Navaratnam Partheeban🐄🐂🐑
@navaratnampart1
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Regional Head of Farm. Farm Vet. Co-founder @bveds2016. Director @oxfordfarming . @NuffieldFarming scholar 2021. DE&I. தமிழ் Views mine [email protected]
South West, England
Joined May 2018
Delighted to share my @NuffieldFarming report which is now available to read at Diversity , Equity and Inclusion is key to growing a sector which is for all. Thanks to @McDonaldsUKNews for sponsoring me and to all who supported me. #BlackHistoryMonth
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Very proud of my wife, who stepped out of her comfort zone and entered her crochet unicorn and got third in the local village show 🧶 🦄
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Really humbled and amazed to have been awarded an OBE today in the Kings Birthday Honours list. I am so grateful to everyone, especially my wife, who has supported my journey and given me the strength to try to create a positive impact for all around. Thankyou and peace y’all
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My daughter is the only Hindu in her nursery which is based in a small semi rural village. Her nursery friends decorated the porch of the nursery to celebrate Diwali 🪔 and celebrate her culture which is amazing and really inclusive.
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Was asked to talk to someone about racism in farming which I agreed to. Couldn’t get through on phone so looked at their Facebook profile which said people like me need to go home. Will not put myself in that position! Just blocked them. Massive learning curve for me.
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Just finished a job on farm and the farmer has left a coffee and millionaire shortbread for me on the back of my truck for my journey to the next call. Made my day and appreciate the farmers I work with #farmvet 😃🐂
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In a zoom meeting at the moment and someone is drinking whiskey straight out of the bottle and the video is on 😂😂😳😳.
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It’s disappointing to still hear people glorifying Jeremy Clarkson in farming. Let’s try and move on. He isn’t what our sector needs or a reputation we want in our agricultural sector.
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If anyone knows of a child who wants to study veterinary medicine but comes from a marginalised group then please contact @bveds2016 email: bveds2016@gmail.com. We have mentors who can help guide them. #veterinary @MinoritySTEM
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Made swedes into cow feet to demonstrate cow foot trimming tomorrow. Have even got some cow slips to stick on. Let’s hope the children enjoy it. #veterinary #teamdairy #agriculture #inspiration
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Interesting graphic in @WhichUK comparing antibiotic use in farmed animals between the U.S. and U.K.
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After agreeing to support the planning of an ag diversity talk I was ignored, isolated, gaslit, talked over and talked down to by the event organiser. Horrible experience especially as I was there to help for free in my spare time. Walking away from this. #AgMentalHealthWeek.
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One of the most frustrating things as a farm vet is having to treat sheep after a dog attack. Such an avoidable trauma to the sheep and farmers. Yesterday luckily the sheep were not too badly hurt. As a dog owner keep your dogs on leads, control them and take responsibility!.
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Just to let everyone know that I will be on @BBCCountryfile with @AdamHenson this Sunday on BBC 1 at 6.10pm (23rd Feb 2020) Looking forward to it. Will be discussing and showing what it’s like being a farm vet and working in agriculture. #veterinary #agriculture #farming
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Really disappointed that the host of the awards ceremony had to make a racist joke about the waiters and waitresses, who were nearly all young Black and Brown people, to get a cheap laugh.
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Hi, I’m Theeb from Wiltshire and I am farm vet. We are helping support the food chain and keeping it going. We got your back. #FoodArmy @eatfarmnow #veterinary
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Today was a great day on farm. I got asked where I came from. I replied “Edinburgh” and no further questions were asked about my origins. In fact, we then had a great conversation about the best places to go out in Ed. Really refreshing and what inclusiveness is all about!.
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This is what active allyship looks like. Ian saw the abuse and ignorant messages I received and spoke up about it. Great job and I hope people read this and think about how one can both change themselves but also create a more inclusive environment and culture around them.
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@MarkBryanNZ If your vet needs any more support then I’m always happy to have a confidential chat. She can also check out @bveds2016 and
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My wife and children have been baking for #ChineseNewYear Looking forward to eating these in a bit 😀
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My middle daughters birthday party today. She requested an alpaca cake which my wife has just finished. 🥳😃🎂🦙
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It’s been a few days since the racist incident at the Farming Awards and also having personally had an incident during the judging process. But the lack of action and allyship by the organisers highlights how far behind we are when it comes to racism in our ag sector. 1/4.
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Sometimes I despair, there are some truly ignorant and racist vets in our profession who are comfortable to share their opinion on social media without any care. Disgusting.
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Finally starting my @NuffieldFarming Scholarship to look at “Encouraging and Supporting People of Colour in Agriculture”. Going to be learning about social justice, civil rights and increasing diversity, equity, equality and inclusion in Agriculture. Next stop Alabama, USA!👩🏿🌾🧑🏾🌾👨🏽🌾
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Honoured to be selected as a 2021 @NuffieldFarming Scholar. Looking forward to starting my journey looking into “Encouraging and Supporting an Ethnically diverse workforce in the Agricultural, Farming and Veterinary Sector” Thankyou to @McDonaldsUK for sponsoring me. @bveds2016
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Really looking forward to joining a panel with @DrDowhittle and @Botanygeek at 8.40am on @BBCRadio4 to discuss the future of farming for @herdyshepherd1 takeover of the Today programme tomorrow @bveds2016
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What is difficult is being the one who keeps calm and respectful when a complete stranger comes to me and says something completely racist about me to my face as has just happened. I didn’t say much or correct her because her whole family was there and I wanted her to go away. 🤦🏾♂️.
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Any People of Colour working in farming, agriculture or veterinary (or any sector) and needs any support through this difficult time then please reach out to me and I would be happy to support you.
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Today I start my new position back in clinical farm practice with @Westpoint_Vets. Really looking forward to working with my new team and farmers. Very excited! @VetPartnersLtd @bveds2016
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I want my daughters to look at @KamalaHarris and believe they can do whatever their dreams are!.
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Kamala Harris. Very proud and great to see her at the top. Both Indian Tamil and Jamaican. So proud to be Tamil right now! Result! 🇮🇳🇯🇲🇺🇸@KamalaHarris.
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My daughter made this bird feeder in nursery today. Unfortunately she decided to try and eat it on the journey home. Only realised when I saw a dried maggot and some suet on her cheek and lips when I got back🤢🤮
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So pleased to have presented my @nuffieldfarming Scholarship today in Cardiff City Hall in front of HRH Duke of Gloucester and hundreds of delegates. This was one of the most rewarding things I have had the pleasure of researching. Thankyou to @McDonaldsUKNews for sponsoring me
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Over the last couple of weeks, I have been told by two people that I can’t be Scottish because of my skin colour, despite being born, lived and educated there. So pathetic. 🏴.
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We have a racism problem in our sector 👇🏾.
📊 In an FG poll which reached more than 1,400 voters, 25 per cent of #farmers said they had intended to vote for @reformparty_uk. Reform UK has won five seats at the #GeneralElection in a night of celebration for leader @Nigel_Farage. Read more:
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Big Thankyou to @BrewhouseUK for my courtesy mini keg to celebrate my OBE. Tropical IPA…whoop whoop 🍺
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It’s become apparent there are very few books written by Writers of Colour and stories about People of Colour at my children’s school.Have decided to give these to their library so that it can help increase the diversity of stories for all the children to read.
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All ready for stage two of my Nuffield Farming travel. Heading to Texas to meet more inspiring BIPOC Farmers, Growers and Ranchers for my study into “Encouraging and Supporting People of Colour in Agriculture”. I will also be learning more about the social justice movement. 👩🏿🌾👨🏽🌾
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Great piece @emilymnorton. This need to be highlighted more about “Loud Male Farmers Aged Over 65” in our agricultural and farming sector. 👇🏾
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Just seen my area is on a hit list for tomorrows racist riots. Thinking about the safety of my family and knowing there have been and will be so many others doing the same from Black and Asian communities. Heartbreaking.
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Took my daughter to an emergency cow uterine prolapse today as I was stuck with her and this could be interesting. After dealing with it, I asked what she thought but she had no idea as she had been watching YouTube on my phone. She couldn’t even identify the cow. I can only try.
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Really proud to have won the James Buckman Cup Prize for Teaching Excellence. Thankyou to all the students who voted for me and all the staff who have supported me @RoyalAgUni #teaching #agriculture #STEM #livestock
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What an experience to be invited as a witness to the EFRA committee at the House of Commons looking at recruitment and retention in the Land based sector. I firmly believe Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has to be fundamental to any thoughts, plans and actions on this topic.
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Something that has come up recently but is important to remember…You can be a vegan and be a farm vet, you can be a Muslim and be a pig vet, you can be a Hindu and be a cow vet. If you have a passion and interest then do it. Never assume these groups don’t want to do these roles.
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Saw a post of a picture of a Holstein cow with the words “black and white lives matter” on a farming forum. Its not funny and not clever and is offensive. Please don’t.
