Helen Freeman
@memypigsandi.bsky.social
Self-taught farmer, writer, and advocate for regenerative agriculture. Sharing real stories of UK food security, regenerative pig farming, and the fight for fair rural policy.
Twas the Night Before Christmas, and the Barn Light Stayed On
Twas the Night Before Christmas, and the Barn Light Stayed On
A small thank you to the people behind the food on our tables.
dlvr.it
December 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Twas the Night Before Christmas, and the Barn Light Stayed On
Reposted by Helen Freeman
The UK Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy is a landmark step forward in protecting farmed animals across England, including plans to #EndTheCageAge for laying hens and mother pigs. 🙌🙌
Animal Welfare Strategy: A Christmas gift for farmed animals
New Government strategy set to raise the bar for farmed animal welfare
www.ciwf.org.uk
December 22, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The UK Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy is a landmark step forward in protecting farmed animals across England, including plans to #EndTheCageAge for laying hens and mother pigs. 🙌🙌
Big news: Defra’s new Animal Welfare Strategy for England signals a move away from farrowing crates for pigs and cages for laying hens, and says it will address CO₂ stunning for pigs at slaughter. Not overnight, but a huge step forward. defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2025/12/22/a...
Animal Welfare Strategy for England published
The government has today launched a new Animal Welfare Strategy. It sets out a comprehensive programme of reforms to improve the lives of millions of animals across England, from farm animals and pets...
defrafarming.blog.gov.uk
December 22, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Big news: Defra’s new Animal Welfare Strategy for England signals a move away from farrowing crates for pigs and cages for laying hens, and says it will address CO₂ stunning for pigs at slaughter. Not overnight, but a huge step forward. defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2025/12/22/a...
Farming Is Not a Spreadsheet
Farming Is Not a Spreadsheet
The Farm Profitability Review Was Never Allowed to Be Honest
dlvr.it
December 20, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Farming Is Not a Spreadsheet
Reposted by Helen Freeman
“If Labour pits its housing targets against nature, it will find itself in a battle with the very thing that gives people a deep sense of pride and personal joy - when both feel in short supply.”
Wise words from @luketryl.bsky.social:
www.ft.com/content/f456...
Wise words from @luketryl.bsky.social:
www.ft.com/content/f456...
Pitting Nimbys against Yimbys is a bad idea
Popular political assumptions misread the public by attacking nature as the block to building more housing
www.ft.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:23 AM
“If Labour pits its housing targets against nature, it will find itself in a battle with the very thing that gives people a deep sense of pride and personal joy - when both feel in short supply.”
Wise words from @luketryl.bsky.social:
www.ft.com/content/f456...
Wise words from @luketryl.bsky.social:
www.ft.com/content/f456...
‘If COP is ruled by global corporations with funding from agribusinesses, there is no talk of real, commonsense solutions like decentralising economies’
www.localfutures.org/humanity-is-...
www.localfutures.org/humanity-is-...
Humanity Is Not the Problem! by Helena Norberg-Hodge with Henry Coleman
Blog 'Humanity Is Not the Problem!' - As COP30 gets underway, this was the media’s take on the UN Secretary-General’s announcement that 1.5 degrees of global warming has now been locked in.
www.localfutures.org
December 20, 2025 at 10:56 AM
‘If COP is ruled by global corporations with funding from agribusinesses, there is no talk of real, commonsense solutions like decentralising economies’
www.localfutures.org/humanity-is-...
www.localfutures.org/humanity-is-...
@sustainweb.org has produced this valuable resource to help communities that are threatened by plans for new-build factory farms.
www.sustainweb.org/news/nov25-s...
www.sustainweb.org/news/nov25-s...
New toolkit launched to support community action against factory farming | Sustain
The toolkit contains tips and guides to help local people resist new factory farms.
www.sustainweb.org
December 19, 2025 at 8:30 AM
@sustainweb.org has produced this valuable resource to help communities that are threatened by plans for new-build factory farms.
www.sustainweb.org/news/nov25-s...
www.sustainweb.org/news/nov25-s...
Here we go. ‼️ Defra have finally published the report they have been sitting on for months, the Baroness Batters Farm Profitability Review.
#nofarmersnofood #ukfarming
www.gov.uk/government/p...
