The Highland Good Food Podcast is a place for us to explore the big topics around local sustainable food together. A space for us to hear from inspiring and progressive doers and thinkers.
Highland Good Food Podcast
SERIES 4
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 | Facebook 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 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 Seeds of Scotland – We 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 .
EPISODE 8: 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, 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.
Next, we caught up with Brenna Anderson, Project Officer with 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. Plus, there’s plenty of additional information on food waste here: Keep Scotland Beautiful – 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.
Featuring Jo Hunt from Knockfarrel Produce, Ruth Ashton-Shaw from Low Auldgirth Farm, Abi Mordin from Propagate and farmers from the SW Scotland Regenerative Farming Network.
For those eager to learn more, there are excellent resources available. Propagate, for example, recently hosted a knowledge exchange trip and farm walks, which the Highland Good Food Partnership participated in. Another valuable resource is the Nature Friendly Farming Network, offering a wealth of information and free membership. And don’t miss the thought-provoking documentary “Six Inches of Soil” ; a must-watch for anyone interested in sustainable farming practices.
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 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.
Episode 5: Alternative Business models or how to keep fresh and excited in today’s challenging food markets.
Here are some great and inspiring ideas from two different Scottish businesses. Both Macleod Organics in the Highlands and Balcaskie Estate in Fife have thrived by being creative and willing to pursue what they believe in with passion and ingenuity.
Episode 4: What is the Good Food Nation Plan?
What is the Good Food Nation Plan? What does it mean to each of us and how can we assure that this opportunity is made the most of? In March there will be an option to join organised “consultation engagement events” Sounds a bit wordy, but it can be helpful to understand what opportunities there are to be a little more involved in the Good Food Nation plan. There will also be more informal “kitchen table talks” that you can join here.
Episode 3: Unveiling the Potential of Farmer Clusters with the Highland Good Food Partnership
In this episode, we delve into Farmer Clusters in Scotland. Join us as we explore the challenges, successes, and the exciting potential of what can be achieved when farmers unite on a larger scale. Our guests include Fiona Torrance from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Kat Sharp, farmer and facilitator for the Glen Urquhart Farmer Cluster, and Fred Swift, Farmer and facilitator of the West Loch Ness Farmer Cluster.
Full report available here “Collaboration at landscape scale: Farmer Clusters in Scotland Project Report”
Episode 2: Creative way to make a living on a croft
In this episode we meet three people living and making a living on croft land across the Highlands and Islands. Living close to the land and working with the seasons, their stories are individual, yet with similar threads of love of nature and a willingness to be creative and inventive. Have a listen and see if this way of life could be for you and tempt you to find a place to grow, or to buy more local food. There is a lot of information here https://crofting.scotland.gov.uk/.
Episode 1: Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms
Fuggo King is taking up the role of interviewer in Series 4. Episode 1 is about wwoofing (worldwide opportunities on organic farms). Fuggo talks to hosts and volunteers who have benefitted from this exchange scheme, investigating why the practical experiences can help learn about food growing and inspire us to get closer to the land. Clive and Julie, hosts near Inverness have a permaculture garden. Alex is head gardener at Allangrange on the Black Isle and Liv volunteered as a wwoofer. We hope you enjoy!
Series 3
With a whole new podcast team, series three first looks at Highland Good Food at COP26 and some of our reflections. We’ll take it back to the local level after that. Laura Dorantt, a new Highland Good Food team member will be heading up these podcasts, and we’re really excited for you to listen to them!
Episode 4: Educating and training for a sustainable food system
In this episode we explore some of the ways education and training can contribute to teaching young people and adults how to grow food and develop skills for life and work. We speak to the manager of a small working farm on the Black Isle, the founder of the Lochaber Rural Education Trust and the Headteacher in charge of a ‘Grow, Cook, Compost’ primary school project.
Episode 3: Community Food
Laura speaks to Anna from Planet Sutherland, Mairi from the Fearn Free Food Garden and Emma from the Auchtertyre Community Garden. They discuss the importance of community food projects, which offer a space for learning, a place to gather and grow. A very inspiring listen!
