Farming with nature

A pleasure to show a group of local @hooknortonvets farmers around the farm this evening. We, as farmers, land managers and custodians are always learning, and as one person said this evening, visiting other peoples farms and talking amongst peer's is the best way to learn, adapt and try new things. Topped off with some Fir Farm beef brisket, amazingly cooked by Kate from the vets (so good the @paddockfarm_ boys had seconds 😉), and a very interesting debrief of everyone's beef KPI's. A great evening all round. #FirFarm #hooknortonvets #farm #farming #farmlife #farmtour

Field move for a bunch of bulling heifers.... I think they like their new field! 💨💨💨 #FirFarm #farming #farminguk #farmlife #farmlifebestlife #cattle #cattlefarming #organic #organicfarming #regenerativefarming #sussexcattle #redpollcattle #rarebreed #rbst #cotswolds #runlikethewind

Welcome to the world little one. Autumn calving has begun at Fir Farm! #FirFarm #newlife #newborn #calving #calving2025 #farming #farmlife #organic

The happiness when our Mangalitza pigs find a cow pat in their pen.... I guess that's where the phrase comes from.....! #FirFarm #farming #organicfarming #regenerativefarming #farmlife #mangalitsa #mangalitza #cotswolds

Fresh Beef now in stock! And a new exciting shiny website www.firfarm.co.uk Happy Friday everyone! #FirFarm #organicfarming #farming #regenerativefarming #organic #beef #freshmeat #cotswolds #stowonthewold

Love this video from @bringinginspirationhome on their hunt for our milk 🥛🙌🏼 #FirFarm #farming #organicfarming #regenerativefarming #farmlife #farminguk #milkvendingmachine #stowonthewold #cotswolds

A very wholesome morning with the @cotswoldsnl and their amazing volunteers spreading wildflower seeds across 25 acres of our permanent grasslands this morning. This is part of our larger widescale ambitions to both create and restore our species rich grassland areas across the Estate. We hope to see some of these wild flowers emerging as early as next Spring, and with careful management incorporating our livestock, we will have fully fledged wildflower meadows in a few years time. A big thank you to all involved today 🙌🏼 #FirFarm #organicfarming #farming #regenerativefarming #cotswolds

September Mornings on the Farm 💚 #FirFarm #farming #farminguk #organicfarming #regenerativeag #september #dayslikethese #cotswolds

COVER CROPS. We've bit the bullet and made a start planting cover crops into our post-harvest stubble ground in the hope that this rain will finally come next week. We plant cover crops as a soil conditioner and soil protector to protect the soils from harsh conditions over the winter. By keeping roots in the ground all year-round, we are keeping life in the soil and keeping our microbial organisms happy and healthy. This 10-way seed mix has a variety of root depths to set down into the soil, breaking up any compaction from heavy combine harvesters and tractors during the harvest period. The plants are also sucking nitrogen and carbon out of the atmosphere and storing this in the soil for the next cereal crop. Oh, and the cover crop with also provide forage for our animals late autumn/early winter. It's a win: win situation for every form of life. All we need is some rain now 🤞🏽 #FirFarm #farm #farming #farminguk #organicfarming #regenerativefarming #regenerativeag #regenag

A morning mud bath before the days heat arrives. We have 3 Mangalitsa gilts (young females) on the farm, currently rummaging through our fruit and nut orchards, rejuvenating the soil. In weather like this, we purposefully let their water tanks overflow for a few hours to create "wallows" - flooded areas of mud, so they can lie in or roll around in to keep cool. You'll never see a happier pig than a pig in mud! #FirFarm #mangalitsa #farming #farm #farminguk #organic #organicfarming #regenerativefarming #cotswolds

Harvest is in full swing here at The Farm, now's the time to see how it's all paid off. We adopt a regenerative approach to farming, trying to regenerate and rejuvenate our soils - the farms lifeline. 2025 so far has been a tough year across the majority of the UK with long periods of dry weather, weeks of sunshine scorching the ground, heating up the soils. By farming in a regenerative way we aim to keep the soil covered by having roots in the ground all year round, grazing just the tops of the fields and providing a thatch for the ground to protect the soils in such conditions. We grow acres of deep rooting herbal keys to firstly improve the soil structure, but also to provide forage for our cattle in dry conditions - the deeper roots still able to find moisture in the ground. These herbal leys then give way to our arable crops, providing them with the perfect soil conditions to strive, and leaving residue nitrogen in the ground negating the need for artificial fertilisers. It's years like this one that shows us what we are doing is working. We're harvesting oats today which have been subjected to minimal rainfall since being sown in March this year, but you can't tell. Yeilds are great, the swath of straw is high and the quality of the oat seeds themselves look strong. No pesticides, no herbicides, no artificial fertilisers. Just good old fashioned farming. #FirFarm #organicfarming #regenerativefarming #harvest2025 📸 @georgewluckett

