Roots to Resilience: Clarity, connections, control

Roots to Resilience has helped Greg Parkes take a more proactive approach to growing the family farm.

A book fair may seem like the last thing you’d find on a working farm, but for Greg Parkes and his family, it’s an essential step towards diversification.

"The milking parlour was in need of massive renovation and the milk price was very poor," says Greg, explaining why it made financial sense to turn farm buildings into a primary school book fair, as well as storage units.

This determination to "sweat the assets and add value" has supplemented the core beef business since the turn of the millennium, ensuring that Greg's family can still successfully farm the 110 acres in south-west Leicestershire his great-grandfather bought in 1922.

But while the farm was turning a profit, Greg knew these initiatives could be hiding significant challenges.

"If all the money’s going in the same pot… you don’t know whether it’s down to diversification or the agricultural side."

When an email about Roots to Resilience appeared in Greg’s inbox, he seized the opportunity to gain a new understanding of his business.

Working on, not in, the business

The Roots to Resilience programme quickly helped Greg see the potential for improvement.

“It’s a totally different perspective,” he says of the four-day course led by Dallas Mount – the US expert who's worked with thousands to position their farms for profit and ecological health.

Clarity is one of the key values of Roots to Resilience, and through this practical approach, Greg addressed big questions, such as “What are the values of the business? What are the missions? How do we need to pivot or adapt?”.

Roots to Resilience enabled Greg to see beyond the routine of day-to-day farming by using tools such as the Seven Thinking Hats to consider every viewpoint and take a high-level strategic approach.

Or, as Dallas puts it, working on, not in, the business.

A powerful community

Roots to Resilience has also connected Greg with an inspiring community – another key value of the programme. It’s been a valuable chance to forge new relationships with like-minded farmers.

"There are some trailblazing people in British agriculture. We’re still in touch, and we have similar problems or concerns that we work through together."

Tackling the succession question

Back at home, Roots to Resilience is helping Greg and his family navigate the delicate subject of succession.

"How do you blend family and personal dynamics with wanting to run a successful business?"

The Discuss the Undiscussabull course, led by communication expert Elaine Froese, made it easier for Greg and his siblings talk openly about the future as their father moves closer to retirement.

A new plan for the future

“You’ve got to be able to step outside of your comfort zone,” says Greg, as Roots to Resilience has challenged him to take more ownership of his farm’s success.

By analysing each enterprise separately, from finishing cattle to book fairs, Greg is making his operation more efficient.

He and his family aim to build a modern farm that responds to the rapidly growing appetite for local, sustainable food. It’s a plan that’s begun with a new flock of laying hens, along with free farm walks to build relationships with his local community.

"I'd like to get to a point where we can sell everything direct to the customer and then grow that as the demand increases."

With huge potential for progress, Greg is stepping into the future with more confidence – armed with tools and insight from Roots to Resilience. 

“If I've got an enterprise that I'm interested in doing, I can use the gross margin analysis and the thinking hats scenario to ask: is it going to be complementary to what we're doing?”