Jess is the founder of Cultivate, an education programme under Farm Jersey, dedicated to revitalising Jersey’s rural skills and strengthening the island’s food system through storytelling, connection, and participation. Growing up in a farming family and later studying criminology and sociology, Jess combines a deep understanding of community, heritage, and place with her experience teaching geography.
In 2019, while visiting Anneville Farm in her former role at the RJA&HS, Jess realised that despite her farming background, she had become disconnected from the provenance of the food she ate. If Jess, a farmer’s daughter and geography teacher, felt disconnected, how could others feel connected to their food? This insight inspired Cultivate.
At its core, Cultivate is about skills development. Jess creates apprenticeships, workshops, short courses, and practical learning opportunities that equip young people, career movers, and curious growers with the confidence and knowledge to grow and connect to the land. Jess also supports farmers and rural businesses to innovate and pass on vital skills, ensuring the workforce is prepared for the future.
Through Cultivate Connection, Jess celebrates local food, fosters collaboration across sectors, and engages the wider community. She believes, “the more we understand something, the more we feel connected to it; and the more connected we are to something, the more likely we are to do everything in our power to protect it.”
Looking ahead, Jess is focused on expanding apprenticeships, capturing land-based knowledge, and hosting public symposiums on food security and rural resilience—all while keeping skills, connection, and storytelling at the heart of her work.
The most important thing on my desk is…
actually found probably under my desk - my all weather boots! These are essential when visiting apprentices or going on farm visits to meet employers looking for my help in finding them an apprentice for them to pass their knowledge down to!
I love working at Jersey Business because..
being around other people equally as passionate as me about food and farming, sparks such a creativity and opens up new ideas and it makes me think more expansively which is exactly what Jersey’s rural industry needs, to continue the momentum that is happening right now!
When Jess is not working you will find her…
hanging out with my husband, children and labrador retriever as well as seeing as much of my four Hickey sisters who I am so lucky, all live in Jersey! I love using what our farmers grow and cooking locally themed delicious nourishing meals and getting my hands in the soil whenever I can.