Did you know we use our award winning milk to make our own small batch ice cream? We skim the cream from our rich nutritious milk and then add that cream into the base for our ice cream along with our organic whole milk. All of our ice cream bases are made using 4 simple, pure ingredients - milk, cream, eggs & sugar. The flavouring is then added using natural ingredients. No artificial flavourings, preservatives or stabilisers. 100% pure goodness. Our ice cream can be purchased 24/7 from our two vending stations, and also at @bruernfarms Farmshop. Go on, treat yourself..... #FirFarm #icecream #organicfarming #farm #farming #redpoll #redpollcattle #madeonfarm #eatlocal #cotswolds #cotswoldlife #stowonthewold

Harvest 2025 started. This is our bi-cropped heritage Maris wigeon x Phacelia crop that we trialed this year. Incredible volume of straw considering the drought, and yeilds not too bad either. This wheat will be sold to a specialist Heritage grain miller to be milled into artisan flour. A great start to this year's harvest 🌾 #FirFarm #harvest2025 #claas #combine #heritagewheat #organicfarming #regenerativefarming #cotswolds

We're delighted to announce, we are BOOM Award WINNERS 🥇!! Our fresh, organic, Pasture-for-Life milk was entered into the UK-wide Best Dairy Produce category at the Soil Association BOOM Awards and we won! We're absolutely blown away 🙌🏼🥛 #FirFarm #BOOMawards #winners

Our two Saddleback sows with their male friend enjoying their fresh move onto some herbal key silage aftermath this morning. Three months, three weeks & three days until we should hopefully have aorund 25 little piglets running around again 🐷 #FirFarm #organic #organicfarming #farmlife #farminguk #saddleback #regen #regenag #regenerativefarming

Today we hosted two groups of the Regen Agriculture Accelerator Program (RAAP), which Phil our Farm Manager has been part of for the past year. 40 like minded farmers from across the Cotswolds, sharing thoughts and ideas on how we can all improve on how we farm our countryside. #FirFarm #farming #farmlife #regenfarming #regenag #organic #organicfarming #RAAP

PICHANA 🔥 Also known as rump cap, is the perfect BBQ show piece in this heatwave. Cooked slowly over charcoal and then flashed in the flames at the end, slice thinly and wrap a warm flatbread around it. Organic, Pasture for Life accredited and in-stock now #eatlocal #FirFarm #organic #farm #farming #organicfarming #britishbeef #pichana #bbq #bbqtime

Topping up the silage clamps with a bit more grass ☘️ #FirFarm #farming #farmlife #organicfarming #regenerativeag #silage2025 #jcb

Today we had the pleasure of showing a group from our local Farming Cluster group @necotscluster around the Farm, talking Landscape Recovery, looking at the results of last summer's green hay spreading, and a progress update of our abattoir. Some great conversations, debates and idea sharing throughout the tour, and nice to catch up with our neighbouring farmers & land owners to hear what they have been up to. It's what these cluster groups are all about. #FirFarm #farmcluster #farming #farmlife #regenerativefarming #regenag #organicfarming

One of our wildflower margins looking spectacular next to some organic spring barley on the farm. Considering the lack of rain over the last few months, we're pretty happy how both of these are looking. Wildflower margins are crucial in organic farming systems because they enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and provide valuable habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects. They also offer food and shelter for birds and other wildlife, acting as natural pest control agents and contributing to a more resilient and balanced ecosystem. We have 50 acres of wild flower margins encircling all of our arable rotational ground. It's just one of many ways we are trying to rejuvenate the soil across the Estate. #FirFarm #organic #organicfarming #farming #farminguk #farm365 #regenag #regenfarming #regenerativeag #wildflowers #farmlife #farmlifebestlife

It may be a good few weeks later than we would usually aim to start, but silage 2025 is a GO. It's shorter, thinner and probably drier than we would like, but with the amount of dry weather we have had this spring, the crops have struggled to push on. However, what's coming in looks good, and will help to feed the cattle over the winter. Last year we filled both clamps and made 200 haylage bales from one cut, this year we'll be lucky to fill one clamp from the same hectatage, so we'll have to bring the mowers back out again later on in the year.... #farming #farmlife #silage #silage2025 #organic #organicfarming #FirFarm

BOOM 💥 We are so excited to be a Finalist in the @soilassociation Best Of Organic Market Awards for our Fresh Organic Milk! Our milk comes from our Red Polls and the girls have produced a milk worthy of being selected for the Organic Food and Drink Product category. The winners will be announced in July… #boomawards #redpolls #organicmilk #firfarm #finalist #excited #soilassocation