#nofarmersnofood #ukfarming
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Farming Profitability Review 2025: Foreword and Executive summary
www.gov.uk
December 18, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Here we go. ‼️ Defra have finally published the report they have been sitting on for months, the Baroness Batters Farm Profitability Review.
#nofarmersnofood #ukfarming
www.gov.uk/government/p...
#nofarmersnofood #ukfarming
www.gov.uk/government/p...
AgStacker Community Newsletter
AgStacker Community Newsletter
Stories and articles from farming, growing, agriculture & more on Substack
dlvr.it
December 18, 2025 at 7:04 AM
AgStacker Community Newsletter
I Tried to Be Perfect and It Broke Me
I Tried to Be Perfect and It Broke Me
I am learning that healing is not linear, and neither is writing
dlvr.it
December 16, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I Tried to Be Perfect and It Broke Me
That is not leadership. That is a politician hiding behind a slogan while people are telling him that his policy is pushing families into desperation. When farmers start talking about death as tax planning, the debate is no longer technical. It is moral.
#nofarmersnofood
#nofarmersnofood
December 16, 2025 at 5:39 AM
That is not leadership. That is a politician hiding behind a slogan while people are telling him that his policy is pushing families into desperation. When farmers start talking about death as tax planning, the debate is no longer technical. It is moral.
#nofarmersnofood
#nofarmersnofood
A fifth-generation farmer explains that he has only been able to survive by selling organic milk and diversifying into renewable energy. Against all the odds he wants to keep British land producing food for British people.
#nofarmersnofood #foodsecurity
#nofarmersnofood #foodsecurity
December 15, 2025 at 7:39 AM
A fifth-generation farmer explains that he has only been able to survive by selling organic milk and diversifying into renewable energy. Against all the odds he wants to keep British land producing food for British people.
#nofarmersnofood #foodsecurity
#nofarmersnofood #foodsecurity
Reposted by Helen Freeman
🐑 Our Grazing Livestock report has sparked six months of lively discussion since its launch.
One of the report's authors and SFT's Senior Research Manager, Robert Barbour, reflects on the debates it's inspired, while reminding us why grazing livestock remain a key part of our vision for the future.
One of the report's authors and SFT's Senior Research Manager, Robert Barbour, reflects on the debates it's inspired, while reminding us why grazing livestock remain a key part of our vision for the future.
December 8, 2025 at 11:42 AM
🐑 Our Grazing Livestock report has sparked six months of lively discussion since its launch.
One of the report's authors and SFT's Senior Research Manager, Robert Barbour, reflects on the debates it's inspired, while reminding us why grazing livestock remain a key part of our vision for the future.
One of the report's authors and SFT's Senior Research Manager, Robert Barbour, reflects on the debates it's inspired, while reminding us why grazing livestock remain a key part of our vision for the future.
DEFRA’s £500m Landscape Recovery pledge sounds big, but it’s just £25m/year for 20 years with only 10 projects supported.
That’s nowhere near enough. Real nature recovery needs real investment, not headline numbers. #Farming #NatureRecovery #ELM #FoodSecurity
That’s nowhere near enough. Real nature recovery needs real investment, not headline numbers. #Farming #NatureRecovery #ELM #FoodSecurity
December 8, 2025 at 12:46 PM
DEFRA’s £500m Landscape Recovery pledge sounds big, but it’s just £25m/year for 20 years with only 10 projects supported.
That’s nowhere near enough. Real nature recovery needs real investment, not headline numbers. #Farming #NatureRecovery #ELM #FoodSecurity
That’s nowhere near enough. Real nature recovery needs real investment, not headline numbers. #Farming #NatureRecovery #ELM #FoodSecurity
Farming’s Final Stand: The Tax Change That Could End the Family Farm
Farming’s Final Stand: The Tax Change That Could End the Family Farm
What every consumer needs to know about the fight for British food
dlvr.it
December 8, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Farming’s Final Stand: The Tax Change That Could End the Family Farm
The Budget Day Uprising
The Budget Day Uprising
Farmer Protests on Budget Day
dlvr.it
December 8, 2025 at 4:48 AM
The Budget Day Uprising
Welcome to December
Welcome to December
Here’s What’s Coming Up (Just for You)
dlvr.it
December 8, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Welcome to December
When Meat Giants Call Themselves Climate Champions
When Meat Giants Call Themselves Climate Champions
Inside COP30’s food debate, where factory farms got a green halo and agroecology was pushed to the sidelines.
dlvr.it
December 8, 2025 at 4:48 AM
When Meat Giants Call Themselves Climate Champions
There’s honestly nothing quite like the sound of a happy pig grunting away.
