Not Your Average Farm Shop : Recent Episodes
The Farm Stratford
What do you think of when you hear the words 'farm shop?' Beyond the animals and irresistible local produce, we're confident that yoga, wellness workshops and podcasting aren't the first things that spring to mind! Situated just a couple of miles outside of Stratford-Upon-Avon, there's a lot more to The Farm than meets the eye. From wellness to sustainability, this podcast will uncover everything it means to be a farm shop in a changing world. We’ll be talking to suppliers, customers and staff members about wellness, sustainability and health...to show you how to live and love local.
John Conod is no stranger to top quality beer. And as Purity Brewing Co's Experience Manager, it's his role to unite beer-lovers as an avid ambassador of the Purity brand.
Based just 7 miles from The Farm Stratford in rural Warwickshire, Spernall Farm is home not just to Purity beer, but the longhorn cows, lawless goats, mad geese and useless dogs that appear on their cans!
In this episode, I sit down with John to chat all things brewing, beer and B Corp.
Did you know...it takes on average 8 pints of water to produce a single pint of beer? But not at Purity. Ahead of World Water Day on 22nd March, we get to the heart of Purity's sustainable beer production as we discuss the secrets to a quality pint.
If you're a fan of their beer, you'll know that the Purity ethos is built upon 3 key pillars:
Pure Quality, Pure Eco and Pure Community. Here at The Farm we're huge advocates of their beer, and couldn't be prouder to have them as one of our suppliers.
This episode is dedicated to Jim Minkin, Purity co-founder and visionary who sadly passed away in 2020. Purity 'Jimbo' is a lasting tribute to Jim and a way to ensure his legacy lives on through his love of quality beer.
As part of Purity’s commitment to the local community and a further way of continuing Jim’s legacy, the brewery donates 5p per pint to the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund (PCRF).
Visit the brewery shop at Upper Spernall Farm or find out more about Purity online:
Website - puritybrewing.com
Instagram - @purityale
Facebook - Purity Brewing Co
Why not enjoy a cold glass of Purity here at The Farm? Or if you already have a favourite, the brewery's bestselling beers are available for purchase in our farm shop.
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook.
To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
Charlie Demetriou is on a zero waste mission. Emerging from the pandemic in the footsteps of its sister store in Leamington Spa, Zero (Stratford) opened its doors in 2021. Situated on Rother Street, the shop is in a prime location for eco-conscious locals, and has become a go-to destination for many of our plastic-free snacks, household cleaners and store cupboard essentials.
Saving money, reducing packaging and preventing food waste are just 3 advantages of shopping zero waste, not to mention supporting wonderful independents that put people and the planet first <3
Founded on collaboration and transparency, Charlie's ambition is simple: to provide a much needed service to anyone who might want to try and make a lifestyle change for lower impact, cleaner living.
In this episode, we openly discuss the challenges of being a small business owner, the biggest barriers to zero waste hitting the mainstream, as well as challenging the assumption that zero waste living has to come at a premium (it definitely doesn't!)
We also chat bake-at-home bagels (head to the Zero website for Charlie's recently perfected recipe!), moments of unity when times are tough and how to get back on track with zero waste living when you feel disheartened.
"100% I wouldn't have been able to do it without the team. I don't see it as I'm the boss and they're the staff. We're all on a level and have our own great skills. We genuinely all love everything about the shops and the space that we have and the interactions that we have. It's really important to me to foster that happiness."
To join the zero waste conversation, follow Zero on social media:
Instagram - @zerostoreuk
Facebook - Zero (zerostoreuk)
Zero also offers online click and collect or delivery on many of their products, as well as weekend pre-orders on their delicious sourdough bread! (sourced from @cornercottagebakery). Discover their story and support online at zerostore.co.uk.
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook.
To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
When I saw that resilience is a synonym for spring (the surname of one of today's lovely guests!), the name for this episode was a no brainer.
Whole-heartedly passionate about what they do, the team at South Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind are committed to bridging the mental health conversation.
In this episode, I chat to Jess and Laura (Breathing Space Team Leader and Practitioner) about all things mental health and the abundance of support available in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Offering people the tools to build their own wellbeing toolbox, this episode is all about looking inwards to work out what works for you - to build inner resilience in the face of life's challenges.
While conversations around mental health can be heavy, stay tuned 'til the end of the episode for some lighthearted content which (we hope) will put a smile on your face!
South Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind (formerly Springfield Mind) have lots of support available if you need to reach out - no worry is too small.