RESTOCK We’ve always known that Mint Choc Chip ice-cream is a firm favourite on the farm. Just occasionally we need that seal of approval. The Yearling Sussex heifers were set to task before the vending machine was loaded up! Cookies & Cream Salted Caramel Chocolate Orange Mint Choc Chip Vanilla Caramelised White Chocolate Chocolate Available from our vending machines in Lower Swell & Upper Slaughter #sussexheifers #yearlings #firfarm #homemade #icecream #vendingmachine ##buylocal #cotswolds #tastetest #flavours

SKYLARKS Our Spring bird survey across the estate is underway and being carried out by ornithologist Eric Palmer, Link Ecology. In one of our herbal fields - due to be cut next week - Eric found a juvenile Skylark nesting, as well as some recently hatched Skylarks! Needless to say, the field will be left for the Skylarks to do some growing up. Fortuitous timing. #skylark #nesting #herbfields #firfarm #ornithology #birdsurvey #goodtiming #nature #organic #organicfarming #regenerativefarming #farmlife

SENIOR BULLS - start of the week enthusiasm from the chaps heading into fresh pasture before their turn out with the ladies. #bulls #pasture #organic #regenerativefarming

SADDLEBACKS one litter of piglets being very busy in the woods. Keeping pigs in woodland is an effective way of managing the vegetation and can be beneficial for certain woodland ecosystems. Pigs root and browse, turning over the ground cover which encourages seedling germination. #rooting #germination #woodland #ecosystems #organic #firfarm #organicfarming #regenerativefarming #saddlebackpigs #

The soothing sounds of the River Dikler. The Dikler runs through Fir Farm bringing with it aquatic and bird life further adding to the biodiversity on our farm. Yesterday, river expert and environmental consultant, Vaughan Lewis, from the Windrush Aquatic Environmental Consultancy, carried out his annual visit, something he has been doing for many years. And we are proud to report that Mr Lewis told us the River Dikler has never looked better on this stretch! #proud #river #environment #biodiversity #aquatic #firfarm

APPLETON MAJOR our new Red Poll bull strutting his stuff with the heifers for the first time. #redpoll #bull #firsttime #bonnechance #organic #organicfarming #firfarm #pastures #cattle #organic #farming #regenerativefarming #cotswolds

Our companion crop of heritage wheat & phacelia looking amazing in the sunshine. By planting phacelia with the wheat we are not only offering a vast area for visiting bees, but also improving our soils, now and for the future. Phacelia has deep roots, penetrating deep into our Cotswold Brash soils, creating a symbiotic relationship with the earth and the roots of the wheat, allowing them to push their roots down further to gain extra water and nutrients. Furthermore, when the phacelia dies off in early summer, it will release nitrogen into the soil ready for next year's cropping. Also, it looks FANTASTIC 🌸 #FirFarm #organicfarming #regenerativefarming #regenag #companioncropping #cotswolds #farming #farminguk

OFFAL OFFERINGS There is fresh Ox tongue, heart & liver in our vending machines today until 18 May, after which date it will be available frozen. DM for details and orders. #pastureforlife #organic #organicfarming #vendingmachine #zerofoodmiles #offal #firfarm #keepingitlocal #quality

A welcome addition in our fresh vending machines. Plenty of pork in stock too, so if you'd like to order bulk or any other cuts, DM us 🔥

ORGANIC PRODUCE is what we are all about. Slowing the pace of life & reducing the strain on our environment by selling meat, eggs, milk & ice cream at the top of the drive. The birds & the sun making it a shopping trip with an uplift. 📍 Rectory Farm, Lower Swell 📍 Manor Farm, Upper Slaughter #backbritishfarming🇬🇧 #organicfarming #regenerativefarming #zerofoodmiles #firfarm #vendingmachine #buylocal #cotswolds

An absolute must for a balmy British Bank Holiday weekend - our ice cream is available from the vending machines and there is a flavour for everyone. Mint Choc Chip, Chocolate Orange, Stem Ginger, Caramlised White Chocolate, Vanilla & Chocolate #icecream #organic #vendingmachine #bankholidayweekend #flavours #firfarm #onyourdoorstep #handmade

Our yearlings are certainly enjoying having the sun on their backs ☀️ 📷 @georgewluckett #FirFarm #cattle #cattlefarming #farminguk #farm365 #organic #organicfarming #sunshine

Cows milked ✅ Ice cream made ✅ Vending machines topped up ✅ Easter weekend ready 🥚✅ #FirFarm #organicfarming

Turn out day for some of our milking herd 💚 📷 @georgewluckett

We're totally in love with our new Mangalitsa pigs. These three new girls will become our main breeding herd for the farm, producing around 6-7 piglets each. Mangalitsa's are originally from Hungary, and are said to be the Kobe beef of the Pork world. These girls will root through our woodlands, rejuvenating the soils and encouring new life on the woodland floor. Their piglets in a year's time will forage across our lush organic herbal leys living their best lives. Welcome to Fir Farm girls 🩷 #mangalitsa #pigs #woodlandpigs #organic #organicfarming #FirFarm

