Valley Explorers
We want to help the next generation learn about the importance of nature and farming. So join us on the journey to find out a bit more about our farm, how we put nature first in the garden and what makes soil so special.
The Farming Cycle
Come on a journey around the Yeo Valley Organic farm to soak up the nature, wildlife and environment that our milk, cheese and yogurt are created from.
Tour our Farm
Find out all about the farming cycle and how we work with nature to take care of our animals and land.
Helen, our Farm Guide, will show you our Yeo Valley ‘eco-system’ that includes cows, soil, and an abundance of wildlife.
Find out why we love soil so much and how the cows help us keep it healthy. You can also meet our family of cows and learn how we care for them throughout the year.
The way we farm is not only organic but also regenerative – which means that we put nature first and farm in way that supports and encourages the natural world.
Sounds of the organic farm
Now that you’ve been on a tour around the farm, it’s time for you to start identifying what’s in your local environment. Sometimes it’s nice just to sit and listen to the sounds around us to hear what’s happening!
Nature is a wonderful thing, and the more we understand about it – and most important, how elements can work together like our farming cycle – then we can look after it.
Whether you have a garden or not, next time you’re outside, sit and listen to the sounds of the birds and the wind in the trees. Or listen to the soundscape from our farm – how many different sounds can you hear?
The Farm in Your Garden
There’s more than just cows on our farm. Discover our Organic Garden; the lifecycle of plants; and how and why we care for our garden naturally. You can also follow Sarah’s tips on how to grow your very own pea shoots!
Visit our Garden
Come and visit the Yeo Valley Organic Garden with Sarah, our gardening wizard, who will explain why we garden this way and all the benefits of growing flowers, vegetables and plants organically.
While our cows are the star of the show, we also have lots of other wildlife on the farm. Birds, butterflies, ladybirds and bees all do the really important job of pollinating plants, seeds and crops.
We also encourage insects into our garden, so that they can pollinate our plants. It’s very easy to do this at home – all they need is an area to drink water, plants full of nectar they can eat, and a place to rest.
Did you know that plants cannot pollinate themselves? They need pollination to survive so it’s a very important job!
How to grow pea shoots at home
You need: An empty Yeo Valley yogurt pot or a shallow tray, moist kitchen roll, a clean jam jar, dried peas (not frozen peas!), compost.
- First soak your peas by putting them into a jar and covering with twice the amount of water. This will hydrate the peas and get them ready for germination! Leave for 8 hours or overnight for the best results.
- Next, place a double layer of moist kitchen roll in the bottom of your empty tray or pot.
- Then cover the kitchen roll with a layer of compost, so that it’s distributed evenly and you can’t see the kitchen roll.
- Now drain the peas and sprinkle over the top of the compost.
- Place the tray or pot on a light, but not too sunny windowsill and keep them moist over the next few days.
- Watch them sprout and grow!Delicious pea shoots will appear in 10-14 days, and they can be added to soups and sandwiches.
Super-powered Soil
Soil is so much more than mud or dirt
At Yeo Valley, we are always making sure that we look after our soil, because it needs to be a safe and nourishing home for millions of creatures, like moles, microbes, soil insects, worms, and fungi who all do their bit to keep the soil full of goodness.
Did you know that maintaining healthy soil can help reverse the effects of climate change? That’s right! Healthy soils don’t just grow food, they can also help with global warming.
How to make a wormery at home
You need: An empty Yeo Valley yogurt pot or large clean glass jar, moist soil, sand, earthworms, old leaves, vegetable peelings, a cool dark cupboard.
- Put a 1cm layer of sand at the bottom of your pot or jar. Add a thick layer of soil, then add another thin layer of sand, then another thick layer of soil. Ensure there is about 5cm of space at the top.
- Go and find some worms. They might be under a rock, in the compost bin, or you might need to dig a hole. Before you put them in the jar, have a good look at them. Can you tell which end is which? How? Can you guess how a worm moves? Can you see the hairs on the worms skin?
- Put the worms in your jar, then add some vegetable peelings, old leaves, and any overripe fruit you have.
- Put the lid on with a couple of holes punched in the top and put it into a cool, dark cupboard.
- Leave it for a couple of weeks and then take a look at what the worms are doing. What has happened to the vegetable peelings? What patterns have the worms made in the earth?
- Empty your new, worm enriched soil into the garden and just like that, you’re doing your bit to help put nature first.
Busy Little Bees
Have you got younger children at home? We’ve got loads of activities to keep them buzzy!
Crafting, baking, exploring and more – give them a go and let us know how you get on. Share them with us on social media using #yeovalley
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