Michael has worked in many countries around the world, especially in Africa for Oxfam. This wide experience lead him to explore different types of agriculture and become interested in systems for the production of food.
The Marriage family have been millers for over 400 years, a tradition always close to Michael's heart.
Located in rural Wiltshire, the Marriage family has been farming Doves Farm since 1958. Michael and Clare Marriage first became interested in sustainable, organic farming in the 1970's and wanted to produce safe, healthy and nutritious food, without damaging the environment. Michael converted Doves Farm to organic agriculture in 1978 and fulfulling a passion set up his own specialty and stone-ground flour mill, Doves Farm Foods, to process the grain grown on the farm.
"My father started farming here in 1958 and I became interested in sustainable organic farming in the 70’s. Around that time the UK Agriculture Industry was dominated by an intensive Agro Chemical and Fertilizer approach to farming. We felt this was damaging to the environment and wildlife populations were being decimated as reported in Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring.
We wanted to produce safe, healthy and nutritious food, without damaging the environment. The first field was converted to organic agriculture in 1976 and two years later the first organic crop of spring wheat was harvested. Having moved to organic farming we’ve also been able to massively reduce our carbon footprint and helped in the fight to combat global warming"
The company now buys a range of different grains from UK and overseas farmers and supplies bakers, food manufacturers as well as being brand leader in the retail specialist home-baking market. Michael has a passion for grains and flour processing as well as a keen interest in bread making. By visiting farmers and attending conferences overseas, this adds to his overview of the food chain. He has sat on Soil Association committees for organic agricultural standards and on the Ethical Trade Committee and was a founder member of British Organic Farmers.
