We utilise agroecological farming practices that provide our community with naturally grown produce that has a multitude of health benefits, as well as improving soil health.
Working on a small-scale (1.25 acres under cultivation), we are able to increase our soil fertility year-on-year in 2 ways:
Green manure crops in our rotation. Approximately 0.2 of an acre is planted each year with vetch, phacelia, buckwheat & alfalfa, which is then cut and covered, leaving the nutrient rich matter to break down in the soil, ready to plant with hungry Brassicas the following year. Beneficial insects are abundant when these are flowering, on the look out for pollen.
Adding organic matter onto our beds, such as our own compost or well rotted horse manure.
We grow a diverse selection of approximately 40 crops that are suited to our climate, including leafy greens like spinach, rainbow chard and lettuce, root crops like carrots, parsnips and beetroot and hearty brassicas like calabrese, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. One of our specialities is an irresistible salad mix which changes weekly, depending on what’s in season.
We have also planted a new hedgerow along the perimeter of the site. This acts as a ‘wildlife corridor’ for birds, invertebrates, and small mammals, thus increasing the biodiversity on-site. We also reduce the amount of virgin plastic used on site, trying to eliminate it entirely through our packing or using second hand or biodegradable options for situations where it cannot be avoided.