Fields and Feasts

Pork Pies, Pastures & Proper Traditions

Welcome back to Fields and Feasts — the podcast where farming folklore meets foodie fun, all delivered with muddy boots, sharp tongues, and a healthy respect for the seasons. What makes the perfect pork pie… and what do ancient markets and weather folklore have to do with it? 👀🥧 In this flavour-packed episode of Fields & Feast, Miranda Webster and Matt Hardy dig into the iconic Melton Mowbray pork pie, uncovering its rich history, protected status, and exactly what separates a proper pie from a disappointing one. But this episode goes far beyond the pastry. From the hustle and heritage of traditional livestock markets to the age-old farming proverb “oak before ash”, we explore the deep-rooted connections between food, farming, and the rhythms of the British countryside. Expect lively chats, personal stories from the market scene, a few taste tests (of course), and plenty of insights into seasonal farming life, from winter wheat to weather watching. If you love proper food, rural traditions, and a bit of countryside wisdom, this one’s got your name all over it. --- Follow Fields & Feasts on Instagram @fieldsandfeasts2026 ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Barrels, Bottle Kicking & A Big British Easter

Welcome back to Fields and Feasts — the podcast where farming folklore meets foodie fun, all delivered with muddy boots, sharp tongues, and a healthy respect for the seasons. Ever heard of an Easter tradition that involves barrels, brawls and absolute mayhem? 👀 In this brilliantly bonkers episode of Fields & Feast, Miranda and Matt head into the heart of Leicestershire’s legendary bottle kicking tradition, a historic Easter Monday event packed with village rivalry, mud, madness and community spirit. From its mysterious origins to the modern-day chaos that still draws crowds every year, we unpack one of the UK’s most unique rural rituals. Whether it began as a pagan celebration, a local legend involving a hare, or simply a reason for neighbouring villages to settle scores in spectacular fashion, bottle kicking remains one of Britain’s most fascinating countryside traditions. Expect stories of blessed pies, flying barrels, no real rules, and rugby-style scrums, as Miranda and Matt explore how this rough-and-ready event has survived for centuries, despite nearly being banned, and why it still means so much to the communities who keep it alive. If you love quirky British traditions, Easter oddities, and a bit of countryside chaos, this one’s for you. --- Follow Fields & Feasts on Instagram @fieldsandfeasts2026 ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Easter, Lambing & a Lot of Horseradish

Welcome back to Fields and Feasts — the podcast where farming folklore meets foodie fun, all delivered with muddy boots, sharp tongues, and a healthy respect for the seasons. This week, Miranda and Matt dive into the beautiful overlap between Easter and lambing season — two moments rooted in new life, fresh starts, and a whole lot of countryside chaos. Speaking of roots, Miranda's Munch serves up a very strong dish that had her (and her poor husbands) eyes watering! From the fields to the dinner table, we unpack the fascinating connection between Easter celebrations and British farming traditions, including the story behind Easter lamb and the surprising differences between lamb, hogget, and mutton (yes, they all taste very different 👀). This episode also shouts out one of Miranda's favourite content creators Tom Carlisle, best know as Dales Farmer: https://www.instagram.com/dalesfarmer/ [ https://www.instagram.com/dalesfarmer/] Expect plenty of seasonal chat, a few quirky farmyard tales (including some duck-related madness 🦆), and a look at how farming quietly shapes the rituals and memories many of us associate with springtime. Whether you’re here for the food, the farming, or just a bit of Easter nostalgia, this episode is packed with heart, humour, and plenty of rural charm. --- Follow Fields & Feasts on Instagram @fieldsandfeasts2026 ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

In the Kitchen with Bradd Johns at The Farmers Club

Welcome back to Fields and Feasts — the podcast where farming folklore meets foodie fun, all delivered with muddy boots, sharp tongues, and a healthy respect for the seasons. This week, Miranda and Matt head to The Farmers Club in London, sitting down with head chef Bradd Johns to explore the food, history and quirky traditions behind one of agriculture’s most iconic meeting places. From its roots as a hub for agricultural debate in the 1800s to its modern role as a home-from-home for farmers visiting the capital, the trio dive into the fascinating stories tied to the club — including spy rumours, ghostly whispers in the corridors and the unexpected romance that’s blossomed on the rooftop. Of course, food takes centre stage as Bradd brings some old-school London flavour to the table. Miranda’s homemade “love cakes” get their moment in the spotlight before things get properly traditional with pie, mash and liquor and the famously divisive jellied eels. Safe to say… reactions are mixed. Plus, Matt shares a classic countryside saying in Field Phrases, and the group puts some Farmers Club folklore to the test in Feast or Farce. So whether you’re enjoying pie, mash and liquor by the Thames, sharing stories with fellow farmers in the club bar, or daring to try a jellied eel, join Miranda and Matt as they continue uncovering the history, humour, and hidden traditions behind Britain’s food and farming culture. --- The Farmers Club: https://www.thefarmersclub.com/ Bradd Johns: linkedin.com/in/bradd-johns-47784998 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradd-johns-47784998] Follow Fields & Feasts on Instagram @fieldsandfeasts2026 ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Pressed for Love: Cider, Folklore & February Fun

Welcome back to Fields and Feasts — the podcast where farming folklore meets foodie fun, all delivered with muddy boots, sharp tongues, and a healthy respect for the seasons. In this Valentine’s special, Miranda Webster and Matt Hardy turn their attention to love in the countryside — from old rural superstitions to the shifting light of February and what it means for both hearts and harvests. There’s seasonal chat, a touch of bird-based matchmaking folklore, and Matt’s latest Field Phrase reminding us why a wet February might just be a farmer’s greatest love story. Mystery Munch continues the wassailing thread as Miranda finally delivers on her promise: Matt samples her father Nick’s homemade cider. We head out on tour to hear from the man himself as he talks through his cider production — from pressing and fermenting to blending sweet and sharp apples — proving that patience, pressure, and a decent recipe can yield something rather special. The verdict? You’ll have to listen. Elsewhere, Feasts or Farce returns with more historic food oddities, rural romance traditions surface once again, and the pair debate whether Valentine’s Day is best expressed through herbs, sheep, baked goods… or simply a very dry scrumpy. As ever, it’s affectionate chaos with an agricultural backbone. So whether you’re celebrating with cider, courting with folklore, or just waiting for the light to properly return to the fields, join Miranda and Matt as they continue unearthing the weird, the seasonal, and the wonderfully romantic corners of Britain’s food and farming traditions. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.