See below for a list of resources and upcoming campaigns:
- What’s on your mind? This February, we’re launching our ‘what’s on your mind’ campaign to raise awareness of mental health and the importance of looking after our mind. The idea of the campaign is to encourage people to share what’s on their mind and create a safe space for people to leave their thoughts, feelings, and awareness around mental health with a heart in the sky using our virtual fundraiser. If you visit our website or social media, you can find a link to get involved and support the campaign: https://visufund.com/what-is-on-your-mind!
- Wear it blue for SWWMind: It’s not always obvious when someone is feeling blue (low mental health), so we are asking you to get involved and wear blue to raise awareness of mental health. It is so easy to get involved, whether you’re taking part by yourself or as a team, pick a day and remember to wear something blue. This campaign will be officially launching in spring, but we’ve had people getting involved already. One team got together during a Teams meeting call where everyone changed their backgrounds to blue!
- Make a one-off donation! https://swwmind.enthuse.com/profile
- Become a regular giver: A really easy way to support SWW Mind from as little as £3 a month (or whatever you choose). A good way for people to really help us without having to be involved with big events or challenges. https://swwmind.enthuse.com/profile
- Organise a community event: For example, Bake Sales, Raffles, Quiz Nights etc.
- Take part in a challenge: For example, local marathons i.e.: Shakespeare half marathon. Organise your own challenge, we have a supporter who has challenged himself to run up Snowdon in June!
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook.
To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
Ashlea Mallett is a person after my own heart. Her love of nature and deep care for the environment places her in the perfect position to take on her Sustainability Advisor role at Stratford and Solihull Colleges.
I first met Ashlea after a contact from one of our monthly business breakfasts here at The Farm put us in touch, and in the months since we've been working together to build a more sustainable way of operating as a business.
In this episode, we de-bunk commonly held myths about sustainability, discuss how to recognise greenwashing and consider some of the things we can all do to live sustainably in the face of climate anxiety (hint: all you can do is your best <3)
We also cover Ashlea's holistic approach to sustainability (including her boat lifestyle!), why it's so crucial to follow your gut (in business and in life) and why compassion is the key to a better future.
"One of the biggest lessons I've learnt so far is to be compassionate. If you live in hatred and sadness, you're just not going to be a happy person. If you're being compassionate to other people, you're actually being compassionate to yourself."
...and when we're compassionate to ourselves and others, that quickly translates to the way we care for the planet. What could be better than that?
If you're a business in the local area looking for sustainability support, connect with Ashlea Mallett on LinkedIn to find out more about the European Social Fund's Collaborate To Train project.
You can also find out more via the Stratford-upon-Avon College website:
www.stratford.ac.uk/employers/collaborate-to-train
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
Lucy Parrott is a qualified teacher with over 22 years education experience, including 6 years running her own home ed writing workshops in the Stratford area.
Back in August, Lucy and I ran a writing workshop together - and in preparing for that, we had a conversation which brought to light our shared love of writing; Lucy from a more poetic, creative perspective, and me, looking at the inspiration to be found from journalling.
Fascinated by the wonders of nature and all things the celestial, Lucy invites her students (both adult and child) to unearth their inner creator. By letting words flow and keeping tabs on our inner editor, Lucy believes that creative work will flourish.
In this candid episode, we talk all things inspiration, advice for budding writers and dream writing scenarios (think cosy cabin in the Swiss Alps!). We also explore the importance of creativity in all its forms, the influence of healing on the creative process and why writing feels so energising.
At the end of the episode, Lucy also shares a very special piece of writing from one of her cherished students, Dylan.
"There are many reasons I love teaching in the home ed environment but I think, best of all, it’s the atmosphere and freedom of expression we can all enjoy."
Learn more about Lucy's writing workshops via her Facebook page -
Lucy Parrott writing workshops
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
I first met Janet and Stephen when I sat in on their conversation on Welcombe Radio's Environmental Exchange programme in October...and I knew straight away that I wanted to learn more about their determination to protect the planet.
Janet Palmer is the co-ordinator of Stratford-Upon-Avon Friends of the Earth, a group of around 40 local people campaigning for solutions to environmental problems, the sustainable use of Earth's resources and better protection for nature.
Stephen Norrie is the founder of Stratford Climate Action, an independent, non-party political, local campaign he set up in 2018 - aiming to increase action and awareness on the climate emergency.
In this episode, we discuss the success of September's Great Big Green Week (plus dates for next June! 10th-18th), reflect on the outcomes of COP27 and the Global Day of Action.
We also talk about the very common feelings of overwhelm among climate activists, where to find the energy to maintain momentum and how to balance the demands of life as a politically-engaged public figure with our wellbeing.
Resolving to work towards a better future, we also point towards some key starting points for those who want to get involved in the climate movement but aren't quite sure where to begin.
