Skip to content

Ecotourism

South Penquite - the eco-friendly family farm

by Dominic Fairman 08 Mar 2012
South Penquite - the eco-friendly family farm

Sunset on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall via Shutterstock

South Penquite is a family farm in Cornwall with three generations currently living together. Our green journey started in 1999 when we both converted to organic farming and at the same time opened up one of our fields for camping to exploit the total solar eclipse that was to be visible in Cornwall in the August of that year.

As it was, the eclipse was not visible (due to entirely predictable Cornish cloudy weather), but the camping was a great success and attracted visitors from as far afield as Madrid & New York. Our isolated setting, friendly animals and clear night skies are much appreciated by city dwellers and our tourism enterprise has since grown hand in hand with our organic venture.

Once you start putting your farming under the green microscope you then start questioning everything else that you do, and so we have always tried to keep the development of the campsite on a sustainable path. This has not only kept it in sync with our farming, but has also been an attraction to ever more eco-conscious tourists.

We take recycling very seriously and for instance not only do we ensure that all of the farm wastes plastics are properly recycled - but we also buy back from the same firm picnic benches and boarding made from the recycled waste for the campsite that are not only attractive but extremely hardwearing.

Organic Farming at South Penquite

Organic Farming at South Penquite

We sell our own lamb burgers and sausages to the campers and boxes of mutton or beef to local people and a farm shop. The food miles are ridiculously low with a typical banger only travelling 20 miles from field, to abattoir, to butcher, to campfire.

The net result of over a decade of work is that we now have:

- a farm which produces excellent beef and lamb without relying on a host of inputs and chemicals

- an abundance of wildlife and natural habitats

- over 2000 visitors a year who are happy to appreciate the beauty of the area while recycling their waste and showering in rainwater collected from a barn roof

- a wind turbine, PV panels and solar thermal panels which deliver well over half of our energy needs

The only downside - or so my children constantly tell me - is my current refusal to fly on family holidays, which (until it is at the very least taxed at an appropriate level) would make a nonsense of all of our other efforts to keep our carbon footprint down.

More details can be found on the South Penquite Farm website.

Please follow us on Twitter @earthtimes or via Facebook.

Any views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author

href="../../../environment/eco-

Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping