2025 dawned with a groundswell of inspiration, energy, and connection. Agroecological growers, farmers, and movement-builders gathered at the Oxford Real Farming Conference.
The event opened with poignant words from six small-scale farmers. These included Sandra Salazar, of our London We Feed The UK story, who spoke of the flavour and nourishment brought by community farmers who grow food with love.
Energising the crowds for the packed days that followed, the Hot Poets performed a sensational medley of We Feed The UK poems ahead of their full show on Thursday evening.
“The challenge we face is bringing new ideas into the mainstream. The opening and closing ceremony of ORFC featured poets from a collaborative campaign run by The Gaia Foundation linking farmers and artists in an attempt to tell the stories of this fascinating agroecological movement. For me, it shone light on how important art and storytelling is and inspired me to share some of my own.”
– Barney, audience member
Among technical panel discussions, policy debates, and rich conversations, attendees warmly welcomed our high-energy collaboration with Hot Poets. 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.
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.
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 our Belfast exhibition launch in February.
“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
Another vibrant moment from the conference was the first-ever ORFC seed swap, hosted by The Gaia Foundation‘s Seed Sovereignty Programme. Agroecological growers from across the UK and beyond brought regionally adapted, locally grown, open-pollinated seeds of rare, new, and heritage varieties to share with others.
“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 pockets full of seeds kept safe in specially designed seed packets, to increase the diversity and resilience of their crops.
“It makes no sense to grow seed and just keep it on your own farm. It makes sense to share seed.”
It was fantastic to share the conference with so many friends and partners within the agroecological farming movement. What an incredible way to sow seeds of intention for the coming months as we build towards our momentous exhibition, including the complete photography and poetry collection, opening in April.
