Dominic Fairman of South Penquite Farm, Blisland, Bodmin.

South Penquite Farm is an 80 ha hill farm on Bodmin Moor with 200 Cheviot ewes, 20 Galloway cows as well as various chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and 10 horses. There is a small tent-only campsite open over the summer months and four Mongolian yurts available to rent. Dominic also organises regular visits from local schools.

• Can you give a short history of how you got to where you are now, including why and when you 'went organic'?
  Before conversion in 1999 we were a typical subsidy collecting upland ranch maximising our stocking rates and farming the premiums. Three things happened during that year: First, there was a total solar eclipse, which we took as an opportunity to open a small tent campsite; second, we took advantage of a European funded scheme which offered capital grants to farms that signed up to Countryside Stewardship; and, last but by no means least, we commenced organic conversion. This was all a radical change from our lives before and each of the new enterprises complimented the other two.

• Can you describe a typical day in your life?
  Cathy’s alarm goes off at 5am and she gets up to prepare for a 12 hour shift as a staff nurse in the extremely busy Medical Admissions Unit at Cornwall’s main hospital in Truro. She wakes the kids and me up as she leave and the eldest four have an hour to shower, breakfast and walk down the farm lane for their school bus at 7.30. Camelford School is unusual as it operates to European hours which means a school day that starts at 8.20 and ends at 2.30. At just over 7 miles away the 52-seater school bus takes just over 35 minutes to fill up with kids as it winds through several local villages.

This leaves the youngest (Churton, 5½ years old) and I to let out the geese, turkeys, ducks and chickens and feed the pigs before the short drive to Blisland School (population: 24 children). Having dropped Churton off, I then drive the Landrover to another farm in the parish that I rent from an old school pal (Camelford School again, but 28 years ago).

Here I inspect the 180 lambs, 20 Galloway cows and 15 calves and find only one problem. I have a lamb that is suffering from what we farmers call ‘Blowfly strike’. This shouldn’t be a problem at this time of year, but with climate change we now have incidences later and later each autumn. This occurs on 17 October: a record for us. I humanely dispose of lamb at home (shotgun) and as it is now tipping with rain decide to stay in the office and catch up with paperwork.

Light lunch on my own and just time for half an hour sheep dog training before the afternoon school run. Back home for tea and cake with all the kids before loading three older heifers into the horsebox for 25-mile trip to abattoir at Treburley.

Back home again just after 6 o’clock and have two hours of being house-husband (bathing youngest, shouting at older ones to do their homework, reading a chapter of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and tidying the house) before Cathy comes home at half past eight.

Sit down with Cathy for a meal, then upstairs to bed at 10pm.

[You can discover more about life at South Penquite on the farm blog at southpenquitefarm.blogharbor.com]


• Who are your customers and where are they?
  Locals.

• Organic principles – why do they matter?
  Because without strong principles you are nowhere.

• What does the Soil Association mean to you?
  1. Vigilant inspectorate; 2. Passionate lobbyist; 3. Trusted brand.

• What is your greatest achievement?
  My five children and my farm.

• How do you plan to progress in the future?
  More visitors with a greater emphasis on education.

• What is your vision?
  To promote a sustainable future for the uplands which can balance the needs of recreation, wildlife and food production while giving family farms a working role.

• If you were starting all over again, what would you do differently?
  I would have converted earlier.

• What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
  Time is more precious than money.

• Who or what's your biggest inspiration?
  My wife.

• What is the key to your success?
  Persistence and seeing things through.

• What do you love most about what you do?
  Working outside and being my own boss.

• What keeps you awake at night?
  Most things.

• What single thing would most improve your life?
  An extra day in the week.

• What do you find most frustrating about what you do?
  Red tape and paperwork.

• Any unusual hobbies or past careers?
  I was an Army musician.

• How can the organic market be improved?
  By keeping it local.

• How can we get more people to buy organic?
  By making it more affordable.

• What's the main benefit of being organic for you?
  Less pressure on me, the farm and the livestock.

• What other organic ventures do you admire and why?
  Stephen Gelly Farm, Bodmin. We buy organic chicken from them. No fuss, no fancy labels - just excellent local produce at a reasonable price.

• Supermarkets – good or bad?
  Good for housewives – bad for farmers.

• What is the biggest threat to what you do?
  Defra.

• What's the best thing about organic farms?
  In general, the mindset of the farmers.

• What's the best thing about organic food?
  Taste.

• What is your favourite meal?
  Roast lamb.

• If I was Prime Minister I would...
  Reduce the number of civil servants by half.

• The world would be a better place if...
  Travel actually broadened the mind.

• I'd like to be remembered for...
  My humour.

• When were you happiest?
  At six years old.

• What is your greatest fear?
  Threats to the well being of my family.

• What is your favourite word?
  Serendipity.

• What would be your 'Desert Island' luxury?
  A piano.

• Is the customer always right?
  Only in their own minds and your response.

For more information about South Penquite Farm visit www.southpenquite.co.uk