A beautiful day to come into the world ☀️ #RedPollCattle #rarebreedcattle #FirFarm #calving2025 📷 @georgewluckett

Our rare breed Red Poll cattle have started calving, at 45 breeding cows we are one of the largest milking herds in the country. This calf is another step forward to saving this breed from extinction, and also another cow now to join the milking herd to give you fresh milk daily from our three vending machines 🥛

Happy Pancake Day! Featuring our very own @firfarm milk & eggs, working in unison with local @bruernfarms flour. Sweet or Savoury? We went old school with lemon & sugar #classic #FirFarm

Spring calving kicking off with a beautiful set of twins girls at Fir Farm last night #calving #calvingseason #farming #farmlife #sussexcattle #newborn #newlife #organic #organicfarming #FirFarm

A huge thank you to @chipping_norton_rfc for planting over 8,000 hedge plants this weekend, despite the weather we've had its been a great weekend - apologies for my son turning up with a somewhat offensive hat....

It's been a busy February on the Farm with the team planting 55 parkland trees creating two Woodland Pasture fields. Trees including oak, hornbeam, maple, sycamore and chestnut to name a few have been planted in clumps around the fields to create shade in the summer months and shelter from the weather for our grazing livestock. Trees also provide nutritional and medicinal benefits for livestock as they graze their leaves when the trees mature as well as providing habitat for our farmland wildlife. This weekend with the help of @chipping_norton_rfc we aim to plant over 14,000 hedgeplants to re-establish hedges that would've been present hundreds of years ago, to recreate wildlife corridors, encourage biodiversity and capture carbon. Thankfully we have lots of burgers in the freezer to keep them going! #FirFarm #farming #farmlife #naturefriendlyfarming #farmingwithnature #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #organic #organicfarming

A match made in heaven, @sourdoughrevolutionbakery and @cacklebean_eggs honey, now available from our two vending stations @firfarm #eatfresh #eatlocal

Our milking herd here at Fir Farm are as you can see, very relaxed about life. Our milk is, we think, the best tasting milk you can get, due to our rare breed Red Poll cattle telling us how much milk they will produce, rather than us telling them how much milk we need. Because of this ethos, our cattle live a relaxed, stress-free life, only being milked once a day and giving us a lot less milk than your standard dairy cow. But the milk they do give is exceptionally rich and creamy. Cows, like all mammals, only produce milk after they have given birth, and only for a certain amount of time. We like to give our cattle an extended brake from producing milk before they give birth to another calf, which means at certain times of the year we have a very limited milk supply. Our cows will start calving again at the end of February, so please bare with us if our vending machines are sometimes empty, the girls are "trying" thier best.... #goodthingscometothosewhowait #redpoll #redpollcattle #FirFarm #milk #milkvendingmachine #rarebreed #rarebreedcattle #farming #farminguk #farmlife #cotswolds #cotswoldlife #organic #organicfarming

Merry Christmas to all of our followers & supporters. We hope you have had an amazing day and thank you to those who bought an Organic turkey from us. Here’s to a prosperous 2025.... #firfarm

Which milk to drink? @thetimes reported last week that the myth of the milk alternative has been shattered by research from Oxford University suggesting vegan staples such as almond and oat milks are not as good for the planet (or for our health) as was once thought. But what do they say about cows milk? Full fat cows milk gets 5 stars for health, as an excellent source of nutrients, in particular calcium and B12. It’s a complete protein, providing all the essential amino acids our bodies need for growth. Whole milk is also the most energy-dense option across the milk/alternative milk spectrum. But what about the environment? This is where conventional dairy falls down on climate impacts, land and water use and pollution. However, if researchers plotted the cost to the environment against micronutrient content rather than per litre, the results would be quite different. When this is done for CO2 emissions, some studies have shown that the carbon footprint of dairy milk is reversed to become less than a third that of oat milk. And importantly, it’s all about how the milk is produced which is why we rear native breed Red Polls that are 100% pasture fed and organic. So if you are looking for milk which ticks all the boxes for both health and environment, make sure to visit one of our vending machines🥛 (it’s also delicious 😋) #milk #dairy #health #environment #sustainable #healthyfood

On World Soil Day, it is vital that not only we recognise the importance of our soil, but we also educate the future generation, that the root of life lies in the soil. At Fir Farm, we farm the land regeneratively, nurturing our soils by having living roots in the ground all year round using cover crops to feed ecosystems and life below ground. “The nation that destroys it’s soil destroys itself” Franklin D Roosevelt. #worldsoilday

Our pedigree Red Poll dairy cattle enjoying their breakfast on this cold morning this morning. We have a herd of 40 Red Poll cattle, which although may seem a small number, we are one of the largest milking herds in the country! Red Poll cattle originated in the East of England and were a result of crossing the Norfolk & Suffolk cattle breeds in the early 1800's. The breed is currently endangered with numbers declining globally due to the popularity of more commercial, faster growing breeds & crossbreds. Not only is their meat full of flavour and marbelling, but their milk, we think, is unbeatable. It also makes fantastic ice-cream which is available next to our milk vending machines at Rectory & Manor Farm!

