A Visit to Margent Farm
From the moment I arrived at Margent Farm, I could feel there was something special happening. Nestled in the countryside, it has this effortless blend of nature and innovation, a space where sustainability isn’t just an idea—it’s a way of life. The farm is the vision of film director Steve Barron. You might know Steve for his work in film and music, he’s the man behind iconic music videos like Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean and a-ha’s Take On Me. But these days, he also has another focus on something quite different: harnessing the power of hemp.
The Vision Behind Margent Farm
Hemp has long been praised as a wonder plant, but Steve has taken things to the next level, exploring just how much this incredible material can do. From sleek, sustainable rainscreen cladding to an alternative for plastic moulding, Margent Farm is a hub of innovation. By using regenerative farming techniques, Steve and his team are proving that industrial hemp can be grown and used in ways that are practical, stylish, and good for the planet. Gemma is right there alongside him, helping to drive the farm’s mission forward with a hands-on approach that makes sustainability feel accessible and exciting.
Hemp Innovation & Sustainable Creations
Margent Farm isn’t just about growing hemp, it’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with it. Walking through the beautifully designed farmhouse, I couldn’t help but admire the naturally weathered hemp exterior rainscreen cladding. It’s got this beautiful, silver finish that blends perfectly with the surroundings, and the more it weathers, the better it looks.
Inside, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. The open-plan space has high ceilings, which you’d expect to cause an echo, but instead, it feels wonderfully quiet and peaceful. That’s thanks to hempcrete, a breathable, natural insulation material that not only keeps the house warm but also absorbs sound. And then there are smaller hemp crafted details: cupboard doors made from hemp-based corrugated panels, a stunning showcase of how sustainable materials can be just as stylish as traditional ones.
Gemma was keen to show me one of their latest projects, decorative interior hemp panelling, an eco-friendly alternative to MDF. It’s lightweight, strong, and free from the toxic chemicals you find in conventional materials. Seeing all these innovations up close, it’s clear that Margent Farm is proving that sustainability and great design can go hand in hand. Margent Farm is more than just a farm, it’s a glimpse into the future of sustainable living.
Why The Shropshire Seaweed Company & Margent Farm?
We’re incredibly grateful to Steve, Gemma, and the entire team at Margent Farm for their enthusiasm and willingness to collaborate—we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together. At The Shropshire Seaweed Company, we are always looking for innovative ways to showcase and expand the power of our organic seaweed. Margent Farm’s dedication to sustainable agriculture and construction aligns perfectly with our mission. We believe that by supporting this fantastic initiative, we can help maximise the benefits of hemp cultivation and demonstrate how natural solutions can contribute to a greener future.
Enhancing Hemp Growth with Organic Seaweed
Hemp is a tough and versatile plant, but like any crop, it thrives when given the best possible care. That’s where our organic seaweed comes in. By helping to enrich the soil with vital micro and macronutrients, it helps create the perfect growing conditions, boosting root strength, improving soil health, and increasing the plant’s natural resilience. What’s really exciting is how our seaweed’s bioactive compounds will support the hemp plant’s metabolism, encouraging faster and healthier growth while helping it stand up to environmental stressors like unpredictable weather. Seeing how these two natural powerhouses, hemp and seaweed can work together is just another reminder of how sustainable solutions are often right in front of us, waiting to be explored.
Boosting Hemp Growth Naturally with Organic Seaweed & Frass
To take things even further, we’re setting up a third and test area where we’ll be combining our organic seaweed with our newest soil-enhancing product, organic frass. Frass is an incredible natural soil booster, packed with essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with beneficial microbes that help improve soil biodiversity. When paired with our organic seaweed, it creates a nutrient-rich, well-balanced environment that gives hemp exactly what it needs to thrive.
What’s particularly exciting is how these two organic materials work together on multiple levels. The seaweed brings a powerful mix of bioactive compounds that boost plant metabolism and resilience, while the frass strengthens the soil’s foundation, helping it retain moisture and support long-term plant health. Together, they create the perfect natural formula for stronger, healthier hemp plants. It’s a fantastic example of how working with nature, rather than against it, can unlock incredible possibilities for sustainable farming.
Next Steps: A Three-Part Trial
To further explore these benefits, we are about to conduct three separate trials at Margent Farm:
- Control Plot – A hemp patch grown under standard conditions.
- Organic Seaweed Plot – Hemp grown with our organic seaweed.
- Organic Seaweed + Organic Frass Plot – Hemp grown with both organic seaweed and organic frass.
Through these trials, we aim to gain valuable insights into how these organic solutions impact hemp growth, soil health, and overall crop yield. We hope to demonstrate that combining these regenerative inputs will result in healthier plants, richer soil, and even larger sustainable hemp production.
A Sustainable Future Together
Our collaboration with Margent Farm is just the beginning of an exciting journey. We are incredibly grateful to Steve, Gemma, and their team for giving up their time and working with us to explore what’s possible. By joining forces, we’re not just looking at how to improve hemp production in the UK, we’re thinking bigger. Together, we can unlock the full potential of hemp as a sustainable resource while proving the incredible benefits of organic seaweed and frass. We can’t wait to show you our progress!
