Home » About The Backyard Farmer

About The Backyard Farmer

In 2020, the UK, along with much of the world, went into lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Watching people panic-buy toilet roll and seeing food shelves start to empty made one thing very clear to me – the system is not as solid as we like to think.

I have always enjoyed growing and foraging for food, so I started thinking about how those skills could help other people become less dependent on fragile supply chains. During lockdown, I started The Backyard Farmer to help people build a bit more resilience from their own back gardens.

Growing and Cooking: A Complete Cycle

There is nothing more satisfying than growing my own food, indoors or outdoors, then turning it into a delicious meal.

For most of human history, cooking was a shared process. Food took time, and people knew their ingredients, their seasons, and the land around them far more closely than many of us do today.

Through The Backyard Farmer, I want to explore that connection and help people in Britain reconnect with their food, their skills, and the environment around them.

A Gardener on Two Wheels

Yes, I’m that guy you see riding around with a trailer full of tools on his bike… sorry, not sorry.

This eco-friendly way of getting around isn’t just practical, it’s cheap too. When I started gardening, I realised most people with gardens already had the bigger tools, like lawn mowers. So, as my client list grew, I had a choice – invest in a trailer and electric kit for my bike, or buy a van.

After weighing up the costs, the bike won. It saves me money on fuel and insurance, keeps me fit, and suits the way I want to work.

For more on how I set up my gardening business, see my guide ‘How to Start a Gardening Business in the UK’.

Who is the Backyard Farmer?

Hi, I’m Fred Robinson, founder and author of The Backyard Farmer.

I was born in Hull in the late 80s, and after living in Portugal and Australia, I eventually settled on the Wirral Peninsula.

This site brings together a few threads from my life – building websites since 1999, studying games design, working as a gardener, growing on an allotment, using a bicycle as everyday transport, and a long-running interest in bushcraft and foraging.

Speaking & Talks

Alongside running Backyard Farmer and working professionally as a gardener, I’ve begun sharing practical growing knowledge through talks and community events across the UK.

I’ve recently delivered a talk for the Cheshire Smallholders Association, focusing on real-world growing, self-sufficiency, and practical gardening systems that actually work day-to-day. You can read a full breakdown of the session here: Cheshire Smallholders Garden Planning Talk.

This kind of work is something I’m continuing to build on — helping connect online tools and advice with real gardeners on real plots, including practical resources like the free Allotment Planner.

Community Work & Recognition

My Affiliate Partners

I partner with trusted brands to bring you high-quality products that support sustainable living, gardening, and outdoor lifestyles. I only recommend products I personally use or have thoroughly researched. If I stop using a product, I stop recommending it.

Your support helps keep The Backyard Farmer running and allows me to continue providing free, practical guides for a self-sufficient lifestyle. I aim to use companies that are working to reduce their impact on the planet via things like Carbon Neutral Shipping.

Ownership and Funding Information

Ownership: The Backyard Farmer is independently owned and operated by Fred Robinson, a professional gardener based in the UK.

Funding: The blog is funded through affiliate partnerships with gardening and sustainability brands, ad revenue from eco-focused advertisers, and occasional sponsorships with companies aligned with our mission of promoting sustainable living. All partnerships are disclosed transparently, and the editorial direction is never influenced by external entities.

Cookie Consent & Privacy Tools

Curious how I manage cookie consent on my sites? Check out my CookieYes review to see why I use it across all my projects.

Core Topics Covered

Gardening
(Outdoors & Indoors)

Practical advice on growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers — from outdoor beds and allotments to indoor and small-space growing.

Foraging & Wild Food
(UK-focused)

Guides to identifying, harvesting, and using wild edible plants responsibly and sustainably.

Tools & Reviews

Honest reviews of gardening tools, growing equipment, and eco-friendly gear — based on real use, not marketing claims.

DIY & Self-Sufficiency Projects

Step-by-step guides for practical, low-impact home and garden projects.

Wildlife & Biodiversity

Tips on creating gardens that support pollinators, birds, and local wildlife.

Green Tech & Sustainable Systems

Insights into renewable energy, efficiency tools, and low-impact technologies that support sustainable living.

Corrections Policy

I am committed to providing accurate and reliable information. If I make a mistake:

Ethics Policy

For more about our Ethics and Diversity policy, check out our dedicated page here.

I value your input! Feedback from our readers helps us improve and grow.

Where The Backyard Farmer Is Based

The Wirral Peninsula: The Backyard Farmer is based in this unique area, offering a blend of urban convenience and rural tranquillity. Nestled between North Wales and Liverpool, the Wirral’s lush green spaces inspire much of the content on this blog.

Many of the guides and tools on this site are written specifically for UK conditions, seasons, and regulations. For more info in the Wirral coastline see our article ‘Wirral Coast Wildlife: Habitats, Protected Species & What It Means’.

In Summary

The Backyard Farmer is here to help people in the UK grow more, waste less, build practical skills, and become a little less dependent on fragile systems. Whether that starts with a few herbs on a windowsill, an allotment plot, a DIY project, or learning more about local wildlife, it all counts.

About The Backyard Farmer

Growing and Cooking: A Complete Cycle