Lake District organic bed & breakfast

Since 1996, Paul and Julia have been operating Howbarrow under organic principles and Soil Association standards. The farm grows an extensive range of organic vegetables, herbs and fruit, and operate an organic box delivery scheme throughout Cumbria and North Lancashire, using our own veg as well as that from local and regional producers.

As well as the usual ecological friendly tasks that most people are trying to manage these days, such as recycling cardboard, paper, plastics etc., we also return all outer packaging to our suppliers. We compost all our green waste and we also use mini worm composters which can be viewed on farm self guided tours. We use low energy lightbuibs and use environmentally friendly cleaning materials. Our built-in chillers are insulated with sheeps wool and we make a habit of making sure that no electrical office equipment is left on overnight. We also have a borehole and we are now self sufficient as far as a water supply is concerned.

We have planted several hundred mixed, deciduous trees and hedges in the last 5 years and half kilometre of hedge. We have created a environmental wildlife and pond area. In extensively renovating our farm buildings for the business, we have retained and even encouraged a colony of bats, and we have encouraged swallows to nest in the buildings, of which, well over 200 leave the farm every year.

Where possible we purchase produce locally for use in the farmhouse and in our business in general, we are a local hub for the distribution of all things organic. With the local producers that supply us, we apply fairtrade principles - so they set their 'from the field' price for their own profitable production.

We will always use local produce in preference to widely sold UK produce, where possible. We have a strict policy on not selling produce that has been airfreighted. We buy organic, fairtrade produce by preference over organic.

We employ 8 local people. We are members of Cartmel Traders group. We offer extensive info to visitors upon request particularly encouraging them to eat in outlets we supply with organic produce. Paul is also a founding director of the growing well project which is a social enterprise business encouraging people back to work following mental health issues.