Meet our relief milker Patrick Neale who also runs Jaffé and Neale book shop in Chipping Norton 📚 “As a farmer’s son I’m delighted to join the Fir Farm team as a relief milker. This means I’m doing my two dream jobs: bookseller and dairyman. I’m currently obsessed by Richard Powers PLAYGROUND. It’s a novel about the ocean, climate change, Facebook and so much more. Powers’ characters are compelling and the writing is beautiful. I doubt I can get the Red Poll cows to read it soon, but I recommend you pick up a copy from the bookshop.” @jaffe_and_neale

Our NEW organic whole milk vending machine is now up and running at Bruern Farm. ➡️ Purchase an empty bottle at the cafe till for £2.00 ➡️ Go outside to the milk machine ➡️ Fill up your bottle with fresh milk (card payment only) for £1.80 a litre. You can use your own bottles/containers with the milk machine. Please follow machine instructions to fill up your bottle & please note that you need to hold the bottle up under the nozzle so the milk does not froth over the top of your bottle. Gently pasteurised, un-homogenised, creamy delicious milk on your doorstep. 👌🏼 #FirFarm #vendingmachine #farming #farmlife #farminguk #redpollcattle #milk #organic #organicfarming #bruernfarmshop @bruernfarms

Your favourite vending station just got better.... Now at our Manor Farm station you can warm up with a fresh cup of coffee featuring fresh locally roasted coffee beans from @stowtowncoffee and fresh organic milk straight from the Farm, or the best hot chocolate from @kokoacollection Available 24/7 for your convenience ☕️ #FirFarm

With just over 8 weeks left until Christmas it's time to finilise those Christmas lunch plans. This year at Fir Farm we have a limited amount of native and rare breed organic turkeys for sale, ranging from the rare breed Narragansett to the more native Norfolk Bronze, our turkeys have grown naturally and slowly ranging across our clover pastures and woodlands. If you would like to find out more, please email philgordon-jones@firfarm.co.uk Collection only from the Farm. #turkeys #christmasiscoming #organic #organicfarming #organicfarm #regenag #FirFarm #cotswolds

Have you spotted our NEW milk vending machine at Rectory Farm? We are now offering both whole & semi-skimmed milk, both from our Red Poll cattle herd. Gently pasteurised, un-homogenised, creamy delicious milk on your doorstep. #FirFarm #vendingmachine #farming #farmlife #farminguk #britishfarming #redpollcattle #milk #organic #organicfarming

Elevate your Sunday roast with our new thick cut Cote de Boeuf. Organic, naturally reared, Pasture-For-Life accredited Red Poll beef, available from our vending machines or direct from the farm. #treatyourself #eatfresh #eatlocal #britishfarming #farming #farmlife #redpollcattle #organic #organicfarming #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #cotswolds #cotswildlife

The Autumnal equinox marks the start of the calving season here at Fir Farm. This one has seen the weather forecast and has got the right idea for tonight...

Fresh, Organic, Pasture-For-Life accredited beef in stock now!! Find it in our chilled vending machines at Lower Swell & Manor Farm, Upper Slaughter. Thick cut sirloins, flat iron & rump steaks and homemade burgers fully stocked for your weekend. We also have all other cuts fresh at the farm for 1 week only! PM us on here to get your order in or email philgordon-jones@firfarm.co.uk

Beating the rain to finish harvest 🙌🏽🙏🏽

Have you spotted our new FROZEN vending machines at our two sites yet? We are now offering frozen beef and ice cream at Rectory farm in Lower swell AND Manor Farm in Upper Slaughter! From beef mince for a midweek Bolognese, to roasting joints for your Sunday lunch, followed by delicious homemade natural ice-cream for pudding. Not forgetting of course our eggs for breakfast and organic milk from our rare breed Red Poll herd. All of our beef is from our own organic, Pasture-For-Life accredited cattle herds, grown slowly and naturally on our lush organic pastures. #BackBritishFarming @pastureforlife #farming #farmlife #farminguk #vendingmachine #zerofoodmiles #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #organic #organicfarming #FirFarm

🚨 NEW fresh flowers & vegetables at the Fir Farm shed. 🍅 💐🥒 Home grown mixed bunches & zinnias. Tomatoes, runner beans, French beans, cucumbers, courgettes & Padron peppers. Get them while you can at the top of the Fir Farm drive in Lower Swell. #homegrownfood #buylocal #backbritishfarming #firfarm

