Creative in a Crisis
Farmers are well used to getting creative in a crisis. Caz Graham checks in on some of our favourite farmers and growers to see how they're responding to the lockdown.
Farmers are well used to getting creative in a crisis. Caz Graham checks in on some of our favourite farmers and growers to see how they're responding to the lockdown.
Selina Cairns from Errington Cheese in Lanarkshire explains how most of their raw sheep and goats’ milk cheese is usually sold to specialist cheesemongers and restaurateurs. With the hospitality industry on hold and gallons of spring milk to use, they’ve set up an online shop to sell direct to the public.
But there are no quick fix solutions for farmers who’ve diversified into tourism as we hear from Duncan McConchie. His family have farmed on the Galloway coast near Gatehouse of Fleet for more than a hundred years, they welcomed some of Scotland’s first campers and caravaners to enjoy the views from their beach back before the Second World War. Movement restrictions means the campsite, their luxury lodges, large wedding venue and outdoor activity centre are all closed.
Meanwhile, just south of Kendal, it’s all change at Growing Well, a mental health charity and training centre based on an organic vegetable farm. Most of the cultivation is done by people living with and recovering from poor mental health but coronavirus restrictions mean they’re not able to attend. So who will do all the planting and harvesting to ensure the farm and charity have a viable future?
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- Sun 24 May 2020 06:3591Èȱ¬ Radio 4