Future of food production.
How Can We Consumers Support and Celebrate Our Food Producers, Especially Our Farmers and Fishermen in the UK and Around the World?
If you’ve ever wanted to eat more sustainably, celebrate your local farmers and fishermen, or simply understand where your food comes from, this episode of the Brave New Girls podcast is for you. My guest this week is Jenny Jefferies- award-winning author, columnist, and radio presenter. Jenny’s passion for food provenance, rural life, and uplifting voices in farming and fishing communities is the heartbeat of her work.
From her bestselling books For the Love of the Land and For the Love of the Sea, to her most recent anthology Islands In A Common Sea, Jenny brings together stories from the frontlines of food production. Her mission? To help us connect with the people who grow, catch, and care for our food.
Jenny didn’t come from a farming background, but married into one. As she learned about the realities of agricultural life, she felt called to tell the stories of those quietly feeding the nation. Through interviews and collaborations with farmers and fishers- particularly women- she has shone a light on the strength, vulnerability, and dedication behind every loaf of bread, bottle of milk, and freshly caught fish.
One of the most powerful messages from our conversation is this: when we eat with love for the land and the sea in a regenerative way, we nourish more than our bodies- we nourish communities, biodiversity, culture, and tradition. Jenny reminds us that supporting sustainable and regenerative food systems isn’t about perfection; it’s about participation. And we all have a part to play.
Brave New Girl- How to Be Fearless.
10 Actionable Steps for a better future.
Buy local and seasonal produce – Whether from a farm shop, farmers market, or local grocer, choose food with a clear provenance.
Support women-led farms and fisheries – Use social media and online directories to find and amplify female producers.
Educate yourself on food labelling – Understand what “organic,” “sustainably sourced,” and “regeneratively farmed” truly mean.
Cook from scratch – Appreciate the effort and energy that goes into every ingredient by making simple, homemade meals.
Reduce food waste – Plan meals, freeze leftovers, and embrace ‘ugly’ veg that supermarkets often reject.
Follow and support farming and fishing voices on social media – People like Jenny help demystify rural life and bring us closer to the source.
Attend agricultural and coastal events – Shows, markets, and festivals are great ways to meet producers and learn directly from them.
Read books like Jenny’s – Her anthologies are full of heart and help contextualise the challenges and triumphs of food producers.
Use your voice – Advocate for policies that protect small-scale farmers and fisheries in your local area.
Practice gratitude – Pause before meals to acknowledge the people, animals, and natural systems that brought your food to the table.
To listen to Jenny’s inspiring journey and discover how you can reconnect with food in a more meaningful way, tune into this week’s Brave New Girls podcast.
Support our farmers and fishers by eating with love for the land and sea- because conscious choices feed a better world.
PS. Listen HERE to SARAH'’S journey on BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast to hear how she helps us create well beings on a well planet.