Saturday morning moves for the Sussex cattle, grazing over post silage herbal leys. I think my dog thinks he's one of them just because he's the same colour...... @sussexcattlesociety @pastureforlife

The sound of happy pigs.... We moved our piglets today out of the woods where they've spent the last month rummaging, rooting and rejuvenating the woodland floor, onto some post silage regrowth of herbal leys. I think it's safe to say they like their new home..... #farming #regenag #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #organic #organicfarming #saddleback #saddlebackpigs #FirFarm

A pivotal day today on the farm, the day we mow our historic wildflower hay meadow and and spread the seed across large parts of the farm. This process, known as green hay, is part of our long term restoration of our grasslands on the farm. The important part of this process is speed. The grass needs to be cut in the right conditions, collected and spread to recipient fields before the grass heats up and reduces the viability of the wildflower seeds within the sward. Once spread, we will move the cattle to the fields to trample the seeds into the ground and wait for the magic to happen 🪻🤞🏽 #farming #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #greenhay #organic #organicfarming #FirFarm #wildflowers #wildflowermeadow #farmingforchange #farmingforthefuture

Our organic milling wheat surrounded by an AB11 cultivated margin looking incredible in the sun. Won't be long now until the combines start rolling 🌾

Making hay whilst the sun "briefly shines". It's been a very unpredictable season so far in the grass harvest. We were lucky to catch this hay with more rain forecast this evening. Let's hope the rest of the summer is a bit better so we and the rest of the UK farming community can get the rest of the harvest in 🌾 #farming #farmlife #farminguk #britishagriculture #hay #makehaywhilethesunshines #organic #organicfarming #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #FirFarm

Collecting your milk in style..... #FirFarm

It's been a busy few days on the farm, with the weather on our side, the team have busy conserving food for the long winter months for our two cattle herds. Our organic species rich herbal leys have been mown, wilted and picked up using a forage box to haul back to our silage clamps. Here they will be heaped up, rolled down and meticulously ensiled using cling film and thick sheets to create an anaerobic atmosphere for the grass to start it's fermentation process and transform into silage. Great work team 🙌🏽 #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #farming #farmlife #farminguk #silage #johndeere #jcb #organic #organicfarming #FirFarm

Regenerative grazing. All of our cattle are either strip grazed or paddock grazed across our farms and moved as frequently as once a day. By doing this we can move the animals quickly in small blocks of ground enabling us to mimic how they would graze in the wild - taking the best and trampling the rest into the ground and moving on. This way the cattle don't over graze, leaving longer swards and more "solar panels" for the sun to put goodness into the plants and capture more atmospheric nitrogen and carbon into the soil. It also allows the grasses and plants ahead of them to grow to their full potential, like this beautiful sainfoin plant. A win-win for all 🌸 #farming #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #regenerativegrazing #cow #cattle #cattlefarm #cotswolds

6 weeks ago this field was dull and lifeless. 6 weeks later after a bit of love things are starting to look amazing. Sainfoin, yellow ratttle and red clover starting to come through bringing a glimpse of summer in this very wet day. A haven for pollinators 🙌🏽 #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #organic #organicfarming #FirFarm

Apparently it was bring your child to work day..... 🤷‍♂️😂 . . #farming #farmlife #dairy #dairyfarm #firfarm @brownrichard442022

A trip to the new @thecotswoldguy shop in Gagingwell to see our Organic rare breed milk on display - oh, and treat the family to "doughnut Saturday"..... Well done Chris & team, this space is truly amazing 🙌🏽 #FirFarm #milk #farming #farmlife #organicfarming #organicmilk #thecotswoldguy #cotswolds #cotswoldlife

Some of our Sussex steers hoping for a bank holiday weekend of sunshine 🤞🏽 The vending machines are packed full of fresh organic milk, eggs & ice cream, have a great weekend 🙌🏽 #FirFarm #farming #farmlifebestlife #sussexcattle #sunshine #bankholidayvibes #cotswolds #cotswoldlife

We moved one of our flocks into our fruit and nut tree plantations today. It's safe to say they love their new home, scratching and foraging among the long undergrowth. The trees will not only provide shelter when the sun finally turns up, but also make the chickens feel safe whilst ranging as the tree canopy provides camouflage from flying predators. Happy, stress-free, free range chickens made beautiful golden egg yolks! #farming #farmlife #agroforestry #chickens #chickenfarm #hens #eggs #organic #organicfarming #firfarm #cotswolds 📷 @georgewluckett

Last week finally saw our Red Poll dairy herd and Sussex suckler herd leave the barns and head to the green Cotswold pastures. It's been a long, wet, cold winter for both the animals and the farm team here at Fir Farm, but with the longer days and warmer weather it feels like summer is just around the corner. #farming #farmlife #cattle #cattlefarming #redpollcattle #sussexcattle #organic #organicfarming 📷 @georgewluckett

