Fordhall Organic Farm
Tern Hill Road, Market Drayton
Shropshire
TF9 3PS
28 September 2024
Private event
(public book signings coming soon)
Our Shropshire We Feed The UK story takes the form of an immersive photobook by Aaron Shuman – Heft, published by GRAIN Projects and launched at Fordhall Organic Farm.
The first community-owned farm in England, Fordhall is open to the public with a ground-breaking ‘care farm’ project based there, inviting people in to heal, be nurtured, and commune with nature on their own terms within the fields.
Heft showcases the farm in a deeply embodied way. The term ‘heft’ is born from the ancient shepherding practice of ‘hefting’ and relates to feelings of connection and belonging to place.
heft
(n.) 1. a settled or accustomed pasture-ground
2. a fixed or established place of abode
3. a number of sheets of paper fastened together to form a book
(v.) 1. to establish in a situation or place of residence
2. to accustom (sheep, cattle) to a pasturage
3. to lift, raise, bear up
4. to hold in one’s hand
In his loose-leaf photographic book, Schuman captures the essence of Fordhall Organic Farm in both his vibrant images and in the overall form of the publication. Each reader is encouraged to dismantle, rearrange, and put back the pages in a unique way, to find their own innate sense of belonging and ‘heft’ within it.
The publication launch forms part of Fordhall’s annual celebration of community ownership and will include book signings and an Artist Talk from Schuman.
This is a private event – check back soon for more information on Schuman’s upcoming public book signings.
