Eco-farming couple who have lived off the land for 10 years hope to inspire others
An eco-farming couple have revealed how they hope to inspire other budding farmers on YouTube after living off their own land for the last ten years.
James Reid and Rosa Bevan have more than 19,000 subscribers on YouTube, where they document life at their farm, Tap O’ Noth, near Rhynie, Aberdeenshire.
The couple, who are first-generation farmers, produce ecologically grown fruit and vegetables at the eight-acre site, as well as housing chickens, geese and a small herd of dairy goats.
They practice 'permaculture', a method of sustainable farming used to create self-sufficient agricultural eco-systems. This model has allowed the couple to enjoy eating an abundance of their own produce for the past ten years.
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And now Reid and Bevan hope to use their online influence to highlight the possibilities of land use to young people in Scotland.
“We want to inspire people about the life they can lead if they look at land a little bit differently," Reid explains.
“To have been able to work towards that for the past ten years has been extremely rewarding.
“We want to continue to grow our social platform to expand the outreach we have.
“It’s mind-blowing what you can achieve with a small bit of land and a lot of people don’t know that.”
In order to sustain their eco-friendly lifestyle, the couple generate most of their living from operating a Community Supported Agriculture vegetable box business.
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They also focus on agritourism, giving farm tours and renting out their shepherd’s hut, as well as offering online permaculture consultancy and residential courses.
“We haven’t looked back since starting this project a decade ago," Bevan says.
"It's been inspiring for us to see the benefits Tap O’ Noth farm has had on the environment, our local community and on our lives as well.
“It’s been an incredible ten years and we’re really looking forward to what the future has in store for our home.”
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Tap O’ Noth’s eco-friendly success is currently being showcased in the Scottish Land Commission’s MyLand.Scot campaign.
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Hamish Trench, chief executive of the Scottish Land Commission, says: “James and Rosa at Tap O’ Noth farm have done an incredible job in bringing together permaculture and land use with social media to create an informative and interesting hotbed for inspiration.
“By developing the farm in the way they have, the couple are a great example of how land in Scotland can be transformed to benefit the environment, people’s livelihoods and communities.
“We hope by sharing their story and other important stories as part of the MyLand.Scot campaign, we can inspire people in Scotland to start thinking about land differently.
“Land can play a crucial role in everyday Scotland, spanning from housing and homes, to giving people the means and confidence to build businesses.”
Additional reporting Caters.
