The Bristol Hemp Company is launching now

The food system in this country is in a pretty bad way.  Ok, it functions well in its ability to provide mainstream mass-produced food but therein lies the problem.  Mass production of food relies on chemicals.  Pesticides are destroying bees, birds and other wildlife while industrial animal production throws up both environmental and moral issues.  Small farmers are marginalised leading to a loss of skills and rural unemployment.  People buying food have no idea where or by whom it was produced.

In 2018 I arrived back in the UK after having been away for 20 years.  I went to Bath University and got a degree in addictions counselling. I went to work in residential drug treatment. It was very clear to me that these people needed a purpose, a job if possible and a supportive community.  That is why I started The Severn Project. Prior to this I didn’t know how to grow food, didn’t know anything about the industry at all. I started with £2500. Last year we sold over £250,000 of products.

We produce leaves, salad, rocket, spinach, edible flowers and herbs like coriander and parsley.  The bulk of our produce goes to restaurants in the South West which is great but we always wanted for our produce to be readily available to the retail sector at a reasonable price. Small producers have to find a niche market and often this means that the best quality produce is only available to people who can afford to eat out.

In the summer of 2017 we began working with Farmdrop, selling our produce through their online shop. Now, anyone can buy a bag of salad or a packet of herbs for around a pound because of this bold and innovative new food system.

50% off my first Famdrop shop

The establishment of Farmdrop is a real alternative to our existing system, supporting local producers by allowing them access to the retail market means that our once proud system of small artisan producers and processors can begin to re-establish themselves with a degree of confidence and optimism.  Smaller producers are generally much more aligned with better environmental and animal rearing practices. What was marginalised suddenly becomes viable again. Customers are connected to their producers and sustainable relationships are forged within the local system.

Severn Project now has a sister organisation. The Bristol Hemp Company will be selling extremely convenient and nutritious raw, cold pressed frozen veg and hemp juices (from May) along with CBD products including oil extract, oral tablets and vape oil, plus a range of hemp body care items (available now).

We are extremely excited that the Severn Project has a license to grow hemp for the 2018 season. We juice our hemp for its amazing nutritional profile, along with spinach, kale, rocket, parsley and coriander, conveniently frozen in 15ml daily portions.

Steve Glover, Founding director
To find out more, visit: www.thebristolhempcompany.co.uk and www.thesevernproject.org

50% off my first Famdrop shop

If you haven’t tried Farmdrop yet, claim 50% off your 1st shop of £40 or more with code, 247BRISTOL

This piece was written in association with our partners at Farmdrop.

Read more: ‘Bristol green capital: success or flop?’, ‘Urban farmer attacks swearing assistant mayor’