For The Love Of The Land by Jenny Jefferies 

For The Love Of The Land by Jenny Jefferies 

For The Love Of The Land is a cook book to celebrate British farmers and their food. Forty fantastic farmers from all over the British Isles contribute both a recipe and a story about what British farming means to them and Minette Batters, the President of the National Farmers Union, very kindly wrote the foreword. 

Among those farmers to feature are Michelin-starred chef and Great British Menu regular Tommy Banks, who grew up on a farm in Yorkshire, award-winners Daylesford Organic Farming and dairy farmer, Katie Lowe, also known as The Female Farmer. Meanwhile, the range of recipes is mouth-watering; and often quintessentially British; from Blackbrook Beef Bolognese from a traditional lowland farm in Leicestershire, Reestit Mutton Soup by two sisters who run their family farm on Shetland and Pheasant and Asparagus Bake from a family run game shoot in Cambridgeshire.

The farms featured see farmers specialising in a diverse array of produce; from game, pork, lamb, beef, cheese and dairy to the more unusual such as lavender for Lavender Shortbread from Castle Farm in Kent, chillies for Chilli Chocolate Brownies from the South Devon Chilli Farm and edible flowers for a cocktail called The Silver Bullet from Silverton Vineyard. 

After marrying my husband, John; an arable farmer in South Cambridgeshire, I discovered the wonderful, challenging and sometimes isolating world of farming. I never before quite appreciated where our food came from and having witnessed my first harvest and drilling season in 2014 I felt so overwhelmed at how much hard work goes into just producing a bowl of cereal or a loaf of bread for our kitchen table.

I wanted to share my story and had a thirst to connect with other farmers within the farming community. One year later my first daughter was born and I as a Mother was born too. It was six months after that when I was weaning Heidi that I had a revolving kitchen door; feeding Heidi, feeding John whom was going up and down fields in his tractor that I thought ‘what on earth do I feed my new young family?’ This was when the idea of a cook book with farming stories was born.

After getting Meze Publishing onboard it took two years to research, make contact and obtain copy and images from the farmers and to produce a lovely image rich book with very interesting and often moving stories to accompany them.

Paul Gregory, Matt Crowder and Simon Burt travelled the length and breadth of the UK to take the photos of the farmers and their dishes, Paul Cocker designed and laid it out and Katie Fisher was my Editor.

The book was published in July 2020; a very difficult year for most. If we are able to take any positives from the devastation the coronavirus pandemic has caused, perhaps the way it has given some families a chance to reconnect and take stock of the things that are important to them, is something to cheer.

Families used to rushing from pillar to post and grabbing meals on the go have been able to take time to cook and share meals together in a way they had perhaps forgotten. It has given some of us a new appreciation of what the food shop staff, delivery drivers, butchers, bakers, farmers and deli owners do to help us put great food on our table.

It’s been a real privilege to speak with the farmers within this book; they are truly the backbone of our country. They nurture and provide for us; putting food on our tables for us to enjoy, so we must give thanks and praise for all the hard work that they do. 

 

This book is a real labour of love and I dearly hope this collection of stories and of the farmers’ favourite recipes is simply enjoyed for its food, provenance and for the sharing of good and positive stories. For The Love Of The Land sits well at your bedside, upon your coffee table, as well as in your kitchen. This is a celebration of British farming – enjoy!

I fundamentally believe that where there is an opportunity to earn, there is an opportunity to give, so a proportion of my royalties will be donated to the National Literacy Trust. Reading is a skill for life and the National Literacy Trust are an independent charity that works with schools and communities to give disadvantaged children the literacy skills to succeed. 

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Jenny Jefferies

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Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, On Writing