The Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm, on the Eastern edge of Ipswich in Suffolk
is twelve acres of sandy soil surrounded by mature hedgerows.
When I took over the land in November 2009 it was covered in
wheat stubble, having been intensively cultivated for conventional
arable crops for many years.
Growing Vegetables
One
of the twelve acres is surrounded by electric rabbit fencing, and is
now home to a wide range of vegetable plants, all sown in the spring of
2010. Our crops range from old favourtites like broad beans and
sprouting broccoli to less common vegetables for the UK such as
scozonera and sweet potatoes. We are also growing ornamental
sunflowers for cut flowers.
We have some wonderful coldframes built from timber from a local saw
mill, the wonderful Nelson Potter, and secondary
double glazing from our home. Richard built them, and he has posted
instructions on how he made them here.
I'm lucky enough to be next door to a very friendly stable yard, who are happy to let me take away their rotted manure. I spread this over most of the acre I am now cultivating for vegatables, but it isn't sufficient to build up fertility on the whole field.
My main source of organic material will be grown on-site. On the bulk of the land I have sown clover/grass mixes which fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and store and lift this nitrogen in bulky organic matter. Some of this area will have the green manure incorporated into the soil before it is cultivated, while the rest will remains as the understory ground cover beneath trees that I will begin to plant this autumn. There is a pretty heavy burden of weeds on this land, and I am cutting is regularly with my two-wheeled tractor to encourage the mowing/grazing tolerant clover and grass over the weeds.
Between vegetable crops on the market garden area I am growing green manures including clover and phacelia to build up organic matter, fix nitrogen and supress weeds.
I have also planted a bed of Bocking 14 comfrey, a wonderful plant developed by Lawrence Hills, founder of Garden Organic. Comfrey lifts minerals from the subsoil with its long, fast growing roots, and accumulates them in its fast growing foliage. I will cut my comfrey a few times each summer and use the leaves as a nutrient rich mulch for crops such as tomatoes and potatoes.
A varied and flourishing ecosystem is vital for organic growing (not that I sell my produce as organic as it is not certified as such). If insect pests attack my crops I want their predators to be onhand to control them.
Planting Trees
So
far I have filled in gaps in the hedgerow with sweet chesnut and ash
saplings, but once the clover/grass understory is established on the
top of the farm this winter, I'll be planting a wide range of trees
there on five or so acres. Some of this will be for firewood, and some
will be forest garden.
Forest garden is highly productive woodland producing firewood, fruit, nuts, edible greens and countless other useful plants that together form a human designed ecosystem. Plants are stacked in layers, firstly ground level perennials, then bushes, with trees forming the canopy layer. Climbing plants, such as kiwi and hops, span all the levels. This is inspired by the work of Martin Crawford at the Agroforestry Research Trust.
Growing Vegetables
One
of the twelve acres is surrounded by electric rabbit fencing, and is
now home to a wide range of vegetable plants, all sown in the spring of
2010. Our crops range from old favourtites like broad beans and
sprouting broccoli to less common vegetables for the UK such as
scozonera and sweet potatoes. We are also growing ornamental
sunflowers for cut flowers.
Building Soil Fertility
When I took over the farm a soil test revealed that the soil contained only 2% organic matter, which is far too low for healthy plants. So the search is on for low carbon (meaning not causing greenhouse gas emissions, the organic matter itself will contain carbon), local sources of organic material to improve the situation.I'm lucky enough to be next door to a very friendly stable yard, who are happy to let me take away their rotted manure. I spread this over most of the acre I am now cultivating for vegatables, but it isn't sufficient to build up fertility on the whole field.
My main source of organic material will be grown on-site. On the bulk of the land I have sown clover/grass mixes which fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and store and lift this nitrogen in bulky organic matter. Some of this area will have the green manure incorporated into the soil before it is cultivated, while the rest will remains as the understory ground cover beneath trees that I will begin to plant this autumn. There is a pretty heavy burden of weeds on this land, and I am cutting is regularly with my two-wheeled tractor to encourage the mowing/grazing tolerant clover and grass over the weeds.
Between vegetable crops on the market garden area I am growing green manures including clover and phacelia to build up organic matter, fix nitrogen and supress weeds.
I have also planted a bed of Bocking 14 comfrey, a wonderful plant developed by Lawrence Hills, founder of Garden Organic. Comfrey lifts minerals from the subsoil with its long, fast growing roots, and accumulates them in its fast growing foliage. I will cut my comfrey a few times each summer and use the leaves as a nutrient rich mulch for crops such as tomatoes and potatoes.
Encouraging Wildlife
I like to be surrounded by birds and other wildlife (so long as they aren't pigeons & rabbits which eat my crops given half a chance) so I'm encouraging them by, for example, filling in gaps in the hedgerows, building a pond, letting some of the grassy areas grow longer, planting flowers for bees, leaving some fallen wood to rot...A varied and flourishing ecosystem is vital for organic growing (not that I sell my produce as organic as it is not certified as such). If insect pests attack my crops I want their predators to be onhand to control them.
Planting Trees
So
far I have filled in gaps in the hedgerow with sweet chesnut and ash
saplings, but once the clover/grass understory is established on the
top of the farm this winter, I'll be planting a wide range of trees
there on five or so acres. Some of this will be for firewood, and some
will be forest garden. Forest garden is highly productive woodland producing firewood, fruit, nuts, edible greens and countless other useful plants that together form a human designed ecosystem. Plants are stacked in layers, firstly ground level perennials, then bushes, with trees forming the canopy layer. Climbing plants, such as kiwi and hops, span all the levels. This is inspired by the work of Martin Crawford at the Agroforestry Research Trust.
Email at The Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm