Our Story

Founded by Talia Chain, Sadeh is the UK’s Jewish community farm. Inspired by her fellowship experience at Adamah, a Jewish farm – based program in upstate New York, Talia saw the need for a British equivalent. Under her leadership it has evolved into an inclusive environmental community contextualised within the principles of Jewish ethics and culture.

Sadeh is a farm and environmental community centre based on Jewish values. Our work is focused on environmental education and regenerative land practices; cross communal and inclusive Jewish engagement; and local and interfaith community building. Immersive Jewish farm experiences serve to provide connection to Jewish community, inspire commitment to social and environmental justice, and foster leadership.

Our big brown brick farmhouse with chimney. A few windows are visible, and the gravel parking lot, with foliage all around the side of the building.

A volunteer dumping a black bucket of compost into the chicken coop. Our rooster Georgie who is black and gold is getting into the bin

Our History

Sadeh is a place of rich history

The Jewish community have been visiting the farm since the 1940s, when the Jewish Youth Fund purchased the site for The Brady Boys’ Club as a place of respite from the difficulties and dangers of life in the war-torn East End of London. However the house was originally part of Lullingstone Castle which is just across the local golf course and dates back more than 400 years.

Lullingstone, Davidson House, Skeet Hill House …..

Many know the location fondly as Skeet Hill House. Sadeh, the name of our charity who resides at Skeet Hill House, has a name that reflects our values, one of which is to promote the wellbeing of people and the planet by encouraging people to spend time in the countryside. Many people also remember the house as Davidson house which was its name for many years before it was renamed Skeet Hill House. We see the decision to name our charity Sadeh as relevant to people from all religions and walks of life through the ethos of prioritising spending time in the Sadeh, the “field”.

Our Values

We look to the values of our Jewish traditions and our strong heritage of social justice. Combining the teaching of landwork with Jewish education grows new leadership promoting social justice. This will support the development of a strong Jewish community in the UK, provide new ways to engage with Judaism and create Jewish leaders who will be catalysts for positive social change.

Baal Tashchit

Chinuch

Tikkun Olam

Kehilla

Simchah

Do Not Destroy

Education

Repairing the World

Community

Joy

Our Aims

Environmental education

Through our residential fellowship program, our school trips, our volunteer days and more, we provide environmental education in a Jewish context. We pull up carrots while talking about how planetary health connects with human health, why looking after the environment is so important, how to get involved in outdoor activities, what Jewish agricultural traditions are and lots more.

Regenerative Agriculture

We practice planet first agriculture from planting a variety of habitats, to our no dig veg beds, our forest garden and our Sadeh science activities. This also includes monitoring biodiversity and contributing to the scientific study of regenerative land management. This drives the development of a community of individuals with the knowledge, expertise and commitment to tackle the environmental challenges which face the human race.

Community building

We engage with the wider society on environmental issues. We plan campaigns, and work with other organisations wherever possible, demonstrating the Jewish community’s commitment to environmental justice.

Jewish values

We look to the values of our Jewish traditions and our strong heritage of social justice. Combining the teaching of landwork with Jewish education generates results in new leadership promoting social justice. This will support the development of a strong Jewish community in the UK, provide new ways to engage with Judaism and create Jewish leaders who will be catalysts for positive social change.

Our TEam

Talia Chain

CEO

Talia founded Sadeh in 2017. As CEO, Talia’s role includes growing the food in Sadeh’s market garden, the Sadeh fellowship programme, running education and volunteer sessions and fundraising for Sadeh’s environmental and educational projects. Talia represents Sadeh on the Board of Deputies and serves as co-chair of the Social Justice Committee. Her horticultural education includes a RHS Level 2 Diploma in Principles of Horticulture and Permaculture Design Certificate accreditation. Her Jewish farming journey began after her participation in Hazon’s Adamah programme in 2014.

Reu Refson Dye

Head grower

Reu is a wholefood cook, baker and grower who has been firmly rooted in both community and commercial settings across the UK and Berlin for over 12 years. Reu’s food journey has included all sorts from setting the Guinness World Record for the Largest Vegan Cake in the World to training adults in mental health recovery in sourdough bread-making to being a Group Leader for a co-operative children’s charity. Reu has completed the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture, The Orchard Project Certificate in Community Orcharding and a season of work-based training on a 20 acre mixed farm all alongside growing food at home. What brings Reu to Sadeh is a lifelong commitment to spirituality in food and a devotion to facilitating education in dynamic community settings!

Tal Reed

Fellowship coordinator

Tal is the Fellowship Coordinator at Sadeh. As well as organising Fellowship programmes, Tal brings their passions as an ecologist, artist, and Jewish educator to Sadeh to provide fascinating sessions for Fellows and Volunteers, helping Sadehniks to engage with Judaism and with the other living things that share our space in the local environment.

Jessica Knight

Design

Jessica oversees the vast majority of the design-led projects at Sadeh, from planning designs for renovating the house to managing projects with volunteers and other artists in order to realise these plans. With a background in Literature, Education & the Arts, a desire to contribute to human & environmental wellbeing, and a devotion to utilising the arts to both prompt and promote social change, Jessica combines her love of writing, designing, and general tom-foolery to navigate the aesthetics of the Sadeh brand. Her intention is to deliver nuggets of visual joy for all who encounter Sadeh, whether that be through experiencing Sadeh online or on-site. Her wish is to inspire people to engage with solutions to the environmental issues facing us today, whether through feeding a chicken a dandelion leaf or leading an activist uprising – it very much depends on the weather.

Felix Wilk

Community Development

Felix came to Sadeh after completing the Urban Adamah Jewish Farming fellowship in 2017. They have had a range of roles including helping to set up Sadeh’s long term adult education programming.

They currently co-ordinate Volunteer Days and Friday Night Dinners, run earth-based Jewish education sessions, and are working on increasing accessibility at the farm.

Niellah Arboine

Long term artist in residence

Niellah runs workshops at Sadeh on Land Justice and Nature writing as well as growing Carribean vegetables in the market garden, co-organising BIPOC land retreats and supper clubs at Sadeh weaving the connection between culture, food growing, cooking and community.

Niellah is a writer, editor and broadcaster from south London. Her work centres on the intersections of nature, politics, culture and identity. Currently, Niellah is the deputy editor at Where the Leaves Fall and is an original member of gal-dem and the former lifestyle editor. You can find their words in a number of publications including Guardian, iD, Vogue, Time Out London, Independent, Dazed, VICE and ELLE. Niellah co-hosted the award-winning podcast Growing up with gal-dem, she was shortlisted for the Nan Shepherd Prize 2021 for nature writing and hosted a documentary for BBC Radio 4 on Black journalists in the UK. Find her food instagram account here.