👩‍🌾 Stephanie AndersonAuthor of From the Ground Up: The Women Revolutionizing Regenerative AgricultureAuthor of One Size Fits NoneAssistant Professor of Creative Nonfiction at Florida Atlantic UniversityWebsite: stephanieandersonwriter.comTopics Covered:What is regenerative agriculture and why it matters?How women are challenging traditional farming models?The intersection of sustainability, equity, and food justice.Behind-the-scenes stories from From the Ground Up.The role of storytelling in environmental and social change.Stephanie’s personal journey from farm girl to journalist and author.Resources Mentioned:From the Ground UpOne Size Fits NoneImage credit: Stephanie AndersonMeet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle sits down with Alex and Emily Crawley, co-directors of Grazing Management Limited, to explore the concept of conservation grazing and their journey starting their business. Based in the Forest of Dean, the Crawleys are using native breed cattle, sheep, and goats to deliver environmental benefits on land managed by charities, government agencies, and private owners.Neither Emily nor Alex began their careers in agriculture. Emily comes from a background in the charitable sector (and also as a pilates instructor!), while Alex transitioned from a military and diplomatic career into land management, later earning a Graduate Diploma in Agriculture and becoming a Nuffield Scholar.Together, they’ve built a contract grazing business that earned them the British Farming Awards' New Entrant accolade within just two years. This conversation dives into three core themes: the power of farming to support environmental goals, the realities of starting a land-based business without owning land, and the bold personal journeys that led them to agriculture.🎧 Topics covered:What conservation grazing is and why it mattersThe role of native livestock in biodiversity and habitat managementStarting a farming business without owning landTransitioning into agriculture from completely different careersLessons learned, early successes, and advice for new entrants📝 Resources & Mentions:Nuffield Farming ScholarshipsRoyal Agricultural University – Graduate Diploma in AgricultureBritish Farming Awards – New Entrant Category🌿 Whether you’re interested in sustainable land management, starting a farming venture, or simply love a good career pivot story, this episode offers insight and inspiration in equal measure.Image credit: Alex and Emily CrawleyMeet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here

Today on the show we’re talking about paludiculture. You might not have heard the term before, but paludiculture is the practice of wetland farming—essentially growing crops on rewetted lands, usually peatlands. Paludiculture is emerging as a way to restore peatlands, reduce carbon emissions, and explore the creation of new income opportunities for farmers and landowners.Peatlands play a critical role in ecosystems. They store vast amounts of carbon, support biodiversity, and regulate water levels. However, draining peatlands releases huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. The big question is: can we farm in a way that both protects and restores these landscapes?Jenny Bennion and Sarah Johnson from Lancashire Wildlife Trust believe that paludiculture could provide at least some of the answers. For more info on paludiculture visit - www.paludiculture.org.ukMeet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here

This mini-series has been produced in collaboration with the Forestry Commission. This time we’re talking about agroforestry - the benefits, the practicalities and the questions our guests think that you need to asking before committing to an agroforestry project. In this third and final episode we’re talking about the 'how' of agroforestry - Ben asks guest Tom Kemp from Working Woodlands Cornwall and co-host James Ramskir-Gardiner about the things to look out for when it comes to establishing and managing an agroforestry system.  Email address to get in contact with the Forestry Commission Agroforestry team: GRNationalteam@forestrycommission.gov.ukAgroforestry Open Weekend 16th-19th May 2025: https://agroforestryopenweekend.org/

This mini-series has been produced in collaboration with the Forestry Commission. This time we’re talking about agroforestry - the benefits, the practicalities and the questions our guests think that you need to asking before committing to an agroforestry project. In this second episode we talk about silvopasture and silvoarable agroforestry systems - Ben asks guest Sam Morgan and co-host James Ramskir-Gardiner about the opportunities and challenges when it comes to managing these systems. Email address to get in contact with the Forestry Commission Agroforestry team: GRNationalteam@forestrycommission.gov.ukAgroforestry Open Weekend 16th-19th May 2025: https://agroforestryopenweekend.org/

This mini-series has been produced in collaboration with the Forestry Commission. This time we’re talking about agroforestry - the benefits, the practicalities and the questions our guests think that you need to asking before committing to an agroforestry project. In this first episode we’re focussed on the ‘why’ of agroforestry - Ben asks guest Clare Hill and co-host James Ramskir-Gardiner to make the case for agroforestry and they make the case for why you should consider doing it on your farm. Email address to get in contact with the Forestry Commission Agroforestry team: GRNationalteam@forestrycommission.gov.ukAgroforestry Open Weekend 16th-19th May 2025: https://agroforestryopenweekend.org/ 

Today’s episode takes us from the fields to the heart of London to reflect on a truly unique and thought-provoking exhibition that has just wrapped up at Somerset House in London, marking its 25th anniversary. Titled Soil: The World at Our Feet, the exhibition brought together visionary artists to reframe how we think about the ground beneath us.Far from being “just dirt,” this exhibition invited visitors to see soil as a living, breathing system—one that underpins not only agriculture but culture, climate, and community. Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld from The Land Gardeners came up with the concept for the exhibition and they speak to Ben in this episode They talk about how the exhibition came to life, what it revealed, and put their case as to why soil should matter to everyone—not just farmers.SOIL | Somerset HouseHome — the land gardenersSoil Home — the land gardenersMeet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here

Today, we're diving into one of the most critical challenges in farming today—profitability. How do you balance the demands of business, the realities of nature, and the need to manage energy and resources sustainably at a time when income sources and profitability itself is undergoing change?To help us explore this, I’m joined by two returning guests who are tackling these questions head-on—farm consultant Chris Clark and physicist Brian Scanlon. Together, they've written a new book, very recently published by 5m books and titled The Profitable Farm: Balancing Business, Nature and Energy through MSO, which stands for Maximum Sustainable Output. And make sure you keep listening to the end of the episode because there is a discount code which will give you 25% off the book and I’ll tell you what that code is later. Long standing listeners amongst you may have caught our bonus episode back in June 2023 which was when Brian and Chris were last on the show, and if you did then you’ll already have a taste of their thinking. If not, don’t worry—we’re going to unpack it all right here, but I recommend scrolling back to that episode. Today, we'll be digging into the book itself, discussing what Chris and Brian have been learning and developing since their last appearance on the show, and what MSO might mean for the future of your farm. To buy the book with a 25% discount (courtesy of 5m books) - click here and use the code meet25 Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here

Today on the show, we’re diving into an incredible story of endurance, resilience, and getting behind the agricultural community. Joining Ben is Hugh Addison from Cumbria, who, with his sister Alex and a few friends, is gearing up for a once-in-a-lifetime endurance challenge—which they have called the Borderline Challenge. This September, they will cycle, swim, and run a staggering 550km from Sligo in Ireland to the mouth of the Tyne in England, using nothing but human power.The challenge is also about raising vital awareness and funds for The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI)—a charity supporting the mental health and well-being of those in rural and farming communities.Today, we’ll hear from Hugh about why he and Alex have taken on the challenge, we’ll hear about how they are training for it, and their personal connection to the cause they are supporting. We’ll also explore the highs and lows they anticipate, from cycling across Ireland’s rugged landscapes to braving the icy North Channel swim and running the length of Hadrian’s Wall. To support Hugh, Alex and the rest of the team visit their justgiving page  or find out more on their website. Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here