People

Volunteering: if you would like to join our team and get involved on a regular or ad-hoc basis please do get in touch.

I am George and I run the farm with my parents Sue and Robert Crossley. Dad inherited the farm from his father and brothers, and farmed with skill and care for many years, always passionate about wildlife, positive, and not afraid of foul weather, heavy lifting or new ideas. Mum comes from a long history of farming; poultry, beef and dairy, and years of experience as a land agent. She qualified as a chartered surveyor and set up the Country House Company in Hambledon, as well as running the horse stables on Rushmere Lane. Both fully support the change to organic practices and my invitation to the public to come and see for themselves the wildlife in abundance and the delicious food being produced alongside it. It is thanks to them that we have the platform now to farm in a way that will set a template for others to follow. There are others too, that make this place special and it is only with the help of these wonderful people that we bring this place to life. 

Rosie is incredible! She took over caring for our holiday accommodation in 2024, and has taken a huge load off my shoulders. She cleans and launders always smiling and chatty, and she now handles the majority of communication with guests. If you need anything you can ask her, and if she doesn't know the answer (which is rare) she can always ask me. 

Alec is a talented artist, craftsman and musician who helps bring magic to our spaces. He is a brilliant carpenter and puts his many skills towards new projects, as well as keeping us on top of maintenance, and occasionally supports Norman in the TOATS production barn. Originally from Chicago, via Los Angeles he finds himself in the Hampshire countryside and constantly reminds us of the beauty of our surroundings. He manages the workshops at Rushmere Corner (next to Hampshire Veg Box) where creators/artists/makers can hire or rent space so feel free to pop in and find out what they are up to. 

Norman fled from gang violence in El Salvador and achieved residency here in the UK for his wife and two children in 2023. Whilst living in temporary accommodation, and without the right to legally work he volunteered with many projects on the farm and also in Portsmouth, with the church and community. He is the most resourceful and positive person you will ever meet, and has become an indispensable part of the team, managing the production of 2200L per week of TOATS oat drink, as well as fixing almost anything you can think of. If you see him, say 'Hola'.

Kathleen is an organic landscape gardener with a deep understanding of ecosystems and a both scientific and folkloric knowledge of plants and wildlife. Frustrated, as many of us are, by the sidelining of nature in human environments she comes to Rushmere Farm with joy and a passion to inspire our visitors with the abundance of nature and its ability to nourish us without expecting anything in return. You will see Kathleen planting, pruning and preparing habitats, and if you need help identifying a plant, insect, bird, or mammal she will almost certainly know what it is, and what it does.

Edward prepares TOATS for its customers, he sets up the production three times per week, packs and labels the oat drink ready for delivery, and keeps everything in check; calibrating scales, and thermometers, testing for gluten, and keeping us well stocked. There are early mornings and there is a chaotic boss, but he doesn't miss a beat, reliable and diligent throughout. 

Chris runs Hampshire Veg Box and is director of Hampshire Market Garden at Rushmere Farm. He is a fount of knowledge on soil and an ambitious driver in the movement towards locally produced organic food. Hampshire Market Garden now produce 60% of what goes into 250+ veg boxes distributed within a 20 mile radius of the farm. It is a pleasure to work with Chris his veg is delicious and extremely nutritious. Please do take the opportunity to buy some veg from the fridge (just up the road from the Cattleyard at the junction of Pithill lane and Speltham Hill).

Mark became a friend when he started cooking feasts for green wood working courses in the woods at the farm. He is a fun and kind man, not afraid of hard graft, and a knowledgeable grower as well as experienced chef. He had been working for a vegetable grower an hours drive from home so when I heard he had left the job, we snapped him up. We hope that when his young kids have grown up a bit he might have time to cook for us again! For now you'll see him working the veg beds at Hampshire Market Garden (alongside Pithill Lane). 

Ivan is a qualified, patient teacher, and excellent green woodworker. His knowledge of wood and the techniques used to craft them is extensive, and his passion for making beautiful wooden objects will almost certainly rub off on you. The wood he uses often comes from the farm and its use is part of a management plan that protects wildlife, and captures carbon. The objects he creates, in some cases, will last longer than the tree species from which they have come. Ivan sadly no longer lives nearby, and returns for courses in the summer holidays.