Ustadha Sadia, and students reflect on the past summer's visit to Willowbrook Farm.
Hasan (Charles) Le Gai Eaton, may God have mercy on his soul, wrote:
The loss of harmony between man and his natural environment is but an aspect of the loss of harmony between man and his Creator. Those who turn their backs on their Creator and forget Him can no longer feel at home in the creation. They assume the role of bacteria which ultimately destroy the body they have invaded. “God’s Khalifa on earth” is then no longer the custodian of nature and, having lost his function, he is a stranger who cannot recognize the landmarks or conform to the customs of this place; alienated—in the literal sense of “having become an alien”—he can see it only as raw material to be exploited. He may find riches and comfort in exploitation, but not happiness.
At the end of the past school year, Upper Elementary and Senior School Pupils had the opportunity to explore one striking example of what it could mean to practice truly sustainable living and exercise mindful responsibility towards the natural world as Muslims. We enjoyed a day visit to Willowbrook Farm, Oxfordshire. This was an opportunity to consider harmony, distancing and closeness to the natural environment; to ask questions about ethical responisiblity; to explore what 'halal' and 'tayyib' might truly mean; to witness a more conscious, mindful, intentional way of going about daily lives. This was not a commercial farm, but a family’s home, established upon years of struggle and sacrifice.
Located in Oxfordshire, north of Oxford City, Willowbrook is a family-run organic farm committed to producing healthy, wholesome food, protecting wildlife and increasing bio-diversity and sustainable energy. It is possibly the first 'Halal Tayyib' farm in the UK, begun in 2002 by a young family who were dissatisfied by the ethical practices of the modern halal food industry. They have since sought to sustainably grow food, rear animals, live harmoniously with nature, offer a useful service to the community and set an inspiring example for the wider community. The trip was planned to help our students understand the significance of the family’s work on the farm, what it involves and why, and gain from exposure to principles of caring for the earth, living well in a sustainable relationship with the natural world and eating wholesome naturally grown food.
“50 acres of farmland - and I loved every part of it. The first animal I saw were two cute goats named Yin and Yang. We fed them leaves, but I suppose they weren’t hungry, as they didn’t eat much. Then our tour guide showed us around the place, getting to see ducks, goats being milked; sheep and alpacas, chicks and chickens - and all this tied together with picturesque scenery. Out host explained to us the difference between Willowbrook Farm’s animals and factory animals. Can you believe that most chickens we eat - who are bred on an industrial factory scale - grow mature in just 4 weeks and ready to slaughter? They’re naturally supposed to mature if 14 weeks!
Later that afternoon, we learnt the art of foraging later . I learnt how cloves are edible, so are nettles. Plantains help with stings, and ivy can be used for soap. After that, came the Woodland: ah! The woodland was magical from top to bottom: leaves, trunks everywhere - and two tree houses! I felt soothed by it." (Hana)
We learnt about the difference between a natural chicken and the 'Frankenstein' chicken hybrid which grows more than FOUR times quicker than a normal chicken, so it can't develop internally quickly enough to withstand the abnormally fast increase in weight. This is the chicken in most food industries, including Muslim 'halal' ones. It made me very sad and shocked. I hope this is stopped as quickly as possible.
The farmer, who was aware of global warming, had made his house himself with a material called cob, which he had dug from the ground just in front of the location where he then built the house structure. The material keeps heat from exiting and keeps heat from entering too. The house was fascinating because its heating was provided by the wood of the birch trees surrounding it, the burning of which created all the energy for the house. The family's work involves regularly splitting the wood logs for this natural energy (with axes, which was later demonstrated to us), as well as feeding animals, taking them from grazing, watering the vegetable gardens, harvesting vegetables.
Reflecting on this, I'm reminded of the verse: "It is He who appointed you stewards of the earth" (6: 165). I see that it is our responsibility to take care of the environment, just like the family at Willowbrook. We should use sustainable energies and be against those who not just build non-sustainable energies, but who in the process destroy nature and life." (Hamza)