The rise of industrial-scale farming has led to the rapid breakdown of rural communities, as the number of small, family-run farms declines and access to land for new entrants becomes increasingly difficult. Stream Farm’s share farming model seeks to reverse this trend, offering a way in for those without the capital or initial skills.
Each share farmer at Stream Farm is self-employed, taking full responsibility for the day-to-day management of their business. Their livelihood comes from a share of the gross income of the business, and they put in the labour and cover agreed costs, whilst the farm takes the remaining income to cover the daily running costs and capital equipment.
The share farmers at the farm also cooperate together to help out when any of the respective businesses needs more than one or two pairs of hands, such as preparing weekly orders, looking after the farm as a whole, barn-clearing in the winter and apple picking.
We believe that self-employment provides dignity and a sense of self-worth and significance.
Share farmers have come and gone over the years, many to continue farming enterprises elsewhere, others to pursue self-employment opportunities down other routes, and some to farm abroad.