Skip to content

Going Green

Fieldpower Organics signposts the way to zero-carbon farming

by Julian Jackson 12 Aug 2011
Fieldpower Organics signposts the way to zero-carbon farming

"I ain't no farmer", says Paul Sousek, "I had a long career in market research, but when I discovered Peak Oil in 2004 I decided to quit my job and invest my family savings in agricultural land." Paul, in his Cottage Farm in the west of England, is now a leading small-scale organic farmer, calling his brand Fieldpower Organics.

He concentrates on zero-carbon farm practices. He decided to implement his own style of organic farming with near-zero use of fossil fuels, powered as much as possible by renewable energy, using local inputs and selling his produce locally, to try to create an example of a self-sufficient and resilient food supply.

Paul started off with no farming experience, and did a one day course on "Cows for Beginners", before implementing his organic farming journey. "Before I started this I had never even sat on a tractor," he says.

You might think he is crazy, you perhaps would expect that he would fall flat on his face....but no, Fieldpower Organics is going strong, selling organic meat delivered fresh to customers' doors.

He says, "We use no artificial fertilizers or pesticides so our 'Red Ruby' cattle mature slowly, grazing peacefully on the natural pasture of North Cornwall. We do not use any GM fodder, routine antibiotics, growth promoters or even fossil fuels...and still our meat will cost you less than ordinary meat from butchers or supermarkets. Hard to believe but true!"

He attributes the lower cost to their direct sales to customers, with no supermarket mark-up, using no fossil-fuel based fertilisers, and minimal energy bills to run the farm.

the Sousek family, R-L, Paul, his wife Celia, sons Ben and Joe, together with Mambo, their dog and some of their farm animals

Photo: the Sousek family, (R-L) Paul, his wife Celia, sons Ben and Joe, together with Mambo, their dog and some of their farm animals

The meat that results from this care is tender with a delicious flavour and free from injected water and other dubious practices of the supermarkets. Customers receive beef or lamb boxes delivered fresh to their door in a variety of sizes, and the farm also sells sheepskins. Although they mostly deliver locally, they are now receiving orders from all over the UK. They have recently instituted a special carbon-neutral delivery service to London.

Cottage Farm showing the solar panels on the roof

Photo: Cottage Farm showing the solar panels on the roof

The farm is rated as a "Superhome" which means it is a benchmark for low carbon emissions and energy efficiency - see here for a previous Earth Times article. Their water is heated by solar thermal panels and in winter they use a wood burner fuelled by their own wood. Electricity is generated by a 5KW wind turbine plus solar panels. They have cut their energy emissions by 110% (from 7 tonnes/year to -0,7 tonnes/year) because they produce more renewable energy than they use. Their water is heated by solar thermal panels and in winter they use a wood burner fuelled by their own wood. Electricity is generated by a 5KW wind turbine plus solar panels. They have cut their energy emissions by 110% (from 7 tonnes/year to -0,7 tonnes/year) because they produce more renewable energy than they use.

Their 5KW wind turbine

Photo: the farm's 5KW wind turbine

Their transport fuel is biodiesel from waste oil. The farm runs three diesel vehicles, a car, a Land Rover, and a tractor on this fuel. Paul says, "They all run perfectly well, without any modifications, even in the cold."

If he was unable to source waste oil, he expects that 10% of his land could be turned over to oil crops as feedstock for biodiesel.

His main equipment purchase was an old but reliable Ford tractor because it doesn't have complex electronics and therefore can by kept running by mechanics and will not fail because high-tech components are no longer available.

Their energy use is nearly carbon-neutral. Paul is very enthusiastic about the possibilities of low-carbon farming. He says, "Dairy farmers are sitting on methane gold mines," referring to the large amount of energy that can be generated by anaerobic digesters using cattle manure to produce methane as fuel.

Paul says, "Our aim in converting the farm to organic, the house to renewables and our lifestyles to carbon neutral was to establish an exemplar house and farm of the future, that is truly sustainable and resilient in the face of the energy hikes and scarcities we will face in the future."

All Photos © Paul Sousek

Links:

Fieldpower Organics

Cottage Farm email

Transition North Cornwall


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping