Sam Jackson

Damson Farm is a 2acre regenerative farm and organic small holding with a ½ acre kitchen garden, an edible perennial forest garden, ornamental garden, wildflower meadow, fruit tree orchard and grazing animals. The farm is run as a centre of education, where there are on average two workshops per month on regenerative and experimental, organic farming practices. These workshops are run like retreat days, I assist in the guest preparation and facilitation, harvesting, menu planning and garden tours as well as general landwork outside of the workshops.

• Managing the agroforestry system and forest garden - from sewing through to harvesting. Both ornamental and edible annual and perennial crops across two glass houses, propagation rooms and 2acres.
• Experimental composting systems with Korean Natural Farming Techniques, Bokashi, Wormery, multiple hot and cold compost bays and a Rydan.
• Polyculture systems, Hügelkultur beds and no dig raised bed management.
• Integration of mushroom cultivation into an established kitchen garden.
• Soil science experimentations with bark, ramial woodchip, green manures, and mulch systems.
• Seed saving
• Adapted farming practices in response to weather changes for crop preservation.
• Sowing, potting on, hardening off and planting out into a crop rotation plan.
• Perennial propagation and animal welfare.
• Observation and record keeping of wildlife and insects within the wildflower garden.
• Implemented organic methods and fermentation experiments to improve soil fertility and decrease external inputs.
• Meet, greet and host guests attending workshops.
• Farm tours and local area guide.
• Worked flexible hours, covering nights, weekends and bank holidays.

As a grower living on the land during the growing season, I was able to develop a strong set of skills both practically and academically managing a 5-acre market garden, 6 poly tunnels, a forest garden, a cut and craft flower garden, community experimental growing areas, a green manure museum, and animal welfare. Alongside our theory sessions, volunteer placements, student lead projects and field trips, I completed the following tasks regularly:

• Managing as part of a team a 5 acre no dig and minimum till kitchen garden
• “Food to Plate” community harvest management. Liaising with the Head Chef on produce.
• Reviewing the seed sowing schedule, preparing module/seed and block trays, and sowing seeds according to pre organised schedules.
• Monitoring the growth of plants in the propagation tunnel, watering, feeding young plants, and hardening off and bed prep based on a year-long crop rotation plan.
• Working in a large team to methodically plant out crops on a market garden scale.
• Learning to scythe, scythe maintenance and upkeep.
• Working on soil science, extensive green manure, and beneficial insect mixes.
• Team leading weekly harvest offers for multiple clients, working as both harvest support and harvest leads within a market garden.
• Observing yields and assessing availability / excess crops for the harvest offer.
• Record-keeping of the weekly harvests and costs, storing and selling produce appropriately, and maintaining the community market stall.
• Working extensively on the various composting areas including hotheads, rydan, compost bays, leaf litter composting, scotty hot boxes, composting toilets and wormeries.
• Use of the BCS rotavator and the jang.
• Tool maintenance and upkeep.

Assisting the cultivation team with lab work, mixing substrates, sterilisation, inoculation, observation of growth, harvesting, prepping orders, packaging, warehouse management.

• Performed thorough inspections of harvested mushrooms for quality assurance before sending them off to marketplaces.
• Ensured fresh supply by consistently maintaining rotation of crop cycles.
• Utilised comprehensive knowledge of various mushroom species in cultivating diverse range of produce sought after by consumers.
• Observation and accurate record keeping of all stages of mushroom cultivation process ensuring traceability if needed.
• Monitored and adjusted temperature, humidity and light levels in mushroom cultivation areas to ensure ideal growing conditions.
• Organised daily tasks for efficient work flow within the cultivation area.

• Project managing and creative decision making across performance, lighting, set design, screen content, costume, style, sound, glam team and choreography.
• Use media platforms to create mood boards and reference charts.
• Introduce new concepts and ideas in alignment with the brand.
• Oversee call sheets, marketing and promotion of talent and TV show.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, fostering a harmonious working environment.
• Achieve brand consistency by implementing creative strategies across all marketing channels.
• Streamline workflow processes, enhancing overall productivity levels.

Creatively working across various fields of expertise requires outstanding organisation, self-discipline, communication skills, dedication, career and accounts management, self-promotion, consistent personal development, creativity, confidence in new situations and with a range of people, a broad and evolving knowledge of the industry.

Various Jobs Include:

• Performance Credits Include: Jesus Christ Superstar – Andrew Lloyd Webber - World Tour, Thriller Live - Lyric Theatre West End and Europe Tour, Brit Awards, MTV Awards, Last Night in Soho – Feature Film, X-factor - TV Show, Strictly Come Dancing - TV Show, Britain's Got Talent – TV Show, Little Mix, Pharell Williams, Black Eyed Peas, One Direction, Boyzone, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Florence and the Machine.
• Choreographer / Show Producer Credits Include: SmartGroup 2018-present, Skin London Events Agency Resident Choreographer 2009-present, Primark, M&S, Audi, Levi's, John Lewis, GHD, La Senza, Google and Debenhams.
• Assistant Producer Credits Include: The Big Celebrity Detox 2022
• Show CallerCredits Include: BAFTAs 2022, Centre MK 2019 – present, National Wedding Show 2018 - present,
• Teaching Credits Include: Performers College, London Studio Centre, Trinity Laban Conservatoire, Arts Educational, Bird College, Havering Sixth Form College, Urdang Academy, Skin London, StageCoach, Various Theatre Schools across the country.