THE harsh realities of modern-day farming have led a farming family down the road of diversification into a farm shop.

Susan and Mark Rawlings, of Kingsmoor Farm, Hoden Lane, Cleeve Prior, have sold free-range eggs and vegetables from a small shed with an honesty box at the farm entrance for some time.

An increase in production of vegetables helped them decide to convert a stone building within the farm complex to a shop, where as well as the seasonal vegetables, free-range eggs from their flock of 250 hens, plants, pickles and cakes they plan to add home-produced beef. They will also have home-reared oven-ready turkeys and cockerels for Christmas.

"We are a real farm shop, producing most of our own vegetables alongside our free-range eggs and other products," Mrs Rawlings said. "We have 100 head of beef cattle on our 200-acre farm and plan to sell some of that from the new shop."

She explained: "Ours is a true family farm. Our four boys, aged 15, twins of 13 and even the three-year old all help out on the farm in various ways.

"We're really trying to support ourselves on the farm that has been in the family for many years.

"We started growing more vegetables two or three years ago and have now got to the stage where we can produce them at a price and of a good, fresh quality that shoppers can't get in a supermarket."