We were deeply sad to hear that pioneering farmer and insightful teacher Marina O’Connell died earlier this week. 

She fed the people of Hackney with fruit, preserves and eggs through our farmers’ market and veg box scheme for over ten years, before moving to Devon in 2017, swapping her 4 acres of smallholding in Essex for 34 acres at Huxhams Cross Farm on the Dartington Hall Estate.  

Marina was an inspirational and wise farmer, teacher and expert in permaculture and agroecology, with huge knowledge that she wore very lightly. She was able to make climate-friendly farming methods sound not just essential for the planet’s future but blindingly obvious and appealingly straightforward, approaching all barriers and challenges with good humour, resilience and hope. 

We thoroughly enjoyed spending an evening with her in summer 2023, when she returned to Stoke Newington as part of the market's 20th anniversary celebrations and inspired us all again discussing her book Designing Regenerative Food Systems. She described her simple food philosophy that evening: “Waste less. Use less packaging. Eat more fruit and veg. Feel happier.”

She was also a big fan of using gradeout fruit and veg to make other products: “I started making jam long before it became cool!”

In Devon she integrated permaculture, biodynamics and agroforestry into her plan for the farmland, business and community. She built a thriving teaching practice and consultancy and developed the farm and Apricot Centre to become one of the UK’s foremost demonstrations of sustainable farming and community development.

As the Apricot Centre said in a post this week: “Marina’s legacy lives on through the vibrant ecosystems she nurtured and the communities she supported. We invite you to connect with her spirit by enjoying the land, picking flowers, and sharing your dreams with her.”

We’re lucky that Ian and Rebecca of Peach & Pippin continue to supply our farmers’ market with fruit grown in the orchards Marina planted and nurtured on the Essex smallholding near Manningtree.
We send our love and condolences to Marina’s husband Mark, their daughters Ruby and Lily-Mei (both familiar faces on the market stall over the years) and the Apricot Centre community. She will be sorely missed.

Market manager Kerry Rankine adds:

I first visited Marina back in 2004, in Essex at Manningtree Lane, when I was trying to get her to sell at the market. She fairly nonchalantly showed me the hundreds and hundreds of fruit trees that she’d planted, often with one of her then baby girls on her back.  I thought "How amazing!" and "This woman is really something!”

Over the years at the market, Marina gave us so much literal nourishment but also joy, all those beautiful and delicious apples and plums. And so many fruitful conversations about plants, soil and growing with customers and other producers – many of whom became friends.  

Marina and Mark hosted a wonderful market farm trip in October 2016. Marina led us round the orchards, explaining about how to guard against scab and her deeper theories on how to let the land regenerate – while still making sure that everyone got a cup of tea and lots of apples! 

It was an honour to have Marina take part in our market 20th anniversary celebrations – discussing her book on regenerative farming.  The book is both superbly practical and inspiring – much like Marina herself. With love and gratitude. 

Read Mark's moving personal tribute to Marina on the Apricot Centre's Facebook page.