The Highland Good Food Podcast

EPISODE 9: Bees, Moths & More : Our Hidden, Essential Farmers

Bees, Moths, and More – Our Hidden Essential Farmers In this final episode of the series, we turn the spotlight onto the often-overlooked insects that quietly keep our farming systems alive. From bees to moths and beyond, these tiny creatures are under increasing pressure in modern agricultural landscapes. Unless we shift towards more organic and regenerative approaches, we risk taking them - and their vital work - for granted. To explore this, we speak with enthusiasts, experts, and growers who are making a real difference despite the challenges. * Willow Lohr - A long-time resident of Scotland and skilled bushcraft practitioner, Willow shares her deep passion for bees. Ancestral Skills Course [https://www.folkschool.uk/ancestral-skills-course?utm_source=chatgpt.com] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/willow.lohr?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Mike Read – A conservationist with experience from southern England to projects worldwide, Mike joins me to talk about the fascinating and often misunderstood world of moths. mikeread.org [https://www.mikeread.org/index.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Des Kelly, Torbreck Orchard – Offering a local perspective on fruit growing, Des highlights the essential role insects play. If you’re nearby, Torbreck Orchard is well worth a visit. torbreckorchard.co.uk [https://torbreckorchard.co.uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Seeds of Scotland – I speak to Haley Shepherd, based north of Inverness. This inspiring initiative is building a strong collection of open-pollinated seeds adapted to the Scottish climate. A resource that small-scale growers can both support and learn from. seedsofscotland.com [https://www.seedsofscotland.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Stay tuned for Season 5, coming this autumn! www.highlandgoodfood.scot [http://www.highlandgoodfood.scot] #HighlandGoodFoodPodcast #HighlandGoodFoodPartnership

EPISODE 8: What Is the Future for Community Composting in the Highlands?

What is the Future for Community Composting in the Highlands? Composting is on the rise, and whether you're doing it at home, with council collections, or at your local community garden, many of us are eager to learn more and help nurture the soil. In this episode, we chat with Pamela Sutherland, Head Gardener at Inverness Botanic Gardens Inverness Botanic Gardens [https://www.highlifehighland.com/inverness-botanic-gardens/], about all things composting. Schools are doing fantastic work inspiring kids to get hands-on with dirt and worms. We spoke to Karen Henderson from Tarradale Primary to find out how they're getting children involved. After some questions about regulations, we reached out to Fiona Donaldson at SEPA for clarification. You can check out the form she mentions here: SEPA Registration Form [http://wmx-fm12-small-paragraph-12-form-to-register-or-renew-a-paragraph-12-exemption.docx]. Next, we caught up with Brenna Anderson, Project Officer with Highland Community Waste Partnership [https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/highland-community-waste-partnership/], to chat about tips, inspiring stories, and what’s next for community composting. For more details, check out this helpful site: Highland Community Composting [https://highlandcompost.scot/]. Plus, there's plenty of additional information on food waste here: Keep Scotland Beautiful - Food Waste [https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/highland-community-waste-partnership/food-waste/]. No matter what your community composting needs are, someone’s been there and is ready to lend a hand! To find out more about what Highland Good Food Partnership is doing about food waste, then visit our website [https://highlandgoodfood.scot/food-waste/].

EPISODE 7: Is Regenerative Agriculture Really The Answer?

Regenerative Farming and Regenerative Agriculture are concepts that have been around longer than you might expect. But what do they truly mean, and how are these practices reshaping the future of farming? Could it be the transformative solution the planet needs - or is regulation required to guide this rapidly growing subsector? To find out more, we delve into the experiences and perspectives of farmers, crofters, and passionate advocates, who are driving this movement forward. Featured are Jo Hunt from Knockfarrel Produce [http://www.knockfarrel.com/], Ruth Ashton-Shaw from Low Auldgirth Farm [https://www.lowauldgirth.co.uk/], Abi Mordin from Propagate [https://www.propagate.org.uk/regenerative-farming] and farmers from the SW Scotland Regenerative Farming Network. - - - - For those eager to learn more, there are excellent resources available. Propagate [https://www.propagate.org.uk/regenerative-farming], for example, recently hosted a knowledge exchange trip and farm walks, which the Highland Good Food Partnership [https://highlandgoodfood.scot/] participated in. Another valuable resource is the Nature Friendly Farming Network [https://www.nffn.org.uk/], offering a wealth of information and free membership. And don’t miss the thought-provoking documentary "Six Inches of Soil" [https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/] ; a must-watch for anyone interested in sustainable farming practices. Check out the Highland Good Food Partnership here [https://highlandgoodfood.scot/]. And more podcast episodes here [https://highlandgoodfood.scot/podcast/].

EPISODE 6: Can longstanding family farms adapt to an uncertain future?

Sustaining a family farm through generations requires immense perseverance and dedication. However, what are the current and emerging challenges that long-standing farms in the Highlands are facing? And is it true that traditional farms are resistant to change, as often perceived? In our latest episode of the Highland Good Food Podcast, we explore these questions with John and Fiona Scott of Fearn Farm [https://fearnfarm.com/] and Hector Munro of Foulis Farms. These two families defy the stereotype, demonstrating that staying connected to the local community and embracing change are essential strategies for weathering future political and economic storms. Join the Highland Good Food Partnership [https://highlandgoodfood.scot/membership/], to help shape the future of good food in the Highlands.

SERIES 4 - EPISODE 5: Why Are Alternative Food Business Models Needed?

Here are some great and inspiring ideas from two different Scottish businesses. Both Macleod Organics [https://macleodorganics.scot/] in the Highlands and Balcaskie Estate [https://www.bowhousefife.com] in Fife have thrived by being creative and willing to pursue what they believe in with passion and ingenuity.