Last night bought new life to the farm. One of our Saddleback pigs gave birth to 9 beautiful piglets! We can't wait to see them running around our organic pastures and woodland soon 🐖 #farming #pig #piglets #saddlebackpigs #organic #organicfarming #newborn #newlife

Last week our Pedigree Sussex beef herd had their feet trimmed before they get turned out to grass next week. Healthy happy feet are imperative to a happy healthy cow, by taking preventative measures like this, we can avoid foot problems in the future. We also think they quite like a trip to the pedicurist every now and then! Thanks to Tom @morris_moo_shoes for fitting us in 🙌🏽 #farming #farmlife #farmlifebestlife #sussexcattle #hooftrimming #dairy #dairyfarm #organic #organicfarming #firfarm

Look who's back 👀 5 flavours of delicious homemade ice-cream from our organic Red Poll milk are now stocked in our freezer at our Lower Swell vending station. Get it while it lasts..... #firfarm #redpollcattle #icecream #vendingmachine #organic #organicfarming #eatlocal #buylocal #eatfresh #cotswolds #cotwoldlife #lowerswell #stowonthewold

Finally the rain has stopped and we've been able to get on with some grass work. Harrowing & airseeding some organic red clover into one of our grass fields. Red clover is great for fixing atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, and has strong tap roots that grow down into the soil breaking and improving the soil structure. Once established, the purple flowers will be attract a vast array of wildlife and pollinators & also provide lush organic forage for our cattle in the summer. #farming #farmlife #redclover #organic #organicfarming #firfarm

Great to see our Organic Red Poll milk for sale in @thecotswoldguy shop 🙌🏽 #shoplocal #milk #organicmilk #redpoll #redpollcattle #firfarm #farm #farming #farminguk #organic #organicfarming #regenerativeagriculture #cotswoldsfarm #cotswolds #cotswoldlife

Did you know our fresh, organic milk is made by our rare breed Red Poll cattle? This traditional native breed of cattle is known as a dual purpose breed, meaning they produce beef and milk. We are one of a few herds in the UK who are still milking this breed, and we do so in a regenerative way, working with nature. Our animals produce a much lower yeild than your usual dairy cow, but what they do produce is a much richer, creamier, tastier milk due to the lower intensive, organic way they are farmed. We have two vending machines where you can come and try for yourself, one at Lower Swell and the other by @colnesaddlery just outside Upper Slaughter. We also stock @thecotswoldguy ! #farming #farmlife #cattlefarming #cattle #cow #milk #milkvendingmachine #redpoll #redpollcattle #organic #organicfarming #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #cotswolds #cotswoldlife

It's been a busy week of calving on the farm, this little one is happy to be tucked up in their clean fluffy straw bed in this weather #calf #calvingseason #newborn #newlife #cattle #cattlefarming #farming #organicfarming #regenerativeagriculture #cotswolds #firfarm 📷 @lucketts_photography

Another beautiful Red Poll calf welcomed to the world means another Red Poll cow to rejoin the milking herd adding fresh, organic, Pasture-For-Life accredited milk to our vending machines. #milk #dairy #dairyfarm #cow #calf #calvingseason #newborn #calving2024 #farming #organicfarming #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #vendingmachine #cotswolds #FirFarm 📷 @lucketts_photography

The joy of the calves running around once their mothers have been milked for the morning is exactly what we need on this rainy Friday morning. They will now spend the rest of the day with their mums enjoying fresh, organic, Pasture For Life milk. #calfatfootdairy #dairyfarming #organic #organicfarming #cow #calf #calvingseason #newlife #newborn #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #cotswolds #cotswoldlife #firfarm

A glimpse into our calf-at-foot dairy at Fir Farm. Instead of weaning the calves at birth like most conventional dairy farms, we believe it is kinder for both cow and calf to leave them to wean naturally when they are older - typically 9 to 10 months old, when the calves can fend for themselves. This creates a strong bond between the two, resulting in a happy, more content cow. The calves go into a connected calf-only over night pen, where they can play and sleep amongst their friends. The cows are then milked at 6am and then put back together with their calves for the rest of the day so the calves can happily feed all day, naturally like nature intended. Our milk is then pasturised gently on site before making its way to our two vending machines, one at Fir Farm, the other at Manor Farm, Upper Slaughter. It is also used to make our delicious ice-cream, also available at Fir Farm! #firfarm #farming #farmlife #cow #calf #calfatfootdairy #organic #organicfarming #dairy #milkvendingmachine #happycows #farminguk #cotswolds #cotswoldlife

