Lightfoot’s Farm
In conversation with Peter How, the visionary agriculturalist behind Lightfoot’s Farm in Sway. In a hay meadow framed by veg patches and young cobnut trees, we talk microgreens, glamping and New Forest nuts. Interview and illustration by Becca Perl.
Hi Pete! Can you give us a short introduction to Lightfoot’s Farm and your background that led to you growing microgreens?
My wife Grace and I met in Kabul, Afghanistan, when we worked in sustainable agriculture and international development. We moved back to the UK in 2014 and had two boys. We bought Lightfoot’s, which had previously been a dairy farm, in 2018 and planted our first crop of microgreens not long afterwards. We chose microgreens because we needed something we could grow sustainably in a small space. Vertical growing in a controlled environment means our crops aren’t affected by the increasingly unpredictable climate and we don’t need pesticides. The idea was to reduce the chain between grower and consumer. Customers should know where their food comes from, how it was grown and who it was grown by.
So, what exactly are microgreens?
Microgreens are tiny versions of vegetables and herbs usually cut within 10-15 days of sowing, before the first true leaf emerges. This new growth is absolutely packed with bioavailable nutrients – they can be forty times more nutritious than the mature version. You eat them raw with no preparation and they can be sprinkled on anything, making them a very convenient and tasty way to reach your target of 30 plants a week.
Who buys your microgreens?
We have all sorts of customers – from lots of local families to top chefs. Most of our customers buy direct from us, either collecting from the farm or we deliver within 30 miles of SO41 twice a week. Our most popular order is a weekly delivery of three pots, which contain around 15 types of vegetables and herbs. We supply the best local restaurants including Elderflower and The High Street Kitchen in Lymington, Vervaine in Milford, The Nici in Bournemouth and Késarum in Southampton. We are stocked in local farm shops such as Ferndene Farm Shop in New Milton and Sunnyfields in Southampton, and we sell at markets when we can get to them.
Let’s talk nuts! Is it true that you’re getting into nut farming?
It’s true! We want to have nine acres on at least three sites by 2027, growing predominantly cobnuts, but also walnuts and sweet chestnuts. Tree nuts are the most climate-smart way to produce protein. We need to change our landscape to protect it and prepare ourselves for more variable weather patterns. We’re currently in talks with landowners who understand the urgent need to plant trees, and the value of getting a high value crop from them. It’s a community approach to sustainable agriculture, and we’re working with likeminded ethical businesses like Proudfoot & Co. (proudfootandco.com) and The Tinker’s Granddaughter (thetinkersgranddaughter.com) to develop products from New Forest Nuts. If you know a forward-thinking landowner who might want to talk about putting an acre or more into tree nuts (we’ll do all the farming), ask them to get in touch. Or you can adopt a nut tree for £40 and we’ll plant, protect and care for a tree on the farm and send you 500g of UK-grown nuts during harvest.
Can you tell us a bit about the glamping you offer?
We have five furnished bell tents on four pitches in our wild hay meadow. Each pitch has its own private wood-fired hot tub, toilet, shower, fire pit and picnic table. There’s also a shared field kitchen with fridge, freezer, hob and dining table. It’s really comfortable and each pitch has a good amount of privacy – some are even surrounded by young nut trees. We’re in a great spot for exploring the beaches and forest, for star gazing and being immersed in nature.
Website → lightfootsfarm.com
Instagram → @lightfootsfarm