If you ever need a reminder that farming is about more than just food, watch this - it’s about connection, care, and a little bit of everyday magic.
#saddlebackpigs #pigfarming
If you ever need a reminder that farming is about more than just food, watch this - it’s about connection, care, and a little bit of everyday magic.
#saddlebackpigs #pigfarming
December 2, 2025 at 10:33 AM
There’s honestly nothing quite like the sound of a happy pig grunting away.
If you ever need a reminder that farming is about more than just food, watch this - it’s about connection, care, and a little bit of everyday magic.
#saddlebackpigs #pigfarming
If you ever need a reminder that farming is about more than just food, watch this - it’s about connection, care, and a little bit of everyday magic.
#saddlebackpigs #pigfarming
What stands out is how these pilots broke down barriers: connecting small and organic farms with low-income households, closing the price gap, and using public food contracts to guarantee demand.
This work challenges the idea that organic food is just for the privileged.
This work challenges the idea that organic food is just for the privileged.
Government backing of organic could deliver huge social and economic benefits!
Find out more in NEW Bridging the Gap report: www.sustainweb.org/news/dec25-b...
@nourishscotland.bsky.social @foodsensewales.bsky.social
@growingcommunities.bsky.social @alexrosecharity.bsky.social
Find out more in NEW Bridging the Gap report: www.sustainweb.org/news/dec25-b...
@nourishscotland.bsky.social @foodsensewales.bsky.social
@growingcommunities.bsky.social @alexrosecharity.bsky.social
December 2, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What stands out is how these pilots broke down barriers: connecting small and organic farms with low-income households, closing the price gap, and using public food contracts to guarantee demand.
This work challenges the idea that organic food is just for the privileged.
This work challenges the idea that organic food is just for the privileged.
What Really Happened When We Tried to Save Our Farm
What Really Happened When We Tried to Save Our Farm
How one fight with the planning system turned our farm, our home and our future upside down.
dlvr.it
November 22, 2025 at 6:44 AM
What Really Happened When We Tried to Save Our Farm
Reposted by Helen Freeman
Rewilding will not feed Britain.
I write about the human cost when land is taken out of food production and why I think the real answer lies in agroecology and farmer led nature recovery on working farms.
Read and share your thoughts here
www.memypigsandi.com/p/rewilding-...
I write about the human cost when land is taken out of food production and why I think the real answer lies in agroecology and farmer led nature recovery on working farms.
Read and share your thoughts here
www.memypigsandi.com/p/rewilding-...
November 20, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Rewilding will not feed Britain.
I write about the human cost when land is taken out of food production and why I think the real answer lies in agroecology and farmer led nature recovery on working farms.
Read and share your thoughts here
www.memypigsandi.com/p/rewilding-...
I write about the human cost when land is taken out of food production and why I think the real answer lies in agroecology and farmer led nature recovery on working farms.
Read and share your thoughts here
www.memypigsandi.com/p/rewilding-...
Reposted by Helen Freeman
“What’s happening in Belém is not a climate conference but a hostage negotiation over the future of the planet where those holding the detonators – the soy barons, the beef cartels, the pesticide peddlers – are seated at the table as honest brokers,” said @rajpatel.org #COP30
More fox-guarding-henhouse climate news: > 300 big agriculture lobbyists have taken part in Cop30, investigation finds www.theguardian.com/environment/...
November 19, 2025 at 11:57 AM
“What’s happening in Belém is not a climate conference but a hostage negotiation over the future of the planet where those holding the detonators – the soy barons, the beef cartels, the pesticide peddlers – are seated at the table as honest brokers,” said @rajpatel.org #COP30
Rewilding Will Not Feed Britain. Here Is What Might
Rewilding Will Not Feed Britain. Here Is What Might
Balancing wildlife recovery with the realities of feeding a nation
dlvr.it
November 19, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Rewilding Will Not Feed Britain. Here Is What Might