Alicia Miller

Llandysul, Ceredigion

California-born Alicia Miller is partner at Troed y Rhiw Organics, a small-scale mixed organic farm in Ceredigion, which she runs with her husband, Nathan Richards.  She is also web editor for the Sustainable Food Trust, publishing content on sustainable food and farming issues. 

With their focus firmly on horticulture, the couple sell their hyper-local seasonal produce to the surrounding communities through a box scheme, producers’ market, restaurants and shops.  They also have a small herd of Highland cattle which provide meat, add fertility and encourage biodiversity across the farm.

Alicia, who graduated with distinction from Stanford University,  says that although she came from a non-farming background, her long-standing interest in food and its production, particularly healthy, sustainable food, means that she’s passionate about what she does.

Working alongside Nathan, who is head grower, Alicia is responsible for managing all things financial, organising the box scheme, and overseeing the holiday lets.  She also contributes to the forward planning of the business, as the couple are intent on ensuring it develops further.

“My leadership ambition for the next five and 25 years is to speak more, write more and communicate more about the things I care about most, and I’m sure that being part of the Rural Leadership Programme will help me achieve this.

“I want to see many more people working the land sustainably, producing great quality food and to do all I can to ensure that farming has an integral relationship with nature and works to preserve its vital biodiversity.