Certified Regenerative by A Greener World 2021

Happy we have some positive news to share as this is us here @ Fernhill Farm - An Arcadian Place to Stay

Working to become Certified Regenerative as we all plan, plot, plod and count the cow pats day in day out, doing what we do best ... livestock on our land, wool fibre harvesting in the shearing shed, producing meat for our plates, all the while leaving more behind than we take away, providing precious life ingredients as we used to know it.

Super exciting to offer certification for our meat and fibres soon - plodding along daily we are delighted to become a pilot farm with @agreenerworldorg for their new label #certifiedregenerativebyagw for both @fernhillfarm1 @fernhillfibre

The science behind our animal management is the ‘weight of hooves in our flock and herd determines the length of time these hooves interacts with land based on its seasonal forage availability and biological demands for breeding’ - feeling this annual hoof interaction we feed life back into land to enable everything else to join in with its rich diversity that is our natural world - to give, we all have to receive and soil needs protection as the skin of the earth, forage acts as it’s protective cloth.

Following the recent announcement of its newest label, Certified Regenerative by A Greener World (AGW), the non-profit farm certifier has selected over 50 farms to join the programme’s pilot phase. Building on AGW’s successful family of leading labels, the new certification will provide a whole-farm assurance of sustainability, measuring benefits for soil, water, air, biodiversity, infrastructure, animal welfare and social responsibility.

Key features of the programme include transparent, rigorous standards; high animal welfare; a holistic, farmer-led approach; early and broad access to regenerative markets; and a pragmatic, science-based approach. The certification also streamlines auditing and certification of a wide range of practices, helping farms to make multiple meaningful claims through a single audit. With one visit farmers can demonstrate grass-fed, non-GMO, humane, just, water-friendly, environmentally sustainable practices—free of routine antibiotics and toxic chemicals.

The core feature of Certified Regenerative by AGW is a five-year Regenerative Plan developed in partnership with the farmer, whereby farmers and experts assess risk, set goals and track progress toward meaningful milestones. Experienced agricultural advisors at the UK’s Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) will also be providing training and support in the development of Regenerative Plans. The role of A Greener World is to assess farms’ compliance with their own plan. Currently most regenerative claims are not verified at all, and the few verified labels are either limited in scope or require Organic certification as a prerequisite, excluding the vast majority of farmland and hardwiring practices which are inherently not regenerative.

Pilot farms were selected based on a variety of factors including agricultural experience, regenerative principles, market or educational impact and geographical diversity. Farms span four continents and over ten species, with products ranging from grass-fed lamb to herbs and vegetables. Pilot farms in Australia, Namibia, South Africa, the UK, Canada and the U.S. will partner with A Greener World over the coming year to evaluate standards, plans and auditing procedures. This allows the programme to be trailed and assessed in a range of environments, climates and socioeconomic parameters to ensure meaningful outcomes are achieved, with refinements made as needed. A Greener World expects to announce its first fully Certified Regenerative by AGW farms and products in 2021.

A Greener World UK/Europe Executive Director Wayne Copp says,

“The term ‘regenerative’ is already being thrown around like ‘sustainable’ was a decade ago, and is being used to ‘greenwash’ products or make them seem more environmentally sustainable than they are. Our new Certified Regenerative by AGW programme seeks to protect farmers and consumers by establishing clear standards and a label that farmers and consumers can trust to deliver a genuinely positive outcome: on the farm, at the table, and for the planet.

The interest in our Certified Regenerative by AGW programme has been overwhelming—and the excellent applications made for a difficult selection process, but we are thrilled with the results. The innovative farms participating in this pilot are helping to deliver a certification that both farmers and consumers can trust to deliver a genuinely positive outcome: on the farm, at the table, and for the planet. We know that truly regenerative farming requires accountability to each other and to all of the communities to which we belong—whether they be plant, animal, human, or the environment we all share. We have been humbled by the groundswell of interest from farmers and eaters alike and look forward to sharing our collective journey.”

A visit to Chiltern Wool

Here at Fernhill Fibre we love working with skilled people to create beautiful products with our wool. In a world of fast fashion and enormous, plastic-filled wardrobes, we like to partner up with others who reject the notion of clothes designed to be disposable.

This week we went to visit Rachel of Chiltern Wool in their amazing workspace. Chiltern Wool – run by Rachel and her partner Steve – combines the modern technology of cutting-edge knitting machines with use of traditional materials, namely – British wool. They work with breed-specific yarns from UK farms to create a variety of garments and accessories, using fibres that are appropriate to the item to be made.

We've been working with Chiltern Wool for a while behind the scenes, prototyping and sampling whilst keeping in contact via email. But meeting in person and seeing where everything is produced gives a new perspective, and helps us know that we're collaborating with a business that shares our values. 

It was amazing to chat to Rachel about our wool and yarn, see the truly impressive equipment in the studio, and discuss new designs. We dropped off many cones of yarn all to be knitted up into lovely accessories. We’re developing a small range to start out with, and are excited to see where it takes us!

First on the list is a collection of oversized ribbed scarves in a variety of our natural colours. These will be amazingly warm but also breathable – perfect for the harsh winter we’re likely to have after this incredibly hot summer. They’ll also be unisex, focusing on quality, ethical production and classic design rather than fussy detail.

We’re expecting to have the first batch of scarves arriving soon ready for autumn. We also have some other items in the pipeline, but you’ll have to stay tuned to see them!