Riverford Organic Farmers

Documenting the Transition to Peat-Free

Project Overview
Riverford Organic Farmers is a pioneer in the UK organic movement. We were commissioned to document their ambitious, multi-year Peat-Free Compost Trial—a critical project aimed at shifting their entire growing operation away from peat-based substrates. Over the course of two years, our role was to act as the visual chronicle of this transition, capturing the scientific rigor, the agricultural challenges, and the eventual breakthroughs involved in finding a truly sustainable, peat-free alternative.

The Challenge
Sustainability projects are rarely "finished" in a day. The challenge here was to maintain narrative continuity over a 24-month period. We needed to produce a series of films that didn't just show the "end result," but brought the audience along for the journey—documenting the trials, the failures, the soil testing, and the on-farm experimentation. The goal was to build trust with their customers by being transparent about the difficulty of the transition.

Our Approach
As a creative partner, we embedded ourselves within the Riverford team, ensuring our production schedule aligned with the seasonal cycles of the farm and the specific milestones of the research:

Chronological Storytelling: By working across two years, we were able to capture the evolving story of the trial. We focused on the tactile reality of the nursery and the fields, turning technical soil research into human-centered narratives.

Process-Driven Filmmaking: We didn’t just film the highlights; we captured the "in-between" moments—the meetings, the analysis, and the daily work—that made the final success feel earned and authentic.

Consistency of Voice: Our task was to mirror Riverford’s own brand: honest, down-to-earth, and uncompromising on environmental standards. Whether shooting in the heat of summer or the mud of winter, we maintained a consistent visual language that respected the hard work of the growing team.

The Result
The four-part film series provided Riverford with the content needed to engage their loyal community in a complex environmental shift. The films helped turn a technical horticultural hurdle into a story of transparency and commitment, strengthening the brand’s relationship with its customers. The project stands as a testament to the power of "slow production" - giving a project the time and space it needs to truly resonate.