Wild Beef’s sustainable farming celebrated in national ‘Thoughtful Eating’ campaign
Ethical Devonshire farmers Wild Beef have been featured in a series of mini documentaries celebrating home-grown British ingredients; just one of a handful of producers featured for raising the bar in their industry and for creating food according to their ethos; ‘Food as Nature Intended.’
The series ‘On the Road to Thoughtful Eating’ is the latest food initiative by Hemsley + Hemsley, the London-based sisters renowned for turning healthy food into an art. The documentaries are currently available on the Hemsley + Hemsley website and YouTube.
In a bid to unravel the essence of thoughtful eating, Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley set out on a summer road trip in search of the country’s tastiest organic and nutrient filled foods. The sisters’ aim was to rediscover the heritage of natural food that hasn’t been tampered with, and to understand what people are feeding themselves and their loved ones. Jasmine and Melissa visited local producers, farmers and fishmongers, all of whom have set their own standards for sustainable food production.
Hillhead Farm in Dartmoor, Devon - home to Wild Beef - was the sisters’ first port of call on their exploratory journey. As such, it is the first video in the series to be released for viewing. The sisters chose to feature the family-run Wild Beef in their campaign due to the responsible farming methods owner Richard Vines uses to produce delicious grass-fed and grass-finished beef. In the Wild Beef video documentary, Jasmine and Melissa offer viewers a glimpse of the natural, old-fashioned farming practises at Hillhead Farm.
Jasmine Hemsley, Hemsley + Hemsley, says: “Not only do Richard and Lizzie at Wild Beef refrain from using anything artificial, any high protein finishing rations or any concentrates in their farming, but they address the wellbeing of their cattle. Seeing their cows in such a natural state, content to roam freely across the “wild” moorland pastures, is a genuinely rewarding experience. Farms like Richard and Lizzie’s set an example for ethical farming and if you buy their beef you know exactly where and how it has been reared, which is how it should be.”
Melissa Hemsley, Hemsley + Hemsley, says: “The beef has a tremendous flavour and colour, and it cooks quickly, which is why we love using it for our recipes. On our trip, Lizzie made a slow cook family stew recipe using their shin of beef, which is great because shin is a cheaper cut and a little goes a long way. It was a delicious, nourishing, deeply satisfying meal made with simple, quality ingredients.”
Richard Vines, Wild Beef farmer and owner, says: “Being able to give a tour of our farm and the surrounding moorland to individuals who have such enthusiasm for nutritious, healthy food was a delight. They have an appreciation for our natural, sustainable farming methods, which go beyond organic. They understand what makes us stand out from the crowd. For example, our cattle browse untouched pasture at their leisure, eating flora that taps into deep pockets of minerals and trace elements. It’s these nutrients which give our beef its rich flavour and colour.”
