Our story

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 …..

If this all sounds familiar, but you can’t quite pinpoint why, it’s because we have changed the name from Skeet Hill House to Sadeh. Though many know the location fondly as Skeet, we have chosen 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 change the name again as building on the rich history of the site through returning to a Jewish name whilst remaining relevant to people from all religions and walks of life through the ethos of prioritising spending time in the Sadeh, the “field”.

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WHO ARE WE NOW?

We are a Jewish farm, a community hub and a catalyst for change. Our focus is:
– Education and events: We provide outdoor education in a Jewish context for schools, Synagogues and other groups. 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.
– Leadership: We provide the space and time needed for volunteers, artists, and entrepreneurs to develop their planet focused work. They leave Sadeh able to contribute to a growing community of people who care about the planet and each other.
– 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. Get stuck in at an away day or our volunteer programme.
– Activism: We engage with the wider society on environmental issues. We plan campaigns and join up with other organisations wherever possible demonstrating the Jewish community’s commitment to environmental justice.

Who is at Sadeh? We have an onsite community, a brewery and pickle kitchen, an immersive volunteering programme, a community cafe and much more!