Find out more about local climate events and get involved with Janet and Stephen's work here:
Stratford Climate Action:
https://www.stratfordclimate.org/
https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/742398836118391/?mibextid=6NoCDW
Stratford-Upon-Avon Friends Of The Earth: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/groups/stratforduponavon-friends-of-the-earth
https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/691185111045097/
The Stratford Repair Cafe runs on the first Saturday of every month 10am-2pm at Foundation House (144 Masons Road, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 9NF). Please note: There will be no repair workshop in January; the next session will take place on Saturday 4th February 2023.
Links to resources mentioned in the episode:
Act On Energy - https://actonenergy.org.uk/
Warwickshire Climate Alliance - https://warwickshireclimatealliance.org
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
Over the last 3 and a half years, Ron has become one of The Farm's regular customers. After countless till conversations and a shared love of The Farm's unpackaged chocolate gingers, I wanted to spend some time chatting to him about his decades living and working in Zambia and Canada.
In this episode, Ron vividly recalls some of his most memorable moments living outside the UK (including a remarkable close encounter with an African elephant!), his ability to get talking to anyone and how travel has changed him and his children forever.
I have a confession.. this conversation originally lasted more than an hour, but in editing the episode I managed to delete the second half of our conversation. Sincerest apologies to Ron who took the time to talk to me for this episode - I hope you can forgive me!
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
Lucie Duggan is the owner of 'The Rustic Shack', a small local business specialising in vintage finds and rustic homeware. In her own words, all of Lucie's pieces are ethically sourced and styled with love.
Drawing on years of travel and her own experiences in nature, Lucie uses the world around her to reimagine interiors and give forgotten furniture a new lease of life.
In this episode, we talk about why up-cycling is the future of sustainable living, how The Farm came to house her products and the magic of finding furniture with a story.
We also discuss the many hats required to bring a small business to life, Lucie's dream home and how the Danish concept of hygge (think candles and cosy rugs) can transform our homes.
Learn more about Lucie's unique homeware pieces here:
Website - therusticshack.co.uk
Instagram - @therusticshackk
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
Darren Putt is the founder of Motus Training Ltd, a holistic lifestyle training brand based in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Using his own health struggles to inspire individuals and businesses to put wellbeing at the top of their priority list, Darren is keenly aware of the need for balance when it comes to pursuing lifestyle change.
He insists that restriction is not the answer for long-term health, and is a strong believer that taking personal responsibility for our wellbeing is founded on consistency - whether that's through consistent movement, eating well or healthy sleep habits.
In this episode, we talk about taking ownership for our health needs - why time is becoming such a big barrier to progress, the vital distinction between discipline and motivation, and why going 'off the health rails' every so often might not be such a bad thing!
Darren also shares the music that gets him and his family hyped, the meditative effects of surfing and the story behind his idea that 'everything popular is wrong'.
For this episode, I'm also joined (for the second time!) by The Farm's founder and director Charlie Wells - for her take on personal responsibility, finding balance as a busy business owner and the ground-breaking idea that there's joy to be found in bringing life to work.
Darren has already delivered 2 free sessions at The Farm Stratford - one on the mind-blowing benefits of a good night's sleep and the other on the transformative effects of eating well. His next free session, 'Staying On Track with Your Health This Christmas' is taking place 9.30-10.30am in our private dining area on 16th November.
Keep up to date with the rest of The Farm's wellness events by signing up to our newsletter and register for workshops (including Darren's on 16th November!) via our Facebook and Eventbrite pages.
Find out more from Motus Training online at: motustraining.co.uk
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
Mike O'Hara is the co-founder of Start Within UK, an employee wellbeing and lifestyle training brand based in Alderminster.
Formerly in the RAF, Mike draws on his own mental health struggles to connect and inspire - delivering a range of workshops in business, charity and community spaces.
In this episode, we talk about all things community - from the evolutionary origins of connection, why social media doesn't have to be divisive and why the word 'community' can be a major turn-off when it comes to finding our tribe.
He also talks about the support available in Stratford for new parents, navigating through sporting injury and his absolute love of pigs!
Mike has already delivered 2 free sessions at The Farm Stratford - one on coping with stress and burnout and another on financial wellbeing. Keep up to date with the rest of The Farm's wellness events by signing up to our newsletter or checking our Facebook and Eventbrite pages.
If you're seeking mental health support, see below for Mike's recommendations:
Hub Of Hope (website and app) - hubofhope.co.uk
South Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind - springfieldmind.org.uk
Connect with Mike and Abbey (the other half of Start Within!) online and via social media:
Instagram - @startwithinuk
Website - startwithin.co.uk
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
To celebrate World Farm Animals Day on 2nd October, this episode takes a special look at the animals we have here at The Farm.
For this episode, I chat to James Robins, co-founder of Flourish at The Farm, a Warwickshire County Council Approved alternative learning environment that encourages children to learn through physical, emotional and practical skills.
