On the 21st of March two experimental fields of organically grown heritage brewing barley were sown at Hamptonne Country Museum and at the Le Maistre Heritage Farm in Trinity.  To facilitate this process the Futurefarmers returned to Jersey, collaborating with local artists, project partners, school children, farmers, community groups and those living near the field, to develop a choreographed sowing ceremony and a week of live events. Live events functioned as Human Scarecrows, protecting the precious grain until it germinates. Together we enjoyed pot luck picnics, radio labs, pigeon broadcasting, field school, a seed exchange, sculptural interventions and live performances.

Wednesday March 21
Sowing Ceremony, from 1pm until 3pm, with project partners and St Lawrence Primary School

March 22nd-29th
Human Scarecrows

March 21-29
Field School, with St Lawrence Primary School

Saturday March 24
Electromagic! Interwoven methods and metaphors of farming and radio transmissions, with the Jersey Flying Society

Sunday March 25th
A Seedy Sunday, Potluck picnic and Germinale, with Kerry-Jane Warner, Sheri Burt and Christina Orchard

Tuesday March 27th
Aegis, with Kerry-Jane Warner and Maria Tarrant

In April 2017 the Futurefarmers brought the Seed Journey to Jersey, while transporting a selection of rare and special grains from Oslo to Istanbul. On board were five artists and farmers, a sailor and two captains. During their stay in Jersey the crew engaged with local bakers, farmers, pigeon fanciers, radio enthusiasts, beekeepers, historians, entrepreneurs and brewers, to conduct research into the role grains have played in shaping our society and the notion of the commons within agricultural practices. What might be gained from reintroducing organically farmed heritage grains to our fields? How can we move towards a more resilient, diverse and sustainable local food chain? Where are the openings for co-operative action, solidarity and open source farming? The presence of the Seed Journey in Jersey became a catalyst for a host of exciting initiatives. A short film documents the Seed Journey’s first visit to Jersey.

While on the island the Futurefarmers made a pact with local brewer Patrick Dean of the Liberation Brewery, who, in return for some Belgian malt, promised to work with The morning boat to brew a special edition ale in 2018, using locally organically grown barley, wild hops and honey, reigniting traditions and practices that were once widespread in manors and homesteads across the island. After a year of growing, harvesting, threshing and malting, we hope that the first home grown and malted beer in 500 years can be presented at a ‘Beer & Bean Crock’ festival in the autumn.

The Futurefarmers view their presence in Jersey as a play in three parts. The second act of the play brings together human and non-human actors, on a plot of land at Hamptonne Country Life Museum that becomes a stage for the events that unfold. The result is a contemporary saga that situates grains as emancipatory actors in respect to intellectual property rights pertaining to biological matter. Non human actors include grain, pigeons, soil and weather, while human actors include the artists, brewers, farmers, participants, funders and school children.

The Home Grown brewers barley field is a collaboration between the Futurefarmers, The morning boat, Jersey Heritage, Liberation Group, Genuine Jersey and ArtHouse Jersey and aided by scientists and farmers from the Soil Association, Organic Research Centre, New Heritage Barley, Bread Matters, Hodmedods, Seed Cooperative, John Innes Center, IBERS (Institute of Biological and Rural Sciences, University of Wales Aberystwyth), Duchy Farms and Sprowt Labs. Seed Journey Act II is funded by the One Foundation and the Flanders Department of Culture, Youth, Sport and Media.