Scott Sneddon

I came into the world of organic horticulture by a weird, quirky series of events and as such, has changed my life completely. This all began in 2004 with what started out as a huge allotment on which to 'play', paraphrasing my landlord, and has begun to grow into a working business that is filling a market niche never before tapped. I say this because the farm is situated at nearly a 1000 feet in the Peak District village of Riber over looking Matlock, Derbyshire and I now have 3 acres of fully certified organic land with another acre in conversion. Derbyshire is not a county known for it's vegetable production let alone for it's Top Fruit but here I am, having a go with over 200 Apples, Plums, Damsons, Pears, Quinces and Cherries that are growing well along side a great selection of Soft Fruit with Blueberries to follow! All I need now is to find another 8 acre field to fully implement Tolly's plan for field scale vegetable growing!

I officially launched the Box Scheme last June and saw over a 100% up take each week for the first six weeks, leaving me now delivering to over 70 regular weekly customers with over 100 registered. The extra customers order as and when and in the last week alone, I have delivered to 6 new customers who are more than happy to have what is available until the new season starts cropping here at the beginning of June with the first of the new potatoes and salads such as lettuce and mixed leaves. I also stand at two local Farmers Markets and have worked with various local restaurants, although given the vagaries of that trade, I am now working with just one local chef, Pete of The Dining Room and will be growing specific crops just for them. This for me is far more satisfying as Pete loves fresh vegetables as much as I have a passion for growing them and aptly, we both featured in last years Derbyshire Food Awards, which for the first time saw a 'Local Food Hero' being recognised and I am proud to say that I came highly commended next to the winner, Mettrick of Glossop, a family run Butcher that has been in business for over 100 years, spanning 5 generations! My goals for the coming season is to build on our existing customer base and hopefully attain 200 customers to deliver to each week as well as aiming to provide better crop continuity from the land at Riber. I am hoping to be able to get planning permission for a polytunnel as this will allow me to extend what is quite a short outdoor season here in Derbyshire

I have always been inspired by the likes of Alan and Tolly from SA events and boldly, asked back in 2006, if the OGA was formed could I some how be involved. As a result I have sat on the OGA committee since its formation and look forward to seeing the organisation grow, going from strength to strength to become the reality the that we all envision it can be.

Alan Schofield | Scott Sneddon | Tim Deane | Roger Hitchings | Phil Sumption | Peter Richardson | James Clapp | Iain Tolhurst