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Rooted: Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution
Thursday 22nd February evening meeting at Fynn Valley Golf Club for a buffet 7:30pm.
We welcome Barrister, Farmer and Author Sarah Langford to the February meeting of The Club. Sarah published her first book in 2018, In Your Defence: Stories of Life and Law. This soon became a bestseller. Detailing stories of her career as a city Barrister in London.
Her Husband the former Conservative MP Ben Gummer had lost his seat at the 2017 snap general-election and at that time they left The City to take on the small family farm just outside Debenham. Sarah turned her hand to farming, her Grandfather and Uncle were farmers. Farming is in her blood. She admits that there’s an extraordinary arrogance in me coming in and saying “well I’ve just decided to have a go at farming and I think this is how it should be done”, but she discovered an industry beleaguered with the challenges of climate change, Brexit and falling incomes, farmers faced accusations of ecological mismanagement from a hostile media and public. But as Sarah looked to them to teach her about the land, she also found a new generation of farmers on a path of regenerative change.
In her second book Rooted– stories of life, land and a farming revolution published in March of last year Sarah weaves her own story around these farmers – from dairy to arable, traditional to experimental – who taught her what being a farmer means. Intimate and moving, these stories shine a light on the human side of modern farming, and show us how land connects us all, not only in terms of global sustainability but in our relationships with our physical and mental health, our communities, our planet and ourselves.
An authentic, beautifully written portrait of 21st Century farming, this deeply personal account puts a powerful case: that the task of restoring our earth and ensuring a sustainable future both for our food and ourselves, lies in the hands of those who live closest to the land.
Sarah recognises that ” Food is only going to get more expensive, she adds — and it needs to. “A chicken should not cost less than a pint of beer. It’s too cheap in an ecological respect, in a nutritional respect; but it’s too cheap in a human respect.”
According to the Times There’s light tension between Langford and her contractor (our Chairman Richard Scott) — “He’s never had to farm without the ability to get a solution off a shelf” — but mutual respect.
We look forward to what Sarah really has to say- do join us for what will be a thought provoking and fascinating evening.