The Drier It Got, the More Confident I Became
After two months without rain, the fields surrounding Humphreys Farm in Essex were brown and dusty. Sam Squier’s multispecies herbal leys were still green, standing above knee height and continuing to provide forage.
“The drier it got, the more confident I became.”
Christopher Cooke visits Sam at Humphreys Farm to explore how eight years of observation, plant recovery, protective ground cover, livestock impact and increasing biodiversity helped the farm remain productive through an exceptionally dry season.
The results extend beyond drought resilience. Sam reports more grass, healthy cattle and returning wildlife. The farm has reduced the time cattle spend in winter housing by approximately five weeks, has not needed to buy winter feed for eight years and avoids an estimated £27,000 a year in redrilling costs. Most importantly, Sam, Kate and their children are enjoying a happier and less stressful farming life.
Read the full case study:
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/328643b66a.html#page/1
Filmed at Humphreys Farm, Great Waltham, Essex.
Featuring Sam Squier.
Film by Christopher Cooke and 3LM.
