Northern Pasta is made with the very best British Spelt.
As August is harvest month we got to visit the very field where our spelt is grown and the incredible farmer who has been working tirelessly to nurture this crop.
This year has proved to be an incredibly tricky one thanks to the wild, wet, windy weather. Thankfully Spelt is a hardy Ancient Grain, able to withstand a lot more than our modern wheats. This spelt crop has now been harvested which means it will soon be finding its way to us to craft into delicious Northern Pasta.
This spelt is grown regeneratively. A term that is thrown quite a lot these days, but for us it was really important to understand what exactly that meant, and what that actually looked like in real life.
So, what is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative Agriculture improves the environment by increasing biodiversity, nurturing soil health and creating more complex ecosystems for more nutritionally dense food to thrive in.
What does this look like in action?
Regenerative farming methods allow Ed to remove artificial inputs from his system.
That means no insecticides, herbicides, fungicides are needed. Instead the system is managed naturally.
In Ed’s fields the grass margins are alive with wild carrots, wild geraniums, oxeye daisy’s, viper’s bugloss, inviting the bees, ladybirds and biodiversity to thrive. These beneficial organisms are a form of biological pest control, keeping pests at bay and allowing the crop to flourish.
During the Spring the sheep will graze the fields. This is a natural method of disease control while also positively impacting on the yield.
What does this mean for Northern Pasta?
Well firstly, Ed’s spelt is full of flavour. And we put this down to the natural and regenerative ways in which he farms the crop. Which in turn makes our pasta incredibly delicious.
It also makes our pasta better for you and better for the planet as the ‘cides and artificial inputs that can be so damaging to our health and the environment have been removed.
If you want to know more about where your food comes from, the methods used in regenerative farming and the challenges farmers are facing right now, make sure you follow Ed on Instagram @e.a.horton
Have You Tried Northern Pasta Yet?