Centering their approach on outdoor learning, the animals play a key role in building relationships between children and their supervising adults. So if anyone knows the animals best, it's definitely the Flourish team!
Rocky is one animal who won the hearts of all of us here at The Farm. After sadly losing his mum not long after he was born, Rocky became a firm favourite to the Farm team...and 7 months on, he's grown into a bit of a teenager!
From den building and foraging to cookery and animal care, Flourish offers a range of alternative learning provisions for children aged 6-14 years old. Check out their holiday clubs and term-time offerings and book via the Flourish website:
Website - flourishatthefarm.co.uk
Instagram - @flourishatthefarm
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
In this special bonus episode, I chat to as many Farm team members as possible about their most memorable Farm moments.
The episode also features a conversation with lovely team member Ellie! Catch her talking about her favourite Farm foods, her best advice for letting go of worry and how The Farm's helped her grow ahead of leaving for uni.
We also chat green smoothies, the sights of Sorrento and the best tunes for dancing.
Special thanks to Ellie, Alyson, Aled, Emily, Tony, Zoltan, Hannah, Grace, Sarah D, Will, Maddie, Alex, Amalia, Ben and Kay for featuring on this episode.
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
Shireen and Greg Dhaliwal-Davies are the husband and wife duo and co-founders of Indian-inspired condiment brand 'Auntie's Sauces'. Taking inspiration from Shireen's grandmother or 'Auntie' as she is lovingly known, authenticity and family values are at the heart of Auntie's as they strive to share delicious Indian recipes from their origins in Delhi.
In this episode, I talk to Shireen and Greg about the story behind Auntie's, the role of personality in building a brand and the secret skills that make their sauces taste so good!
As regular attendees at The Farm's Makers Markets, if you haven't tried Shireen and Greg's delicious creations, you don't know what you're missing!
You can catch Shireen and Greg at our big End of Summer Makers Market on 24th September 10am-4pm.
Instagram - @eatwithaunties
Website - eatwithaunties.com
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
Phill Kalli started Fill Refill Co in...
In this episode, I talk to Phill and Celia about the inspiration for their business, what it means to take responsibility for our actions.
We also discuss Celia's love of growing her own strawberries and Phill's favourite tracks to spin on his beloved record player!
Check out the range of Fill's products on their website and keep up to date with all the latest news:
Instagram - @fill_co
Website -
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
At the start of 2022, Hannah Roxanne Basnett took on a challenge that most of us could only dream of: an almost 1000km walk of the Monarch's Way. Raising money for Rewilding Britain (@rewildingb on Instagram), Hannah wanted to shine a light on the work being done to restore the UK's natural areas. As many Stratford locals will know, The Farm is perfectly situated along a beautiful part of the Monarch's Way - making it the ideal rest stop for hikers and dog walkers.
In this episode, I talk to Hannah about the highs and lows of her 57 day journey from Southampton to Brighton, her favourite snacks en route and why connecting with the great outdoors is one of the most powerful things we can do to protect our planet.
In the months since speaking to Hannah, she continues her climate activism through her ongoing work with Extinction Rebellion. And her outdoor adventures don't stop there! Her latest trip took her to a nudist commune in France.
Keep up to date with Hannah's next steps and support her rewilding mission here:
Instagram - @hannahroxannebasnett
TikTok - @mowglichildxoxo
JustGiving - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hannah-basnett
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarmstratford
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford
After growing up in the Stratford area, Charlie Wells studied business in Bristol - and that was where her idea for The Farm Stratford was born. It all started with Nourish – the Farm’s café, which prides itself on delicious food, from stone-baked pizzas (in our very own pizza oven) and mouth-watering cakes to nutritious salads. Keen to create a plan centered on minimising food waste, Charlie was inspired by ‘Skipchen’ - a non-profit restaurant in Bristol which creates fine-dining meals from food otherwise destined for landfill. After setting plans for Nourish in motion, ambitions for the farm shop and deli quickly followed - and after many hard months transforming the site into what it is today, we were ready to open from April 2019. More than 3 years on, there’s still a way to go, but we’re very proud of how far we’ve come and can’t wait to see what the future has in store.
In this chat I talk to Charlie about her childhood dreams, inspiration for The Farm and the biggest challenges she's had to face as the owner of a small business. From memorable moments and lesser-known revelations to our favourite Farm products, we discuss everything that makes this farm shop more than average!
Not Your Average Farm Shop is hosted and produced by Lily Holbrook. To contact us, send an email or voice note: hello@thefarmstratford.co.uk
Find us on social media:
Instagram - @thefarm
TikTok - @thefarmstratford
YouTube - The Farm Stratford