The Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation, in partnership with the Wethersfield Institute, hosted on 9 April 2024 the sixth installment of our online series, Rooted: Cultivating a Green Philosophy.

We were honoured to welcome Jamie Blackett, author, owner of Arbigland Estate and public advocate for rural life and traditional land management practices. Jamie's work exemplifies the continuation of the philosophies that Sir Roger Scruton ardently supported – focusing on the responsible stewardship of land, the cultivation of beauty and the fostering of community values within rural settings.

Series host Grace Olmstead discussed Jamie’s experiences at Arbigland Estate and the current issues facing those who care about stewardship of the natural environment. Jamie shared the practical applications of philosophical principles in farming and land management, demonstrating how these ideas contribute to a sustainable and respectful coexistence with nature.

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About the Speakers

Jamie Blackett is a former army officer and a farmer on the beautiful Arbigland peninsula on the Solway Firth in Dumfries and Galloway. He is also an award-winning journalist and a regular columnist for the Daily Telegraph, Country Life and other publications. He appears regularly on television and radio as a commentator on politics and rural issues. His first book, The Enigma of Kidson has been adapted for the stage. Land of Milk and Honey is the sequel to his second book, the much-acclaimed Red Rag to a Bull. In 2020 he won the Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust award for journalism and his essay has been published in a short book On Wilding. Jamie is married with two grown-up children.

Grace Olmstead is a journalist and author of Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We’ve Left Behind (Sentinel, 2021). Her writing, which focuses on farming, localism, and family, has been published in The American Conservative, The Week, The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Christianity Today, among others. A native of rural Idaho, she now lives outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and three children.

The Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation, in partnership with the Wethersfield Institute, hosted on 19 March 2024 the fifth installment of our online series, Rooted: Cultivating a Green Philosophy.

We were delighted to welcome Sophie Scruton, Sir Roger Scruton's widow and the dedicated mind behind Sundey Hill Farm. In her stewardship of the farm, Sophie has continued the legacy of thoughtful and responsible land management, emphasizing the values that Sir Roger passionately advocated.

In this engaging discussion with our host, Grace Olmstead, Sophie shared her experiences in managing Sundey Hill Farm, reflecting on the philosophies of land, beauty, and community. The conversation delved into how these principles are applied in practical farming and land management, contributing to a sustainable and harmonious relationship with the natural world.

This event is an extraordinary opportunity to gain insights into the continuation of Sir Roger Scruton's legacy in the realm of farming and environmental stewardship. Sophie's unique perspective offers a deeply personal yet universally relevant exploration of how we can nurture and respect the land that sustains us.

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About the Speakers

Sophie Scruton worked with Sir Roger Scruton from 1999 to establish Horsell’s Farm Enterprises, a firm that brought together all their interests. While Roger gave lectures around the world building a network of followers, Sophie built strong links with farmers, conservationists, and local historians. The small farms surrounding Sundey Hill Farm, the Scruton family home, were struggling in the business of turning grass into meat and milk. The solution, they felt, was to turn grass into ideas, and bring profit to the farm and the neighbourhood. Their project culminated in the Scrutopia Summer School programme where philosophy and friendship are cultivated.

Grace Olmstead is a journalist and author of Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We’ve Left Behind (Sentinel, 2021). Her writing, which focuses on farming, localism, and family, has been published in The American Conservative, The Week, The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Christianity Today, among others. A native of rural Idaho, she now lives outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and three children.

The Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation, in partnership with the Wethersfield Institute, hosted on 5 March 2024 the fourth installment of our online series, Rooted: Cultivating a Green Philosophy.

In this event, we were delighted to interview Gabe Brown, an innovative farmer, renowned author and the visionary owner of Brown's Ranch in Bismarck, North Dakota. Brown's pioneering work in regenerative agriculture has revolutionized farming practices, emphasizing soil health, ecosystem restoration and sustainable food systems.

Joining our esteemed host, Grace Olmstead, Brown discussed the transformative journey from conventional to regenerative agriculture. He shared his experiences and insights into how nurturing soil health can lead to more resilient farms, healthier foods and a more sustainable interaction with our environment. The conversation examined the practicalities and philosophies of regenerative farming, shedding light on how these practices can address pressing environmental challenges and contribute to a healthier planet.

