North Lancashire’s Sustainable Food Partnership, FoodFutures, is running a midwinter campaign to support local food producers whilst simultaneously raising funds for Eggcup’s food justice and community building work.
Good and fair food sits at the heart of this campaign and is symbolised by the FoodFutures Midwinter Hamper. Vegetarian, vegan and omnivore hamper options are all available. Order your FoodFutures Midwinter Hamper online at eggcup.sumup.link
One of the hamper’s featured producers is Backsbottom Farm and their Roborondale Cider Vinegar.
Roborondale is the old name for the beautiful Roeburndale Valley when it was inhabited by monks. Orchards, herb gardens and royal hunting forest were part of its history. The apples that go into Roborondale Cider Vinegar are collected by hand, milled and pressed to give a flow of golden juice. This is then fermented with nature’s wild yeasts. The finished cider is converted to vinegar under aerobic conditions with the valleys natural ‘mother’ in oak whisky barrels. This is slow matured in the barrels to develop its flavor and health qualities.
Rod Everett, the farmer and land steward behind Backsbottom farm is an ecologist and researcher in organic and permaculture systems. Rod runs Backsbottom farm organically; raising sheep and over 200 heritage apple varieties. These are sold directly to local customers and are also used to produce a range of goods – including Roborondale cider vinegar.
Backsbottom Farm is also run to ensure that wildlife take priority and thrives.
When asked about his successes, Rod mentioned: “having a farm that is buzzing with wildlife. Plus teaching Permaculture to a wide range of people for over 30 years, so that they can create living systems that care for the earth, care for people and care for the future”.
“I have always tried to create a resilient local food system and have supported other local organic businesses. It feels very important for our future to create an informed local healthy food system. Recently I have become more interested in the importance of the gut microbiome and the soil microbiome and how these are affected by agrochemicals”
As part of Lancaster’s annual health festival Rod ran a session on the links between healthy environments and humans which you can now watch online via FoodFutures Youtube channel.
To learn more about FoodFutures and this midwinter campaign visit: foodfutures.org.uk/hamper
To learn more about the Backsbottom Farm visit: www.rodspermaculture.co.uk
