Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Mike Duxbury, the Blind Farmer, about his life in agriculture, and how he set up the Inclusive Farm, a working farm with the aim of making agriculture accessible to all. Mike tells us about how he was knocked back by all the agricultural colleges he applied to, apart from one, and how that one chance has given him the knowledge, skills and opportunity to help others into farming. He eventually realised his dream of owning his own farm when he started the Inclusive farm on an acre of rented ground in 2021. Since then, he has opened up his farm to students with disabilities, to give them the chance to learn about farming in an inclusive environment.FAS ResourcesDeveloping Safe Farming Practices | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Health & Safety [BE.RA.HS] | Helping farmers in Scotland | FASOther Resources Inclusive Farm | Cultivating Ideas for Growth | Home

*Content Warning: This episode discusses themes of suicide and may not be suitable for all listeners* Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Nigel Owens, a Welsh former international rugby union referee, who retired in December 2020 after a 17-year career. He currently holds the world record for the most test matches refereed and is one of five international referees listed as professional within the Welsh Rugby Union.  Nigel has recently purchased his own farm and has started a pedigree Hereford herd.  He talks about his early involvement in agriculture, his rugby career, his mental health struggles and his sexuality, and what he enjoys about farming.  FAS ResourcesHealth is Your Wealth: Physical and Mental Resilience | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Other ResourcesSamaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listenRSABI: Home PageStonewallSwitchboard LGBT+ Helpline

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Richard and Fiona Lamb of Fordhead Farm, Kippen, about how they have diversified their farming business and how they have adapted to the many challenges that starting new ventures has thrown at them. Richard and Fiona Lamb are the definition of ‘give it a go’. From exiting the Metropolitan Police and dipping toes, (and losing part of a finger) in their entry to farming, Fiona and Richard have faced more than their fair share of hurdles. One thing that has always been consistent in their business endeavours, is that if they don’t give it a try, they’ll never know what could happen. From camping sites, to woodlands, grass trials, firewood, farm accommodation, tea growing, Gin production, Farm shop and café, insect farming, and hemp production, the Lambs have been there, done it and learned lessons along the way.  Related FAS ResourcesEngaging with Consumers - Part 1 | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Engaging With Consumers - Part 2 | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Adding Value | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Grant Support For Croft Woodland Creation: A Comparison | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Other Related ResourcesThe Woodhouse Kippen Ginti- The Scottish Tea Gin (gintigin.co.uk) Forth Valley Leader :: Case Study "Tea Plantation at Fordhead Farm" (fvl.org.uk) Matthew Lamb of Fordhead Farm tells us a bit about their venture into growing tea in the Forth Valley! | By Forth Valley & Lomond CLLD | Facebook From holiday lets, to gin, to tea and more - diversification paying for Stirlingshire family farm - Insights - Farmers Guardian (fginsight.com) 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Anna Davies about the importance of great storytelling in agriculture and gets an insider's view from this journalist on how the media could cooperate and celebrate Scotland’s farming successes and the people who create them.  FAS Resources  https://www.fas.scot/publication/positive-pr-infographic/ https://www.fas.scot/new-entrants/positive-pr/ https://www.fas.scot/publication/writing-a-marketing-plan/ https://www.fas.scot/rural-business/crofts-small-farms/alternative-enterprises/selling-your-own-produce/marketing-development/  Other Resources  https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/OnFARM-rural-podcast-Podcast/B08JK2B3B2?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare https://www.sceneandherdpr.co.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-davies-thomson-3852a719/ 

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined this week by Sammi Kinghorn MBE.  Sammi is a farmer’s daughter and Team GB wheelchair racer from the Scottish Borders.  We spoke the week after she was back from the Commonwealth games where she won bronze in the 1500m.  We chatted about her childhood on the farm, the accident that left her paralysed and how she got into wheelchair racing.  She has such a special bond with her Dad, who instilled a love of nature and farming into her at a young age, and now he supports her with her career.   Related Resources FAS Resourceshttps://www.fas.scot/sounds/thrill-of-the-hill/ https://www.fas.scot/sounds/crofting-matters/ Related External Materialshttps://www.sammikinghorn.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sammikinghorn/?hl=en http://www.bromakin.co.uk/ 

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Chris Dyer of Garths Croft, Bressay about how an Archaeologist from the South of England found himself owning a croft on Shetland.  He discusses some of the fascinating archaeology of the Shetland Islands, how he started out volunteering on farms, and what his life is like as a crofter.  Chris tells us about starting his croft, the livestock he owns, and how he has now opened up his croft to visitors, giving them a truly unique insight into crofting life and the history and archaeology of the local area.