Sustainable Farming at its best: By Fran Box

South West England boasts its fair share of exceptional farmers, but our attention was truly captivated when Jason and Amelia Greenway clinched the New Entrant award, at the SW Farmers Awards ceremony, sponsored by Agriton. Our visit to Springwater Farm, where they embarked on their tenancy in 2018 with an initial offer of 86 acres of organic pasture from the National Trust near Killerton House in Devon, left a lasting impression.

Since then, their journey has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2024, their rental portfolio has expanded to encompass an impressive 1260 acres of diverse landscapes, including pastures, ancient woodlands, wetlands, and parkland. This significant growth speaks to their dedication and expertise in sustainable farming practices. Not to mention the birth of their second son just last week.

At just 27 years old, Jason's agricultural acumen is rooted in hands-on experience gained on his grandfather's farm. At the tender age of 16, he faced the challenge of overseeing the merging of his grandfather's farm with a second one that was sold. His responsibilities included managing all aspects of drilling and fertiliser applications across the expansive 1200-acre farm.

The enchanting narrative of this dynamic duo took a romantic turn when Jason, a seasoned farmer, crossed paths with the now 23-year-old Amelia through the Young Farmers Club in 2017. Together, they have emerged as one of the youngest and most successful farming couples in the region, showcasing the transformative power of passion, unwavering dedication, and a shared commitment to sustainable agriculture.

Amelia's upbringing was deeply rooted in agricultural wisdom, learning from her father who managed a farm resembling more of a nature reserve. This upbringing instilled in her a profound commitment to biodiversity and sustainability. Opting for organic farming and obtaining the pasture for life certification, they assure the public of their high farming and animal welfare standards. Their primary focus lies in farming harmoniously with nature, working symbiotically with the landscape and diverse soil types to enhance biodiversity.

Starting with a modest four Devon Red cows, they now boast a thriving herd of 280 Highland cattle, the world's oldest registered cattle breed. Originating from the Scottish Highlands, these cattle exhibit distinctive horns and long, wavy, woolly coats in a variety of colours. Renowned for their docility and friendliness, Highland cows are primarily raised for their low-cholesterol meat, which has gained popularity.

The hardiness of this breed is evident in the bulls weighing up to 800kg and cows up to 500kg, with their milk known for its high butterfat content. The Queen herself reportedly preferred Highland beef. Jason and Amelia's cattle, at home on their Devon farm, include 110 housed cattle and the rest freely grazing in allocated pastures.

In 2019, Jason expanded their horizons by acquiring 45 acres of fenced woodland at Ashclyst Forest near Exeter. In addition to Highland cattle, Jason breeds Mangalitsa pigs—a Hungarian breed with a distinctive curly coat. Housed in wetlands, these pigs prolifically breed, producing litters with marbled and flavourful meat.

This enterprising couple, passionate about unique farming practices, aspires to open their farm to the public. They believe in transparency, allowing everyone to witness the animals' lives and the complete cycle from breeding to selling meat boxes. Apart from supplying various pubs and renowned Pipers Butchers in Exeter with top-quality meat, they envision a future with on-site slaughtering, a groundbreaking and regenerative idea that would make them pioneers in the industry. Plans for a slaughterhouse and refrigeration area on their farm signal their commitment to completing the cycle and realising their dream.

We can’t wait to revisit Springwater Farm and follow its progress. We will be working closely to introduce Bokashi Composting to the Greenways—an ideal, organic-approved method to raise fertility and organic matter in soils. We are also looking forward to meeting the new addition to the farm, their second son, Rupert Redwood John Greenway born 19th January 2024 weighing 9lb 5oz. Another well done!