2025 dawned with a groundswell of inspiration, energy, and connection.
Agroecological growers, farmers, and movement-builders gathered at the Oxford Real Farming Conference. And in their pockets were small parcels containing regionally adapted, locally grown, open-pollinated seeds ready to share with others at ORFC’s first-ever seed swap.
Hosted by the Seed Sovereignty team, the seed swap was a fantastic opportunity for growers to connect with others in the network over a bustling table of colourful seeds while collecting the means to improve the diversity and resilience of their fields.
“Seed is so often an overlooked part of the regenerative farming puzzle so it feels amazing and very natural for this to be happening here.”
Farmers, market gardeners, and allotmenteers left with a variety of rare, new, and heritage seeds, kept safe in specially designed seed packets, to plant with hope and good intentions this growing season. With some luck, next year they will be equipped to bring back the bounties of their harvest to swap and share again.
“It makes no sense to grow seed and just keep it on your own farm. It makes sense to share seed.”
Seed packets designed by artist Maddy McClellan for the seed swap
Among technical panel discussions, policy debates, and rich conversations, attendees warmly welcomed the vibrancy of this addition. Another high-energy moment was the spoken word poetry, performed as part of The Gaia Foundation‘s We Feed The UK collaboration with Hot Poets.
We Feed The UK is a nationwide collaboration between the arts and agroecology, telling ten time-critical stories of regenerative farming through the lenses of ten acclaimed photographers and the words of ten award-winning Hot Poets. Four of the Hot Poets opened the conference with a medley of poems, ahead of their full evening show on Thursday evening.
Joined by the protagonists of their poems, the poets delivered an utterly palpable performance, steeped with hope and resistance. It was an unforgettable feeling to share tears of joy, laughter, and deep reflection with so many from the farming community.
The evening included two poems from upcoming We Feed The UK launches, coming soon to Belfast and Bristol. Helen Keys and Charlie Mallon are reviving the tradition of growing flax for fibre in Northern Ireland. While Fred Price is sowing a diverse population of wheat varieties, baked into delicious loaves by on-site baker, Rosie Benson. Abby Oliveira will be performing live at the Belfast exhibition launch in February.
Moved by his first experience of ORFC, Dizraeli also shared a new poem inspired by the morning’s opening plenary, accompanied by freestyle beatboxing from fellow Hot Poet Testament.
“My Oxford Real Farming Conference highlight was an evening hosted by Liv Torc, involving Hot Poets showcasing their work with The Gaia Foundation on the We Feed The UK regenerative farming project. Lots of laughter, applause and gasps as the arts and these talented artists once again cut through to the very heart and soul of our connection to this world.
– John Watkins, Chief Executive at National Landscapes Association
It was fantastic to share the conference with so many friends and partners within the agroecological farming movement, laying the foundations for a year rich with connection and collaboration.