Laura Burlison, Founder & Director, Head Honcho & Chicken Lover!
Laura started The Paddock in 2013 after 2 years travelling and working in New Zealand on various farms and sustainability projects. Inspired by a love of the environment and the natural world, Laura started The Paddock after returning home from New Zealand with the aim of providing as many locally sourced, organic, ethical and sustainable food options as possible to the local community in which she grew up, and the surrounding areas. The Paddock has been inspired by our family smallholding, named The Paddock, based on the beautiful Northumberland border where we keep our own free range hens and grow some of our own fruit and veg organically.
Laura loves time at the smallholding, gardening, growing her own veg, her dogs and her horse.
Michael Holt-Baines, Director, Chief Hole Digger & Holder of the Purse Strings!
Mike joined The Paddock full time at the beginning of 2019 after years of supporting Laura to develop The Paddock. Leaving a full time job in Civil Engineering to grow and deliver organic fruit and veg has been a big change for Mike but he's really enjoying his new role. Mike loves the outdoors and is passionate about the environment, animals, surfing, mountain biking, his gym and all things athletic! Together, Mike & Laura run The Paddock.
James Burlison, Laura's Brother, Head Chef & Chief Compost Mover!
James is Laura's brother. James has helped with everything from feeding chickens to moving fridges since the day The Paddock was just an idea in Laura's head! He's been there to support Laura throughout it all. James loves horses and has recently become really interested in growing his own veg at the smallholding too (with Laura's advice of course!)
Bob Burlison, Head Chicken Keeper!
Bob is Laura's dad, and whilst you won't see him packing or delivering a veg box, he is the one who does all of the jobs at the smallholding - from maintenance to feeding chickens! It's thanks to him Laura has developed such an interest in growing her own food and keeping chickens, as Bob has always grown his own veg and kept a few chooks. Bob & Denise bought the smallholding in 2002 after James and Laura had shown a shared interest in horses with Bob, and from there as a family they have developed the smallholding to what it is today.
Denise Burlison, Head of the Burlison Clan!
Pictured here in the middle, Laura's mam, Denise, has been a very important part of The Paddock from day one, helping to pack veg boxes & run the shop! Now technically retired, Denise enjoys time at the family smallholding. It is thanks to the support of Denise & Bob that The Paddock is where it is today.
Also pictured, Yasmin (soon to be Burlison) met James & they are soon to be married! Despite having her own full time career, Yasmin mucks in at the smallholding too.
The Organic Pantry
We work closely with The Organic Pantry, a family run farm in Newton Kyme, near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. The Watson family have farmed at St. Helen's Farm for over 100 years, converting their 300 acre farm to organic veg production back in the 90's, they have been fully certified by the Soil Association since 1999. Jonnie, pictured here, still runs the farm alongside his wife Fanny & son Freddie. The team at The Organic Pantry support Laura & Mike in the packing & delivering of veg boxes, and our partnership with them has gone from strength to strength since we began working together in 2013. Using their solar powered & fully refrigerated packing unit, and their fully refrigerated vans, we can ensure the fruit & veg gets to you as fresh as possible. We also have access to the organic produce they grow on their own farm for our veg boxes, meaning you will find produce in our veg boxes which is unique to our boxes. All of the team involved in the packing & delivery of your veg boxes are paid a fair living wage, as The Organic Pantry are a certified Living Wage Employer.
Pictured Left, Jonnie Watson inspecting his kale at the farm.
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