On Your Farm

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

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

BBC Radio 4 LW

On Your Farm: Tales from a Remarkable Valley

Tales from a Remarkable Valley

BBC Radio 4 - On Your Farm, Tales from a Remarkable Valley

Verity Sharp visits a cheesemaker in Ceredigion producing Dutch gouda.

Verity Sharp visits a farm in Ceredigion where the family business is producing gouda cheese to a 500 year-old Dutch recipe, as well as making traditional Welsh Caerphilly.

In 1981 a group of friends arrived at Glynhynod Farm in west Wales from Holland, armed with a dream of living a self-sufficient lifestyle. They brought with them, crucially, the know-how to make a special type of Dutch Gouda, based on a 500 year-old recipe. Soon after, Caws Teifi (Teifi Cheese) began, named after the river that marks the boundary between the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, a tributary of which runs through Glynhynod. Cheese-making is still going strong at the farm today. Producing organic gouda, halloumi and butter, all from raw milk, the team has recently been awarded protected status to make Welsh Caerphilly. 

Verity Sharp meets brothers Robert and John-James Savage Onstwedder who, as the second generation, are increasingly taking the reins at Glynhynod and who very much have eyes on the future. A few years ago they diversified into organic spirits, installing a distillery to produce gin, whisky, rum and brandy, and building work is underway to expand cheese production - developments they are having to balance with the desire to keep the business ethical, sustainable and artisanal. Verity also meets Paula Van Werkhoven, one of the original founder members at Glynhynod Farm, who still sparkles with memories of those early, pioneering days, and deep Welsh snow. 

Produced and presented by Verity Sharp

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

On Your Farm

Tales from a Remarkable Valley

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4