💥ORGANIC CÔTE DE BOEUF Perfect for Easter 🐣 or any special occasion. 🍷 4 in stock, approx 3.2-3.5kg c£100 each. @pastureforlife accredited. Card payments only. Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm 📅 Contact Phil on 07961 573821 ☎️ NB: All meat is packaged and frozen 🧊 #organic #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #supportlocal #pastureraised #pastureforlife #firfarm

ORGANIC MEAT FOR SALE 🥩 Organic, Pasture for Life accredited beef cuts (and venison) are now in stock and available to order from the farm. Including beef roasting joints, slow roasting joints, rolled sirloin, braising steak and shin. Venison loin, mince and haunch. Card payments only. Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm 📅 Contact Phil on 07961 573821 ☎️ NB: All meat is packaged and frozen 🧊 #organic #rarebreed #redpollcattle #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #supportlocal #pastureraised #pastureforlife @pastureforlife #firfarm #venison

Farmers from the Isles of Scilly visited this week to look at the mobile slaughter unit and discuss plans to build their own small abattoir for the islands, a vital service for island farmers and food businesses. #localfood #smallabattoir #localmeat #islesofscilly

Conference attendees enjoying a farm walk led by Phil Wilson and Nick Adams with insights on the varied arable flora and fauna and birdlife @firfarm. The tour also took in our 6metre field margins which have been planted with flower rich seed mix (AB8 mix). …and a meeting with the #saddleback pigs. #conference #farmwalk #biodiversity #highwelfare #organicfarming #firfarm

Spring calving started today. This little rare breed Red Poll bull calf was born early this morning. 📷 @philgj1 & @brownrichard442022 #springtime #springcalving #regenerativeagriculture #redpoll #rarebreed #firfarm #pasturefed #organic

🚨 Book your FREE place now. The biodiversity of arable land throughout Europe is still in decline, despite the efforts of farmers and scientists and the help from agri-environment schemes. This conference hopes to investigate some ways forward for our arable wildlife. The conference is hosted by @firfarm at @hill_barn just outside Lower Swell. To book a place visit www.gwct.co.uk and go to the events section. This event is kindly being funded by Cotswold National Landscapes through their Farming in Protected Landscapes programme. @gamewildlifeconservationtrust @defrauk @naturalengland @cotswoldsnl @rothamstedresearch @gwctevents

*New Freezer alert 🥶 Honesty is the best policy they say.. We are now selling our @firfarm organic produce via an honesty @sumup card reader. Small & large tubs of organic ice cream are in stock and frozen organic cuts of meat (beef mince etc) will be back soon. Watch this space or contact us for more information. Large cuts will be available for preorder too. ☎️ #honestybox #organic #icecream #farmshop #shoplocal #cashorcard #organicfarming #regenerativefarming

In September we adopted 20 ex-battery chickens from @britishhenwelfaretrust. The hens were in an extremely distressed state with little to no feathers and barely able to walk. Fast forward ten weeks and it’s wonderful to see them enjoying free-range life in the outdoors. They are looking much healthier and are exhibiting natural behaviors like scratching the ground for food, exploring their surroundings, and socialising. They are also producing beautiful healthy eggs. 🥚 In due course they will join the current farm flock of Burford Browns in rotating round the farm. 🐓 #henwelfare #rescuehens #bhwt #regenerativefarming #organic #freerange

Between now and 31st March, Jamie and his son Lewis will be hedge laying around the farm. Hedgelaying is an important rural craft used to manage hedgerows, ensuring they remain an impermeable barrier for livestock and don’t grow unchecked. A properly laid hedge creates vital habitat and gives shelter to wildlife that no other option can rival and are a great hunting ground for Barn Owls. The fruit from the hawthorn and spindle attract small mammals inc. field mice, short tailed voles, field voles and shrews. 1. Jamie bending the spindle in to place in the ‘South of England’ style. 2. Lewis preparing a stake 3. Before 4. After - the finished hedge, topped with hazel #hedgelaying #traditionalcraft #regenerativefarming #organicfarming @daisyravenstore

Something for the weekend? 🍦 The Fir Farm vending machine is fully loaded with 4 delicious organic ice creams. Vanilla Mint Choc Chip Salted Caramel Honey 🍯 Handmade with organic milk, cream, free range eggs and honey all produced on our farm. The vending machine is located at the top of the Fir Farm track in Lower Swell. Go to our website for directions. #organic #icecream #compostable #regenerativefarming #supportsmallbusiness #supportbritishfarmers #buylocal

2nd FRESH ORGANIC MILK vending machine! 🎉 Available 24hrs a day. Located at Manor Farm, on Buckle Street between the B4068 and the Fosse Way/A429. This nutritious organic milk comes from our Red poll cows; a rare breed that are great at producing milk from forage and nothing else. 1 litre glass re-usable bottles also available to buy. #organic #localbusiness #locallyproduced #smallscalefarming #grassfed #pasturefed #highwelfarefarming #manorfarm