Roger Saul, the founder of Mulberry, has turned his hand to organic farming. He offers us some sound advice.
Roger Saul is the owner of Sharpham Park in Somerset, a 300-acre estate that he runs as a traditional mixed economy farm producing organic meat and cereals. Having left his life of big-business fashion behind, he knows a thing or two about the transition from boardroom boss to gentleman farmer. Here is advice from a man who has made it happen on a grand scale.
- A shortage of good agricultural land and lack of top-quality food worldwide means the price of agricultural land has gone up. Since land values will continue to appreciate - and organic food prices could increase by up to 100 per cent in the next five years - land purchase remains a good investment.
- While the land will provide long-term asset growth, farming will not make money day to day. You will need very deep pockets - deeper than you would ever believe - and should expect no return at all in the short term.
- Living on the land is as fulfilling and absorbing as you imagine it to be, but only if both partners are committed. You both need to love the country life because, while immensely rewarding, it is a 24/7 job and very hard work.
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