Here are some great and inspiring ideas from two different Scottish businesses. Both Macleod Organics in the Highlands and Balcaskie Estate in Fife have thrived by being creative and willing to pursue what they believe in with passion and ingenuity.   ..read more

What is the Good Food Nation Plan? What does it mean to each of us and how can we assure that this opportunity is made the most of? In March there will be an option to join organised “consultation engagement events” Sounds a bit wordy, but it can be helpful to understand what opportunities there are to be a little more involved in the Good Food Nation plan. https://consult.gov.scot/agriculture-and-rural-economy/national-good-food-nation-plan/ There will also be more informal “kitchen table talks” that you can join here. https://www.foodcoalition.scot/kitchen-table-talks.html https://www.nouris ..read more

In this episode, we delve into Farmer Clusters in Scotland. Join us as we explore the challenges, successes, and the exciting potential of what can be achieved when farmers unite on a larger scale. Our guests include Fiona Torrance from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Kat Sharp, farmer and facilitator for the Glen Urquhart Farmer Cluster, and Fred Swift, Farmer and facilitator of the West Loch Ness Farmer Cluster. Full report available here “Collaboration at landscape scale: Farmer Clusters in Scotland Project Report” – https://highlandgoodfood.scot/farmerclusters ..read more

Creative ways to make a living on a croft In this episode we meet three people living and making a living on croft land across the Highlands and Islands. Living close to the land and working with the seasons, their stories are individual, yet with similar threads of love of nature and a willingness to be creative and inventive. Have a listen and see if this way of life could be for you and tempt you to find a place to grow, or to buy more local food. There is a lot of information here  https://crofting.scotland.gov.uk/.   ..read more

This episode is about wwoofing (worldwide opportunities on organic farms) Talking to hosts and volunteers who have benefitted from this exchange scheme, our new host Fuggo investigates why the practical experiences can help learn about food growing and inspire us to get closer to the land. Clive and Julie, hosts near Inverness have a permaculture garden. Alex is head gardener at Allangrange on the Black Isle and Liv is a wwoofer ..read more

In this episode we explore some of the ways education and training can contribute to teaching young people and adults how to grow food and develop skills for life and work. We speak to the manager of a small working farm on the Black Isle, the founder of the Lochaber Rural Education Trust and the Headteacher in charge of a 'Grow, Cook, Compost' primary school project ..read more

Laura speaks to Anna from Planet Sutherland, Mairi from the Fearn Free Food Garden and Emma from the Auchtertyre Community Garden. They discuss the importance of community food projects, which offer a space for learning, a place to gather and grow. A very inspiring listen ..read more

In this episode, Highland Good Food team member Laura Dorantt speaks to Yvan Biot, who was involved in the Fork to Farm Dialogues at COP26, and Highland Good Food Coordinator, Catriona Ferguson. They both went to some of the people's COP events and make some connections to the work they are doing now. This episode was inspired by the Outraged and Optimism, a podcast that explores the stories behind the headlines on climate change and is “for everyone looking to expand their understanding of the climate crisis and get inspired to take action.”. We recommend you give it a listen ..read more

In this episode, Highland Good Food team member Laura Dorantt speaks to Diana, Nourish Scotland's Food Justice Project Officer and Martina from a female founded collective on the outskirts of Mexico City, that has a vision for diverse and inclusive food systems. Laura asks Diana and Martina what they felt optimistic and outraged about while they were at COP26 and afterwards.  This episode was inspired by the Outraged and Optimism, a podcast that explores the stories behind the headlines on climate change and is "for everyone looking to expand their understanding of the climate crisis and ..read more

In our final episode of season 2, we are looking at the international food system as a whole, and how we need to address this holistically for us to slow down, and adapt to climate change. With special guest, Mike Berners-Lee (author of 'How Bad Are Bananas?'), and stories from Food Tank in the USA and the Mijikenda Community in Kenya, we look at taking a whole food system approach, and the importance of collaboration. Pablo Thorne from Nourish Scotland and Keith Masson from the Highland Council then help us to contextualise all of this, with regards to Scotland's climate commitments at COP26 ..read more