Brought to you from Rural2Kitchen. The podcast where agricultural minds open up. Sponsored by the Scottish Farmer. Follow us on all platforms here - https://linktr.ee/rural2kitchen To get in touch email rural2kitchen@gmail.com
The episode features farmers, artisan food producers, and the distributers working to connect the two and create a thriving hyper-local milk market. We learn how collaboration and adding value is key to keeping dairy at the heart of the community.Milk production on Arran has a somewhat turbulent history, with external pressures such as pasteurisation legislation pushing the industry to the brink of collapse at the end of the twentieth century. However, thanks to the determination and creativity of a small number of islanders, the last remaining dairy herd on Arran survives to this day, and the industry is going from strength to strength.Episode guests:Matthew DobsonMatthew Dobson is the Production Manager at Arran Ice Cream. He has worked in the family business for over 13 years, during which time he has played a vital role in the growth and development of the brand. Having grown up on the island, Matthew is passionate about creating a high-quality product that really shows off the taste of Arran's milk, supports local farmers, and creates memorable experiences for visitors and residents alike.Calum ChaplinCalum Chaplin is an artisan cheese maker producing award-winning Arran Blue, Arran Mist (Brie) and Camembert cheeses for Arran Cheese Shop at their factory in Blackwaterfoot.The cheese is made using milk from the island, and sold in shops, markets, delis, and restaurants both on Arran and around Scotland.John MurchieJohn Murchie is a farmer who cares for the island's last remaining dairy herd at Tigheanfraoch Farm. Tigheanfraoch Farm has been part of the Murchie family since 1953 and is now home to 59 cows, with 47 milked twice a day, 365 days a year.The cows enjoy a natural, seasonal lifestyle, grazing on Arran's rich pastures in summer and fed on homegrown silage in the colder months. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today we're back with Field to Front Door
From the early days of crofting and subsistence farming to the present day, animal protein has provided an essential and highly valuable source of nutrients for Arran's population. While sheep and beef production have always been central to Arran's farming economy, venison is now also being embraced as a sustainable protein source that can help to combat the growing threat that the wild deer population poses to island ecosystems.In this first episode of our new series Agroecology Around Arran, we explore how the production of meat on Arran embraces the ethos of agroecology, how farmers are working together to reduce carbon emissions from livestock farming, and what we can learn from their example.GuestsAlistair CurrieAlistair talks to us about his livestock farm based in the Shiskine Valley. He maintains a herd of around around 30 native-breed beef cattle which are fed on pasture and home-grown silage.Colin CurrieColin Currie is an upland hill farmer who has been farming sheep and beef at Bridge Farm with his wife Laura since the 1970s. Bridge Farm is situated within a SSSI-designated site that is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Colin uses his innate knowledge of the land to create a low-input livestock system that has allowed him to reduce reliance on external markets, maximise animal welfare, and work in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem.Zoë HughesZoë Hughes runs Wild Isle Venison with her partner Chris. Their work aims to honour the deer that are harvested alongside protecting the natural landscape on Arran and strengthening the local food chain. Zoë is passionate about sustainable, affordable meat that has a positive impact on the environment. Wild Isle Venison works to reconnect producers and consumers, processing venison in small batches and selling to local residents, chefs and businesses across the island.Alec PirieAlec Pirie is a Senior Consultant and Area Manager for SAC Consulting. Alec works with over 120 clients across Scotland and has a particular interest in carbon, climate and conservation. He has also recently completed a Master's degree in Wildlife, Conservation and Management. Alec started the Net Zero Arran group in 2019. This aim of this group of farmers is to quantify the island's agricultural carbon footprint and take collective action to improve it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today on series two of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we continue looking ahead to the 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Conference in Leeds
Today I had Cora on the R2Kast
Today I had Iain on the R2Kast
Today we're back with Field to Front Door
Today I had Robyn on the R2Kast
Today on series two of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we begin looking ahead to the 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Conference in Leeds
Today I had Jack on the R2Kast
Today I had Karen on the R2Kast
Today we're back with Field to Front Door
Today I had Liv on the R2Kast
Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Kate Speke Adams
Today we're back with Field to Front Door
Today I had Andrew on the R2Kast
Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Alex Brewster
Today we're back with Field to Front Door
Today I had James on the R2Kast
Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Robin Asquith
Today we're back with Field to Front Door
Today we welcome Matt Smee to the R2Kast
Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Gordon Whiteford
Today we're back with Field to Front Door
Today we welcome Julie McLaren to the R2Kast
Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Sarah Hughes
In this opening episode of Field to Front Door, Martin Caunce and David Wheatley sit down with Wallace Currie to test an idea that has been brewing for just 24 hours. From arable crops and flour milling to peonies, orchards and social media, the conversation explores what it really takes to sell direct and rebuild trust between farmer and consumer. Honest, off the cuff and unfiltered, this sets the tone for what could come next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today we welcome Liz Barron-Majerik to the R2Kast
Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Trevor Alcorn
Today we welcome Nikki and Ollie Lake to the R2Kast
Today we welcome Jemma to the R2Kast
Today we welcome Jackie Hough to the R2Kast
Today we welcome Sarah Jane to the R2Kast
Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Ben Taylor Davies
Today on the All In series of the R2Kast I was joined by Devin
Today we welcome Russ to the R2Kast
Today we welcome Sandy to the R2Kast
Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Jim Chapman
Today we welcome Aimee to the R2Kast
Today we welcome Lauren and Andrew to the R2Kast
Today we welcome Thomas to the R2Kast
Well today we welcome Aileen to the R2Kast
Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Tom Bradshaw
Well today we welcome Martin to the R2Kast
Well today we welcome Lizzy to the R2Kast
Well today we welcome Madeleine to the R2Kast
Well today to kick off the sixth series of the podcast we welcome Anna to the R2Kast
Well today we welcome Claudia to the R2Kast
Well today we welcome George to the R2Kast
Thank you for supporting for 400 episodes! What a ride it's been! Here's to 500
Well today we welcome Leah to the R2Kast
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