Hi there,
my name is Sophie, I’m the main vegetable grower at Pitfield & passionate about providing my local community with fresh, nutritious vegetables, grown in harmony with nature.
My journey into farming began with a deep desire to live more sustainably and as a way to connect with the land. Making conscious choices around where my food comes from and connecting with the community around it is one of the most powerful and radical choices I’ve made for myself.
Cultivating just under one acre using a no-dig method to maintain soil health, and I love growing both unusual varieties—rarely seen in supermarkets—and humble staple vegetables.
My seed choices reflect a balance of curiosity and practicality, so I invite you to explore and experiment while also covering the essentials when ordering from me.
One of the highlights of my work is seeing the creative dishes chefs (professional of home cooks!) come up with using my vegetables.
Produce is picked and packed on the same day to ensure you receive the freshest of the freshest. In summer, this often means early starts before the sun comes up. Luckily, witnessing the sunrise from the field is another one of my favorite moments.
I work with the seasons, always experimenting and expanding what is on offer, with the goal of bringing fresh, high-quality produce to as many people as possible.
Picture by Ines Diedhiou
Pitfield Barn cafe and cut flower farm
…is a thriving space that grows cut flowers (thanks to the wonderful Emma and Peter) but also vegetables, all without the use of chemicals, pesticides or preservatives. We have an event space that hosts nature and well-being-based workshops regularly, a café that is open during the summer months while the flowers are in full bloom, and where you can also purchase my vegetables at the self-service veggie stall every Friday and Saturday—all designed to support and celebrate locality and seasonality.
We’ve teamed up with Sussex Surplus!
As a community-focused social enterprise, Sussex Surplus rescues fresh vegetables from local farms and transform them into nutritious meals and long-life products. What makes their mission even more inspiring is their dedication to providing opportunities for young people who face barriers to employment. Sussex Surplus organizes weekly community meals, sells their delicious soups in local shops, and even offers catering services.
I first encountered the Sussex Surplus team Autumn 2024 when I was looking for a charity to donate a giant pumpkin. At the time, they were busy processing and batch-cooking gleaned squash from farms across Sussex, so what’s one more pumpkin to add to the mix? They were more than happy to take it, along with a box of leftover garlic I had at the end of the season. After spending time with their team over a shared meal, I knew I wanted to continue supporting them. Their work—feeding the community, rescuing food from waste, and providing a supportive workplace for young people—is truly invaluable.
You can help support this collaboration in two ways:
1.Add a Sussex Surplus support payment as an extra for your regular orders.
2.Going on holiday or unable to collect your box one week? Donate your box!
3.Sussex Surplus will be able to use that credit to buy the freshest produce or receive a payout to help keep their operations running smoothly.
