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Why invest to support a better way of farming?
We're looking at how the team at Rush Farm, part of Stockwood Community Benefit Society, are using regenerative farming methods to protect the soil, ecosystem and environment for the benefit of the whole community.
The team at Rush Farm believes in doing things right. Their 190 acres of farmland in Worcestershire are managed in ways that always respect the local ecosystems, wildlife, and livestock. And as the farm is owned and managed by Stockwood Community Benefit Society, it always will be.Stockwood CBS are currently running a community share offer on Ethex, raising investment to make more people members of the CBS, part-owners of the farm, and members of the Stockwood community. By bringing the farm and adjoining rural, sustainable business park into community ownership, investors will be protecting its future, ensuring their dedication to biodynamic, organic and regenerative farming methods continues for generations to come.
Farming made better
Many of us are familiar with the term organic farming, but in recent years, the practise of regenerative farming has gained support from farmers and environmentalists alike as a way to keep carbon in the soil and restore soil fertility and biodiversity.
But why is it critical that farms like this do things differently? There is little doubt that modern, mass farming methods are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and it is widely acknowledged that we must rethink how we farm if we are to turn back the tide of climate change.
Agriculture is a major contributor to harmful carbon emissions, from overuse of land and water to emissions from intensively managed livestock. But by showcasing a better way of working the land to produce food, farms like Rush Farm are not only creating benefits for their local community and environment; they are also providing a blueprint for other farms to follow.
Why look after the soil?
The need to care for the soil is central to Stockwood's farming philosophy. Why? With the proper treatment, soil can draw in and store carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere, where it can contribute to global warming. In fact, soil can store more carbon than the atmosphere and all of the world's forests and plants combined, making it a potent weapon in the fight against climate change!
The world's soils contain approximately 3,500 billion tonnes of carbon, and conventional industrial farming methods release CO2 from the soil into the atmosphere. These methods are doubly harmful because they use fossil fuels in the production and application of fertilisers and pesticides and then artificially accelerate the life cycles of soil and animals, releasing even more greenhouse gases.
Through its biodynamic practises, Rush Farm sequesters 3414 tonnes of carbon annually, effectively offsetting over two thousand average UK cars per year. This means that each year, each hectare of pasture owned by Stockwood CBS adds over 41 tonnes of carbon to the soil - and this is without counting the biodiversity in pastures, hedges, woodland and, of course, the nutrient-dense food produced. (Data from Farm Carbon Toolkit and ONS).
Digging the benefits
Aside from adding all that carbon to the soil, here are just a few of the other benefits of the type of farming practised by the team at Stockwood CBS:
Sustainability: The goal of biodynamic farming is to create a self-sustaining, closed-loop system. It emphasises the use of renewable resources, nutrient recycling, and the reduction of external inputs.
Biodiversity: Biodynamic farms emphasise the importance of maintaining a diverse range of plants and animals. This can help improve ecosystem resilience and natural pest control. Rush Farm is teeming with wild birds, mammals and insects.
Animal Welfare: Animal welfare is a top priority on biodynamic farms. Livestock can be integrated into the farming system in a way that mimics natural behaviour, and their manure can be used to fertilise crops.
Better food: Biodynamically grown produce is generally thought to have superior flavour and nutritional content when compared to conventionally grown counterparts.
Community Engagement: Rush Farm offers a wealth of opportunities for local people and members to enjoy and get involved in the wonder of the land. Through volunteering opportunities, school visits, workshops, events and walks, hundreds of people each year are encouraged to join in activities, be inspired, and benefit from nature.
You can be a part of it
By investing in the Stockwood CBS share offer, you can help ensure that Rush Farm continues to operate in a way that benefits the land, the environment, and the community. Being fully community-owned and run will enable them to grow and deliver a positive impact to the local community and beyond.
Investments in the share offer start at just £100 and target an annual return of 5% while making you a member of the welcoming and vibrant CBS. Find out more and invest here.
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