Farming Method and Practices

I am farming using stock-free, agroecological practices and am currently in conversion to Organic (Soil Association).

 

Stock-free organic means that we don't use any animal inputs (aka manure) and instead nurturing the soil with rich multispecies composted woodchip and periodic rest with a 2-year ley of mixed green manures. 

 

Green manures are plants which are grown specifically to feed the soil an its diverse life, such as clover, phacelia, buckwheat, vetch, rye, chicory and an array of wild flowering plants. Different plants have different roots which sink deep and pull up nutrients through collaborating with the fungal network. Roots do this while supporting the soil structure and protecting it from water and wind erosion. Healthy, thick and luscious leaves cover the surface of the soil and protect it from being baked by the sun whilst providing shade to the worms, insects and microbes. When the green manures are turned in, the leaves and stems rot and break down which feeds the bacteria and organisms in the soil microbiome. Green manures also provide a habitat for much life over the winter and look incredibly beautiful. Farming with nature feels natural and optimistic in an ever-changing world as I am reminded to always notice the little things.​
 

I choose to grow stock-free because it makes my farm more resilient for the future as I am not dependent on the commercial success of a local animal farm for adding fertility, which could include a life-chain of other substances that I don’t want to add to the soil. It saves a lot of money to use woodchip as it is a free waste product, and it smells a lot better - if there is an alternative to growing my food in old poo then I am keen to take it! I compost my woodchip in windrows which are turned regularly with vegetable waste and allowed to decompose for at least 2 years.

 

All the field plots are broken up by beetle banks every 20 metres. This provides a permanent habitat for many insects, flowering plants for birds and rest stops for beetles travelling from the hedgerows.

On the farm we plant and tend by the biodynamic calendar, harnessing moon power to give the veg as good a chance as they deserve to weather the grey days.