About us...

We set up Clarences of Dartmoor with three equally balanced objectives:

 

  • Produce great tasting food

  • Increase biodiversity

  • Store carbon

 

Conventional agriculture has evolved to meet the demands of supermarkets and make food which is just a commodity and often highly processed. However, this has lead to an unsustainable food system. The result is that agriculture is one of the leading causes of climate change and Britain has become one of the most nature depleted countries in the world.

 

When we established our farm we decided to do things differently and find a way to produce good food that does not grow the earth. The farming system we have developed is a re-imagining of traditional mixed agriculture which does not depend upon high inputs of diesel, artificial fertilisers, toxic chemicals and vetinary products.

 

We use techniques like crop rotation and integration of livestock to build soil health and fertility. Healthy soils leads to healthy plants which are naturally resistant to pests and diseases. We farm in a holistic way which recognises that we have to work with nature rather than against it.

 

Our pastures are highly diverse in plant species and this varied diet results in healthier livestock.

 

With healthy soils and healthy farm animals our produce is packed full of nutrients that are not found in highly processed food. Our produce tastes like food should.

 

As a by-product of producing food in this way we generate a lot of benefits:

 

  • We increase nature not deplete it

  • We store carbon in our soils, woodland and hedgerows

  • We reduce our demands for energy and the use of fossil fuels

  • We reduce our emissions to air and water

  • We work with natural water, carbon and nutrient cycles, not against them

  • We reduce risk of flooding and drought by reducing surface water run off

  • We protect our rivers and oceans from pollution from slurry, nutrients and chemical residues

  • Our livestock lead more natural outdoor lives in high welfare conditions

  • We avoid indirect effects like rain forest habitat destruction from the production of imported animal feed by using locally grown alternatives

  • We increase semi-natural habitats supporting a wide variety of wildlife species

 

Our customers are able to buy genuine food of known providence with the knowledge that what they eat is sustainably produced and good for their environment.

 

Our name comes from Clarence Stacey who was the first generation of our family to have his own farm on Dartmoor. After returning from World War One he secured a tenancy on a farm near Manaton. Our family have since farmed on or around Dartmoor for four generations. When we decided to establish our own brand we decided to name it after Great-Grandad Clarence.

 

Our farm today is on the edge of South Tawton Common on the northern edge of Dartmoor.