Our story

Who are we?

We are Will and Olivia. We are first generation farmers who have built up a variety of skills which has ended up with us providing horse logging services and producing pasture raised chicken, grass fed goat meat and chemical free charcoal. We both have a passion for wildlife and ethical food production. I (Olivia) studied Environmental Science at Uni but then ended up Funeral Directing while studying permaculture and bare foot hoof trimming. Wills background varies from organic chicken farming to pipeline work and tree surgery and forestry. Will now divides his time between forestry work with our horses and running the farm while I home educate our children and also run the farm. 

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How did Spindle Wood Farm come about?

Spindle Wood Farm came about primarily as a home for our working horses. However, they alone would not be able to keep on top of the grass and horses are known for being poor graziers. Our interest in permaculture led us to realise we could stack our systems and earn a living from the land as well as benefit the soils and pastures which would in turn benefit the animals. Having a variety of livestock on the fields, moving them regularly without use of chemicals would also benefit our local wildlife population, something we are very passionate about. 

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Will had previously worked on an organic chicken farm and we had recently discovered the ideas and methods of 'pasture raised poultry'. The chickens would help us fertilise our fields naturally and eat the grass and bugs in a different way to the horses. All while providing us with a highly nutritious and flavoursome product. 

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But we needed another herbivore in the mix to help graze the fields, we tried sheep, that didn't go well, so we decided on goats. They are lovely animals to be around, quite like horses in fact, they love varied pasture so help us to keep on top of the 'weeds' which are now very useful to us as they provide forage for our goats, chemical and labour free! So that's the story of how we ended up with the animals we have, very much about how they relate to each other, as well as us and the land. 

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Because of our forestry and woodland work with the horses we extract a lot of timber from our own mixed woodland as well as other local woodlands. We discovered there was a desire for local chemical free charcoal and the process of making charcoal fitted right in with our other enterprises as well as being a good use of local hardwood timber during the summer months. The majority of charcoal in the UK comes from Africa and is made from unsuitable wood that requires chemicals to make it easier to light. Add to that the airmiles it quickly becomes a very unethical and unpleasant product to use. The timber we use is usually hardwood thinning's and Will uses methods of forestry which take out the weaker trees, leaving the stronger healthier trees to grown on and gives a continuous canopy cover to maintain the woodland. He does a lot of work on sensitive woodlands where there are rare species of flora and fauna. 

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So, from all this,  Spindle Wood Farm was created in 2018, an off grid farm in the depths of South Devon, producing ethical, sustainable and chemical free produce and services. Thanks for reading!