Islanders are being invited behind the hedgerows and into the heart of Jersey’s farming scene as a new series of open farm days promises a rare, hands-on look at how local food is grown.
Launched by The Sustainable Cooperative, the programme aims to bring the public face-to-face with some of the island’s most forward-thinking organic and regenerative growers.
From market gardens and livestock systems to beekeeping, tea growing and even sea salt production, visitors will be able to explore the breadth of Jersey’s agricultural innovation – before sitting down to a meal made entirely from produce reared or grown on site.
Backed by Farm Jersey, the initiative is designed not only to showcase farming but to strengthen ties within the industry and between producers and the public.
The Sustainable Cooperative said the idea grew out of a simple realisation that many local growers were not in regular contact with one another and rarely visited other farms.
“We started organising yearly grower gatherings to discuss the year ahead,” a spokesperson said. “Growers soon started to support one another with practical help and by sharing their experiences.”
What began as informal gatherings soon developed into something more meaningful, with growers sharing skills, offering practical help and building stronger working relationships.
“We felt that an opportunity for local growers to observe each other’s work first-hand would help facilitate a deeper exchange of knowledge and stronger, more supportive relationships.”
The group also pointed to the fragility of Jersey’s food system, warning that the island remains heavily dependent on imports.
“The loss of the island’s largest mixed vegetable farm in 2022 demonstrated how precarious our supply of food can be,” they said, adding that much of Jersey’s land is still focused on export crops.
However, there is growing optimism with a new generation of growers and farmers setting out to supply the local market, thanks to “improved governmental support”.
“Our growers present a progressive vision for smaller-scale, mixed and biodiverse farming in Jersey,” the spokesperson said.
“If we hope to improve our food security and create a more resilient and sustainable supply of local food, we will need to support their work, learn from their experiences and encourage others to follow in their footsteps.”
The open days will offer a glimpse of that future. The first event takes place at La Croix Regeneration Centre on Sunday 29 March, where organic smallholder Nikki de Gruchy has been restoring her family farm after more than 20 years of intensive potato production.
Using pedigree Jersey cows in an adaptive multi-paddock and silvopasture system, she is working to rebuild soil health and revive local ecosystems. The day will conclude with the farm’s annual Easter egg hunt.
Later in the programme, Jersey Tea Company will open its doors on Sunday 17 May, showcasing tea grown without herbicides, pesticides or artificial fertilisers, with a strong focus on biodiversity, water quality and soil health.
And in July, visitors will be able to step inside Jersey Zoo to see how a dedicated team cultivates more than 60 varieties of fruit and vegetables to feed endangered animals.
Reserve a space at an open farm day or find out more information here.