Jan Dixon
Perthshire
Raised on a mixed farm in Aberdeenshire, Jan went to vet school in Glasgow in 1988, before working as a vet from Ayrshire to Devon and out to Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Jan began beekeeping, then co-founded Big Birds Produce with Leigh Grainger, which became Solsgirth Home Farm in 2019. Covering 360 acres, the farm integrates herbal leys and mob grazing, aiming for sustainable regenerative farming. Their livestock includes calving cows, mixed ewes, outdoor sows, bee hives and many, many birds! Hatching rare breed chickens, runner ducks, turkeys, rheas, and emus. Lambing tours were introduced in 2023, adding a new side to lambing for Jan’s Dad!
Monthly farmers markets began in July 22, to sell produce from the farm – beef, pork, lamb, honey, and apple juice—alongside approximately 60 other food and craft stands. There are also holiday stays in the farmhouse and lodges and farm tours are available for visitors.
Jan has three boys, with only one left at school, whose aims range from a professional skier, to a golfer and a farmer at the moment!