On Your Farm

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Getting to the heart of country life with a look at individual farming endeavours

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On Your Farm: Caerhys Organic Farm

Caerhys Organic Farm

BBC Radio 4 - On Your Farm, Caerhys Organic Farm

Verity Sharp visits a community supported agriculture scheme in Pembrokeshire.

Verity Sharp visits Caerhys Organic Farm in Pembrokeshire, where Gerald Miles runs a community supported agriculture scheme - the first of its kind in Wales.

Gerald Miles is something of a local legend. At 74 years of age, he is still passionate about the farm where he was born. Caerhys Organic Farm sits right on the Pembrokeshire coastline, close to the tiny cathedral city of St Davids and with sea views of breathtaking beauty.  These days Gerald farms his 120 acres with an unwavering commitment to nature, sustainability and community. Life experiences have fuelled his belief in the power of tradition, whether it’s sourcing and sowing ancient grains, or bringing vintage machinery back to life. He welcomes people onto his land - as visitors, neighbours, employees or volunteers. ‘Life’s a party’, says Gerald, ‘and they make the farm a buzzing place’.

The achievement he is most proud of is the community supported agriculture scheme that started at Caerhys twelve years ago. The first of its kind in Wales and known as COCA, it’s a mutual benefit scheme in which subscribers pay for organic produce to be grown on the farm and delivered to them in weekly veg boxes. It provides employment for two growers while also delivering valuable life skills to volunteers who come to the farm each year from all over Europe. Today though, Brexit and the cost of living crisis, amongst other things, are making the going tough for COCA. The farm recently put out an SOS call for more subscribers. Without them, the scheme is in real danger of having to close. 

Verity Sharp visits Caerhys Organic Farm to meet grower Juli Varila and some of this year’s volunteers. She talks to Gerald Miles about the challenges COCA is currently facing - and gets to meet the small beef herd, witness some of Gerald’s vintage machines - from an old reaper-binder to a Cooch potato grader - and take in the spectacular view.

Produced and presented by Verity Sharp

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