for improving his cattle’s welfare, naturally restoring the farm’s pas- tures, which had been stripped of life by over-use of chemicals, and his desire to be as unreliant on petrochemicals and foreign im- ports as possible.


The meeting came about follo- wing a research trip to Japan. Shin- mura-san had been introduced to me as a potential business partner and fellow farmer who is passio- nate about environmentally sus- tainable farming. He farms dairy cows, in itself unusual, as dairy is not commonly used in the Japa- nese diet, furthermore Shinmura Farm runs on a pasture based organic system.


Hokkaido Island is lush and cool,


very like the UK. Vegetables and crops grow well, and the island is home to the famous Wagyu beef and some dairy farms. Most live- stock in Japan are reared indoors and are fed imported cereals, a fact that frustrates Shinmura-san,


About Yew Tree Farm Caroline and Jon Watson farm this iconic Lakeland farm near Coniston. They rear Herdwick sheep and Bel- ted Galloway cattle, with a passion for sustainable meat production, in harmony with the environment. Caroline regularly writes for Artisan-food.


especially when the mainstream milk cartons have pictures of hap- py cows grazing in fields – sounds familiar? The trip was rounded off the fol-


lowing day with a walk around the farm, talking passionately about farming and environmental is- sues with a farmer from half way around the world. Who would


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