26 June 2025

Farming for Good: Doing good through the land

Georgina Šegrt

Photographer and Videographer

Georgina Šegrt

Photographer and Videographer

Overview

At the foot of the Cheviots in Northumberland, Solidarity Farm CIC hosted a day of connection, creative thinking and knowledge exchange. The event brought together farmers, educators, researchers and rural practitioners to explore the potential of new ways of working and learning within upland communities. At its heart was a shared aim: to create space for reflection and dialogue across sectors and to consider how farming can support both people and place. 

Attendees included upland farmers, community interest company (CIC) leaders, conservation professionals, Newcastle university researchers and rural enterprise. While many came with specific job titles, it became clear that participants often occupy multiple roles in their communities, reflecting the diverse nature of rural work today. This made for rich conversation throughout the day.  

The structure of the event was designed to support these exchanges. After a welcome and introductions, participants heard from Solidarity Farm’s founder, John Harrison, who shared his personal journey and the evolution of the farm. A walking tour offered insight into the farm’s value-led approach to regenerative agriculture and social engagement.

In the afternoon, participatory workshop sessions using design thinking methods invited attendees to reflect on what they had observed and to generate ideas for future practice. The day concluded with a group discussion about next steps and opportunities for continued collaboration. 

Find out more about the event
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Solidarity Farm

Hearing John’s story was a central moment in the day. His background in farming, education and support with homelessness and work in Malawi and Liberia has shaped Solidarity Farm's unique model. The farm is a space where individuals, especially those who struggle with traditional education, can build meaningful relationships with the land, animals and one another. This deeply personal and place-based approach has created a strong sense of care and connection among those involved in the farm’s activities.  

Later in the day, participants reflected on the challenges if sustaining values-led farms like Solidarity, particularly in terms of funding. There was a shared concern that current rural finance systems place too much emphasis on capital investment, with insufficient support for revenue and staffing costs. This was recognised as a barrier to innovation, especially for community-orientated farms seeking to deliver long-term social impact.  

There was also discussion of the wider implications of the Solidarity Farm model, and its potential to be replicated elsewhere. While it may not be directly replicable, many felt that elements of its ethos, such as its focus on lived experience, embracing alternative learning, and fostering inclusion could be adapted in other farming and educational contexts.  

Themes from the workshop

The afternoon workshop used design thinking to move from observation to ideation. Participants identified several shared challenges and opportunities facing upland farming communities today. These included the need to value diversity, both in agricultural approaches and in the people involved in farming, and to find more effective ways of supporting young people who do not thrive in formal education settings.  

There was a strong sense that innovation in upland farming must be place-specific, rather than one-size-fits-all solutions. Participants emphasised the importance of working with the particular landscapes, histories and social contexts of rural places. The ongoing challenges of rural labour shortages were also explored, and the ways in which inclusive, values-led farming environments could help attract and retain the generation of land workers. 

Ideas for future collaboration included integrating education into farm settings, using networks to reduce isolation and exploring new ways of conceptualising the value of land – beyond production and profit.

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Reflections and looking ahead

The event created a rare opportunity for people working in different parts of rural landscapes to meet, reflect and think creatively together. Many commented on the value of having time and space to explore ideas without pressure to produce immediate outcomes. Others spoke about the importance of hearing stories like John’s, which demonstrated what is possible when personal experience and community needs shape a project from the ground up.  

There was interest in continuing these conversations and building practical collaborations. While the Solidarity Farm model is grounded in one person’s journey, the principles it embodies – relationship, inclusion, creativity and care – resonated with many and offered inspiration for wider application. 

 

Sustaining this kind of work remains a challenge, and it can be difficult for projects like Solidarity Farm to build long-term resilience and continue to thrive beyond their founders. However, there was also a shared sense of hope and a recognition that innovation in rural areas often begins with relationships: between people, across organisations and with the land itself. 

This event marked a step toward supporting those relationships and encouraging new ways of thinking about what rural spaces and futures can be.

Watch the video of the day

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