Episode 2: COP26 Reflections, Part 2
This is our second instalment to the COP26 Reflections podcast. Laura speaks to Yvan Biot, who was involved in the Fork to Farm Dialogues at COP26, and Highland Good Food Coordinator, Catriona Ferguson. The COP26 reflection episodes are inspired by the Outraged and Optimism, a podcast that explores the stories behind the headlines on climate change and is “for everyone looking to expand their understanding of the climate crisis and get inspired to take action.”. We recommend you give it a listen!
Episode 1: COP26 Reflections, Part 1
In this episode, Highland Good Food team member Laura Dorrant speaks to Diana, Nourish Scotland’s Food Justice Project Officer and Martina from a female founded collective on the outskirts of Mexico City, that has a vision for diverse and inclusive food systems. Laura asks Diana and Martina what they felt optimistic and outraged about while they were at COP26 and afterwards.
Series 1
Throughout the first series we chatted to a wide range of folk in the local food sector; exploring the challenges and highlighting the opportunities.
Episode 1: What is the role of community food?
Episode 2: Is regenerative farming the future?
Episode 3: Taking Control Of Our Bread
Episode 4: What’s Your Food Story?
Episode 5: Is Local Dairy Possible In The Highlands?
Episode 6: How Can Retailers Adapt To A Changing Food System?
Episode 7: What Does It Take To Be A New Entrant Farmer in 2020?
Episode 8: Can A Thriving Aquaculture Sector Support Healthy Communities?
Episode 9: Can We Have Successful Vegetable Enterprises In The Highlands?
Episode 10: How Can Food Policy Change in 2021?
Series 2
Season 2 of the Highland Good Food Podcast is all about stories, and we will be sharing food stories from folk who are already doing amazing things around the Highlands.
Episode 1: Salami, Seaweed & Beer
In episode 1 we hear from Anja Baak from Great Glen Charcuterie, Sam Faircliff from Cairngorm Brewery, Keith Paterson from SHØRE Seaweed and David Gass at the Highland Food & Drink Innovation Network. What drives them, and why are they so passionate about food in the Highlands.
Episode 2: How do ‘small’ individuals make a BIG impact on the Highland Food System?
This month on the Highland Good Food Podcast, we hear from five Highland women who have made a huge impact on their local food systems. Sophie from Post-tatoes, Ella from Left Coast Culture, Helen from Elphin Green Bowl and Kate and Katherine from Raasay Walled Garden. Hear how these amazing women have influenced their local food systems with their simple but extremely innovative ideas, and how their passion for food and the Highlands drives them.
Episode 3: Taking a holistic view of the food system
This episode we will hear from a diverse range of sectors across the Highlands. And although the content of each story is very different, they show how the food system is made up of a huge variety of parts. And there are people in all areas, trying to make food better for everyone.
We hear from Douglas Hardie from the Highland Food & Drink Trail, Birgit Rieck – a community paediatrician at Raigmore Hospital, and Nick Underdown from Open Seas.
Episode 4: International Climate & Food SPECIAL EPISODE
In our final episode of season 2, we are looking at the international food system as a whole, and how we need to address this holistically for us to slow down, and adapt to climate change. With special guest, Mike Berners-Lee (author of ‘How Bad Are Bananas?’), and stories from Food Tank in the USA and the Mijikenda Community in Kenya, we look at taking a ‘whole food systems approach’, and the importance of collaboration. Pablo Thorne from Nourish Scotland and Keith Masson from the Highland Council then help us to contextualise all of this, with regards to Scotland’s climate commitments at COP26 this November.
Produced by Rachel Butterworth https://www.instagram.com/runawaycrofter/
Music by https://emmabutterworthmusic.com/
Highlights from the Highland Good Food Conference 2021
We share some of the top provocations from the Highland Good Food Conference 2021, and explain the vision and actions that came out of the event.
Credits
Series 1 and 2 were produced by Rachel Butterworth and Emma Whitham.
Series 3 is produced by Laura Dorantt and Catriona Ferguson
Series 4 was produced by Fuggo King and edited by Rachel Butterworth
The beautiful music that features in all of our podcasts is by Emma Butterworth and Rachel Butterworth