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It’s saddening to see some members of the Veterinary profession making a joke of the issue of Microaggressions when this is a serious issue that deeply impacts many veterinary members and does have negative mental health effects to those individuals. Shameful!.
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I had my 7 year old with me yesterday while I was working, which went fine as he could get on with his school work ok. Today I have my 5 year old which is quite a different proposition . Wish me luck. 😳.
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This has blown my mind. More than 6,000,000 a week! To be fair just eaten 4 in a row.
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Something we do have to be careful with when trying to attract a diverse group of people into the agricultural sector is that we need the right culture and infrastructure ready to support them or else they will just leave. Inclusion and Retention is crucially important.
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Can vet practices please look after your placement students! Very sad to hear the number of incidences of discrimination which go unreported due to fear.
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Two diversity meetings back to back. Just finished one with veterinary sector and now one to discuss the agricultural sector. Great to be having these type of discussions.
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Is anyone else’s children just giving up on home schooling? Finding mine are just not motivated anymore and I don’t want to force them. Feel very sorry for children still stuck at home.
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👇🏾this is so true. Remember where the power really is and the stereotypes we are fed. The reality is this.
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Opinion: Time to break down the ethnic barriers in farming - Farmers Weekly
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My article in this weeks farmers weekly!! Creating awareness before implementing change. @FarmersWeekly @bveds2016 @FarmersGuardian @theRCVS @BritishVets
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My girls chose the angel for our tree this year
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Had a vet student in the car today to join me for my farm visits. Just realised I probably spent most of the time explaining to her how to cook the perfect Thosa and sombol. Not quite the education she was expecting I think. To be fair she did seem interested 😂😂 #farmvet
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One of the best feedbacks I heard was from a Vet Student of Colour who saw practice with us and said this was the best farm experience he had ever seen and loved how inclusive we were. He had never considered farm but now wanted to find out more. Our job is done! @Westpoint_Vets.
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We need strong leadership, education and support in our sector to lower discrimination and make it something that we TRULY don’t tolerate or accept. The journey can start now and with real commitment, real change can happen. Active Allyship can make a real difference! 4/4.
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Today I told my 7 year old that I had to go to attend to some business i.e. go to work. He turned around to me and asked there are two types of business, one is making money and the other is having a poo, which one is it? 😂Love how their mind works.
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Something I notice on social media is the when a white man talks against sexism or racism, they get much more support and interaction than if someone who actually experiences it gets when they call it out. Seen it so many times in our ag sector. Another example of marginalisation.
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When you are half through a pregnancy diagnosing session and still have over 100 cows to check 🐂😃 proper cold though! 🥶
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So recently there has been a British Farming Awards with racism from the host and also a meeting with agricultural “leaders” to work out the plans on how to attract people into farming and growing with virtually no BPOC representation. So much work to do with DE&I in Ag!🤦🏾♂️🙄.
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So after running a Diversity and Inclusion Workshop for which I was asked last minute for the @tesco Future Farmer Foundation, I am now being ignored when asking for a financial contribution. @bveds2016 is a charity. This work is not free and neither should anyone expect it to be.
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Have a Merry Christmas everyone. To all those working over the festive period: stay safe and well. #oncall
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@herdyshepherd1 Work and engage with the general public more effectively. Encourage more voices and experinces to join and work with our sector and bring about more diversity and inclusion so when farming and ag need support then people will feel connection and support for our sector.
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A British Asian Prime Minister. Wow, in my lifetime. A brown man being leader of this country. What a #diwali #deepavali.
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Amazing day with the start of #breakingbarriers @oxfordfarming 2023 scholars today. Bringing diversity, talent and inspiration to British agriculture. Looking forward to supporting them on their journey. Thanks @McDonaldsUKNews for your support. #diversity #agriculture @bveds2016
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There is huge uncomfortableness and lack of interest by many in the farming and agricultural sector to discuss racism and the lack of Black and Brown representation in our sector. This is a shame and will hold us back. Diversity and Inclusion is still a dream rather than reality.
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Have seen many herds being fed waste biscuits, cake or bread but this was a first. They fed waste Bombay Mix as a treat to help move the cattle. First I thought this was code for something else but it was actually Bombay Mix. Lucky cows! The smell was incredible and they loved it
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Really happy to be part of the @oxfordfarming team and looking forward to working with all the amazing people who are involved.
