From the Farm: What We’re Learning as We Build SAS Little Farm

This blog is where we share the thinking behind SAS Little Farm — the lessons we’re learning as we prepare for our first proper harvests in 2026.

You can expect posts about:

learning our land, soil, and microclimates
trial beds, sowing, and growing systems
working with animals as part of the farm system
traditional food preparation and curing
building a small, local farm rooted in community

Some weeks are practical, others reflective — all of them part of building the farm slowly and intentionally.

All Posts

Trial Beds: What Grew Well Here (and What Didn’t)

Before committing to full production, we spent 2025 using trial beds to understand how this land actually behaves. This wasn’t about chasing yield or proving a point. It was about paying attention — letting the land give us honest feedback before we asked more of it. Why Trial Beds Matter Every piece of land has its own character. Even within a small area, soil structure, drainage, exposure, and temperature can vary more than you expect. Trial beds allowed us to: Test crops

Stefano Toffolo

6 days ago1 min read

Why 2025 Was a Trial Year at Stef & Sue's Little Farm (and Why That Matters for 2026)

At Stef & Sue's Little Farm in Barwell, Leicestershire , we’ve taken a deliberate decision not to rush into production. Instead, 2025 has been a learning year — focused on trial beds, animals, and understanding our land before committing to our first full harvest season in 2026. This blog explains why we chose that approach, what we’ve learned so far, and how it’s shaping everything we’re growing going forward. Learning the Land Before Growing Food at Scale Every small farm

Stefano Toffolo

Jan 182 min read