Welcome To Our World

Rodney Hall and Ben Moseley met while studying agriculture at Seale-Hayne College over ten years ago. After college they went their separate ways, Rodney setting up his own business outside agriculture and Ben working in agricultural development in Indonesia. Rodney spent much of his childhood on a farm in Kent where he developed a passion for farming, especially traditional methods of production and vintage machinery. This transformed into a firm belief in organic farming. Ben became converted to organic agriculture while overseas working with subsistence farmers developing sustainable farming systems that required a true understanding of the environment (soil, climate, aspect).

When the tenancy for Bickham Farm came up in 1998 the two friends were reunited giving Rodney an opportunity to realise his childhood ambition of becoming a farmer and Ben a chance to develop an organic system on a UK farm. The aims and objectives were to create a viable organic system incorporating a vegetable box scheme. The farm was put into conversion soon after arrival in October 1998. The box scheme was started in September 1999 and has grown from 40 boxes to over 300 per week.

Bickham Farm is 106 acres of deep red soil, is a mixed farm, meaning there is a mix of animals vegetables and arable crops. It is the home farm to Bickham House and Garden, one of the finest examples of a traditional Victorian garden in the country.

For up to date information about the farm look at 'The RoundUp' our newsletter which explains the ups and downs of producing your food. It also contains the dates of our Open Days.

The farm is Organic, certified by the Soil Association, the longest established and most stringent certification body world wide. This means we can offer fresh, safer and tastier produce. Food from the soil, nothing more nothing less.

The Rod & Ben Concept

Our vision is to produce high quality food to create healthy living people, we want to do this by making sure that our core values are not questioned, integrity is important to us.

Variety, freshness and good quality are the most important features of the box scheme and we grow a full range of vegetables with some fresh herbs including protected cropping for more exotic summer crops and to maintain a supply of fresh greenery and salads throughout the winter. It is important to keep things interesting by growing different varieties of vegetables whether it be pink fir apple potatoes or romanesco cauliflower.

We are farmers and we produce food for you directly. We are not a shop and by and large do not 'stock' food which is out of season. The link between the producers of food and the consumers is weakening, we are trying to strengthen it.

Seasonality

We endeavour to produce everything ourselves, which means that tomatoes are only available in the summer and we can not grow bananas. However, the best tasting food is food picked in season and eaten in season, we extend the natural season by the use of poly tunnels. We hope you will learn to look forward to the new seasons produce as it arrives in your box.

See our Rod and Ben's range