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About the Speakers

Gabe Brown is a pioneer of the soil-health movement and has been named one of the twenty-five most influential agricultural leaders in the United States. Brown, his wife, Shelly, and son, Paul, own Brown’s Ranch, a holistic, diversified 5,000-acre farm and ranch near Bismarck, North Dakota. The Browns integrate their grazing and no-till cropping systems, which include cash crops and multi-species cover crops along with all-natural, grass-finished beef and lamb, pastured pork, and laying hens. He is the author of Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2018). The Brown family has received a Growing Green Award from the Natural Resources Defense Council, an Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the USA Zero-Till Farmer of the Year Award.

Grace Olmstead is a journalist and author of Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We’ve Left Behind (Sentinel, 2021). Her writing, which focuses on farming, localism, and family, has been published in The American Conservative, The Week, The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Christianity Today, among others. A native of rural Idaho, she now lives outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and three children.

The Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation, in partnership with the Wethersfield Institute, invites you to join us for the third event of our online interview series Rooted: Cultivating a Green Philosophy.

Our next guest, Professor Norman Wirzba, is a distinguished academic working on the intersections of theology, philosophy, ecology and agrarian and environmental studies. Wirzba serves as the Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology at the Duke University Divinity School.

In conversation with our host, Grace Olmstead, Professor Wirzba will delve into the profound and pressing issues surrounding our relationship with the natural world and the philosophy that underpins responsible farming practices, sustainable agriculture, and environmental stewardship. He'll discuss the significance of localism, emphasizing the importance of connecting with our immediate communities and landscapes.

This event promises to be an illuminating exploration of how philosophy, theology, and ethics intersect with our role as caretakers of the Earth. Professor Wirzba's insights will shed light on the ways in which we can cultivate a greener and more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.

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About the Speakers

Professor Norman Wirzba is the Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology at Duke Divinity School and senior fellow at the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University. His research is centered on a recovery of the doctrine of creation and a restatement of humanity in terms of its creaturely life. His publications include Agrarian Spirit: Cultivating Faith, Community, and the Land, The Paradise of God: Renewing Religion in an Ecological Age, Living the Sabbath: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and Delight, Way of Love: Recovering the Heart of Christianity, From Nature to Creation: A Christian Vision for Understanding and Loving Our World, Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating (in its 2nd Edition), and (with Fred Bahnson) Making Peace with the Land: God’s Call to Reconcile with Creation. Professor Wirzba serves as general editor for the book series Culture of the Land: A Series in the New Agrarianism, published by the University Press of Kentucky, and is co-founder and executive committee member of the Society for Continental Philosophy and Theology.

Grace Olmstead is a journalist and author of Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We’ve Left Behind (Sentinel, 2021). Her writing, which focuses on farming, localism, and family, has been published in The American Conservative, The Week, The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Christianity Today, among others. A native of rural Idaho, she now lives outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and three children.

The Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation, in partnership with the Wethersfield Institute, invites you to join us for the second event of our online interview series Rooted: Cultivating a Green Philosophy.

Our esteemed guest for this session is James Rebanks, an acclaimed author and farmer renowned for his work on sustainable agriculture and rural life. Rebanks, the author of The Shepherd's Life and English Pastoral, brings a wealth of practical experience and deep understanding of the farming landscape.

In conversation with our host, Grace Olmstead, Rebanks will explored vital topics surrounding our connection to the land, the ethics of farming, and the importance of sustainable agricultural practices. He shared insights from his life as a farmer and author, discussing the crucial role of traditional farming methods and the need for harmony between modern agriculture and environmental stewardship.

This event delved into the significance of preserving rural traditions, the challenges and rewards of sustainable farming, and the broader implications for our relationship with the natural environment.

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About the Speakers

James Rebanks is a farmer based in the Lake District, where his family have lived and worked for over six hundred years. His No 1 bestselling debut, The Shepherd's Life, won the Lake District Book of the Year, was shortlisted for the Wainwright and Ondaatje prizes, and has been translated into sixteen languages, and was described in the Independent as ‘an unforgettable book, one that raises important questions. It is also one of the most truthful descriptions of contemporary rural life that I have read.’ His second book, English Pastoral, was also a Top Ten bestseller and was named the Sunday Times Nature Book of the Year. Heralded as a 'masterpiece' by the New Statesman, it won the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing and was named Fortnum and Mason Food Book of the Year; it was also shortlisted for the Orwell and Ondaatje prizes, and longlisted for the Rathbones Folio award.

Grace Olmstead is a journalist and author of Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We’ve Left Behind (Sentinel, 2021). Her writing, which focuses on farming, localism, and family, has been published in The American Conservative, The Week, The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Christianity Today, among others. A native of rural Idaho, she now lives outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and three children.