EXCITING NEWS. welcome to our three new Directors. @AliCapper, @navaratnampart1 & @HawfordFarm will join the board from January 2022, bringing experience & skills in horticulture, marketing, veterinary, environment, agronomy & policy. Meet them here -
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Have heard from a few people in our sector who are vegetarian or vegan, where they have to hide their diets due to fear. Some veggie vet students even ate meat on farm placement because of this. We need to change the way we discuss veganism to make people feel more included.
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Best part of my job is seeing new life enter this world.
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When on one hand we are trying to encourage people from non farming backgrounds to join our agricultural sector but some of our farming media use the fact that Ranil is not from a farming background as a negative is highly disappointing. That’s why progress is slow.
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Really happy to be starting my new role today as Regional Head of Farm at IVC Evidensia. Looking forward to meeting the new team and supporting our farm vets. 🐄🐂🐑🐖🐓@IVC_Evidensia
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Best feedback I received recently was that there was a reason why we have had an over representation of ethnic minority veterinary students at our practice over the last year. This was because they wanted to see farm practice with someone that represented them. Love it!.
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I get many agricultural orgs ask me “how do we get more diverse people to attend/be part of this?” They are always looking for the external component but my starting point is what are you doing internally. Look in before looking out. Diversity without inclusion will fail.
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Any UK farming, agricultural or veterinary leaders gonna call out the racism currently happening and reassure Black and Brown people within our sectors that racism has no place within our industries and there will be consequences for anyone taking part?
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Is it wrong that I have just eaten 30 fish fingers and Nando’s hot sauce for dinner? 😳
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Just sitting on my first board meeting for a new BAME equine group. Learning so much and looking forward to getting involved in the equine sector 🐎🐴.
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Fascinating learning about colonisation in agriculture and how it seems recently that some western scholars have “discovered” or are “experts” in regenerative agriculture, which is actually Indigenous agriculture which has been practiced for 100’s of years. #decolonisation.
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Went to a farm today to tb test 7 cows and pregnancy diagnose 10 cows. Ended up with a cow caesarean and pregnancy diagnose 283 cows on this farm. Didn’t do the tb test in the end. Glad I brought a spare battery for the scanner. The joys of farm vetting 🐂 #farmvet.
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Spent the first 10 weeks of lockdown only having 2 takeaways. Have now had McDonald’s, KFC, Dominoes and Fish and Chips in the last 10 days. What have I become🤦🏾♂️.
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In the last 15 days I have worked 10 days of clinical farm calls, 7 nights of on-call emergencies and 3 days supporting the running of the Oxford Farming Conference and Scholars programme. Now back home and out of action till Monday! 🥱😴.
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I get many people tell me “I’m white, male and straight, so how can I help with diversity and inclusion?” The answer is allyship. Use you voice, spaces and contacts to amplify and include diverse voices and presence. We all need to be in it together to create positive change.
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I really commend those farmers who are calling out the Far Right elements of these farmer protests. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾Hate is not ok! And for those making excuses or ignoring these dangerous elements and even trying to justify it, shame on you.
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My 6 year old son has just told me that someone at school told him they don’t like brown people. As a parent, you pray your children never face prejudice or racism but I guess that’s being too hopeful. Makes me feel like my work for equality is more important than ever. #bekind.
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Had a great day with the #breakingbarriers @oxfordfarming 2023 scholars yesterday. Meet Faith, Wonga,Abdul-Hakeem, Ashan and Kandarp who will be all part of the BB scholar journey in British Agriculture. Being me, I had to get Sri Lankan food involved!
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The vitriol @FWAbiKay has received is disgusting, just for calling out misogyny and toxic behaviour. Wanting a safe and inclusive space and culture is a basic right. She should have not have to be treated this way or anyone else for that matter, who are brave to call it out.
@AnnaLongthorp @kenyanpigfarmer @FarmersWeekly Anna - there has been no personal gain for me. And FW doesn’t make money from clicks and likes on FB, X or Instagram. People have called me names (like fat dyke or prick) questioned my motives, called for me to be sacked. I wrote the piece because it was the right thing to do.
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First call of the day at an inner city community farm in East London. Supporting these farms brings me as much pleasure as supporting larger more commercial farms. They provide a big opportunity in bringing urban people closer to food and farming with less barriers than rural.
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My son is collecting beer bottle lids and so is constantly asking me to have a beer. He has already asked me at 6am this morning. It’s like being back at uni. 🍺🍻(For the record, I didn’t have one this morning, honest🤐).
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After cooking a Sri Lankan style chicken biryani (on right) today, my mother in law brings me a Karachi style lamb biryani (on left) just now. Love the variety of biryanis there are. Gonna need a nap straight after getting through all this.
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