Making the Case for a Small Farm Future ... & what can WE do?

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Chris Smaje is a social scientist and anthropologist who is also a farmer on the outskirts of Frome, Somerset. For more than 10years he has been exploring ideas around what a truly resilient society might look like and in his book he makes the case for having more people working in agriculture or horticulture on small farms, serving local markets - predominantly their own households. The book has been welcomed:

• '... brings intellectual rigour to the centuries-old demand for “three acres and a cow”.'—Simon Fairlie, editor, The Land magazine 
• 'We are facing an existential crisis – with species extinction, climate catastrophes, desertification of soil, disappearance of water, pandemics of infectious and chronic diseases, hunger and malnutrition. Industrialized, globalized agriculture based on the myth that it feeds the world is driving the multiple, interconnected crisis. Eighty percent of the food we eat comes from small farms. Chris Smaje’s A Small Farm Future shows that the choice is clear. Either we have a small farm future, or we face collapse and extinction.’—Vandana Shiva, author of Oneness vs. the 1% and Who Really Feeds the World?
• ' ... the dominance of what now passes as modernity is killing us all. The methods it gives rise to and the mindset behind it are at the root of all the world’s crises. What we need now above all else is food production based on small farming – albeit assisted by excellent science and sometimes by high tech; feeding into localised economies; and deployed with true concern for the welfare of humanity and our fellow creatures. Chris Smaje, a sociologist-cum-anthropologist turned smallholder, is showing us exactly what is needed and why. A timely and valuable book – and a very readable read.'—Colin Tudge, co-founder, Oxford Real Farming Conference; author of The Great Re-Think
• In her review for Resurgence & Ecologist, Kate Blincoe said 'I am still sceptical about the practical application of Smaje's solutions in our modern world, but this creative thinking and debate are essential.'

See more on Chris' small farm future blog and read about the farm he shares with partner Cordelia Rowlatt via these links: Small Farm Future | Making the case for a small farm renaissance and Vallis Veg

Tonight, Chris is in conversation with ffinlo Costain, chief executive of the Food & Global Security Network and producer of Farm Gate, the regenerative agriculture podcast. ffinlo will invite additional questions from the audience to make this a participative and stimulating session. Come along to hear about the role small farms play in keeping us fed. Find out how we can support our local small farmers.

ffinlo's work on soil health, regenerative dairy, the formation of the Food & Global Security Network, the Farm Gate podcasts and more is accessible through the Farmwel website here: https://www.farmwel.org.uk/

We're grateful to The Grosvenor Arms for supporting this event.