Hodmeblog

We've launched ten pulses and grains from British farms as part of Holland & Barrett's transformation of their food range, available in their stores across the UK. It's a fantastic opportunity to make British-grown fava beans, carlin peas and quinoa, along with other pulses and cereals, available more widely and to support more diverse farming.

Down a warren of country lanes, not far from the Tamar Valley in Cornwall, is Julie Bailey's orchard Lower Trelabe, where she grows historic local varieties of apple and makes her delicious Apple Natural apple shreds, traditional fruit leathers that contain only the natural plant sugars.

At the same time as forming a trading relationship with the Kayapo, helping them protect the forest by buying Brazil nuts, we've been working with Sustain, Feedback, the LWA and Pasture for Life, to produce a report, Soy No More: Breaking away from soy in UK pig and poultry farming. Soy No More offers three scenarios that would see UK farming significantly reduce its reliance on imported soy and consequently relieve pressure on threatened tropical forests.

With 72% of UK land managed for agriculture, farming as a key role to play in protecting and even restoring biodiversity. Thankfully more farms are showing how this can be done both within and around productive land. The organic fields at Green Acres Farm in Shropshire are filled with diversity.

Supermarket shelves empty of tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and other out-of-season vegetables in recent weeks betray our precarious food system. A mirage of abundance hides a fragile system of imported foods, just-in-time supply chains, and fossil fuel dependence.

In our work at Hodmedod we celebrate and enjoy pulses every day of the year, but World Pulses Day is an opportunity to step back and consider the wider picture. Pulses really can play a crucial role in mitigating the global challenges of poverty, food security and nutrition, human health, and soil health.

Mayocoba, Rio Zape, Ayocote, Rebosero, Eye of Goat, Good Mother Stallard. Just some of the many varieties of beans sold by Rancho Gordo – our bean heroes. On February 11th (5pm), as part of the Gaia Foundation’s Seed Gathering Hodmedod's Josiah Meldrum will be in conversation with Steve Sando, founder of Rancho Gordo and joyous, irreverent pulse pioneer.