Interview with Matthew: Companion at Gullivers Farm

Gullivers is an award-winning Farm Shop, Café and a biodynamic working farm, but it’s also charitable organisation providing residential and day support and opportunities to adults – known as Companions – with varying support needs.

We run the Day Service on our farm, so the focus is on educating our Companions on how to grow vegetable from seed, the care of animals, prepping and cooking of produce and helping run our Farm Shop.

We’ve created a supportive and inclusive environment where each person has their own area of expertise and responsibilities. So this might be based on their interests or experience.

Matthew is a member of the land team and has been caring for the cattle at Gullivers since 2018. His responsibility on the farm is to work alongside team members like our farmer Johannes to look after the cows.

From helping to milking them, cleaning their rear ends or gathering them up to move to fresh pastures.

“[My job is to] make sure they’re clean,” Matthew explains. “[It all depends on] how dirty they are as to how much I need to clean them.”

“I enjoy cleaning them and getting them in for milking,” he says. “[More people should know] about the organic milk they give us,” Matthew explains.

“The milk we produce on the farm is pasture fed, organic, local and farmed by some very special people who really care about our wonderful animals,” adds Johannes.

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If you, or someone you know, has varying support needs and would like to come to Gullivers for residential or a day support service, please get in touch with the team. We offer a structured day or week to focus on specific aspects of our Organic Farm, Market Garden, Deli Kitchen and Farm Shop.

You can find Gullivers’ beef and milk for sale, alongside our delicious biodynamic eggs and locally sourced produce in the Gullivers Farm Shop.