The Spring 2011 No.14

ORGANICThe journal of the Organic GROWER Growers Alliance IN THIS ISSUE Challenging times...

Protected cropping consultation.....3 After very indifferent summers in the past three years, in 2010 I was beginning to believe that we had turned a corner and although not Peat consultation...... 4 brilliant, it was certainly better. We were looking at reasonable crops as we went into winter - so what happened? Snow fell in Lancashire News...... 6 before Christmas, unheard of in the last 30 years, but it wasn’t just the snow. The following long cold period damaged all our cabbage and Organic Producer Conference...... 12 leek crops and slowed down all our other crops. Those who had more snow than us seemed to have fared slightly better, perhaps due to the Passing on experience...... 16 insulation effect. But many growers have told me that most of their post Christmas crops were severely hit, with some losing tunnels and Finding land...... 16 buildings due to the weight of the snow. And if this was not enough to contend with we have, since Christmas, Care farming...... 18 seen escalating Middle East unrest and fuel prices. This was followed by one of the most haunting images I have ever seen, that of a large Making a dibber peg board...... 22 polytunnel complex, and no doubt many workers, swept away in seconds by the tsunami that hit Japan following the earthquake. These Welsh growers’ meeting...... 23 are certainly challenging times. A new team has put this edition of the Organic Grower (OG) together, Organics in the Baltic Sea...... 25 under the watchful eye of Phil Sumption, as Tim Deane has stepped aside after nearly four years of co-producing our journal. A big Soil Association conference...... 26 personal thank you to Tim for all his wonderful writings and effort over that period. We took the decision to survey members about the Organic cut flowers...... 28 OG through the website and these results are highlighted overleaf. Many thanks to all those who took part and to Phil for his ongoing Profile: Trill Farm Garden...... 31 efforts in putting the magazine together.

When we first took the decision to give the OGA new life, four years ago, Growing chicory...... 32 it was decided that the existing growers would oversee the organisation for the first three years or so, then step aside to allow a new generation Apprenticeship corner...... 35 of growers to take it forward. To me it was important that the new organisation should be easily run at minimal cost so that we could Growing in northern Germany....36 concentrate on the issues affecting the growers.

Letters...... 38

Nature notes: Pheasants...... 40

Book reviews...... 41

Events...... 44

Page 1 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 The magazine has been a flagship in this process and the interactive Organic Grower takes stock forum on the website is becoming more and more popular as growers engage with it. It is now nearly four years since the first Organic Grower rolled off the press in the summer of 2007 and was posted off from Tim and What I had not envisaged was the time that it would take to Jan Deane’s kitchen. Since then, there have been a few changes ensure that the membership, the magazine and the website were behind the scenes, with the design being brought in-house and all functioning smoothly, and this has, at times, detracted from the magazine printed off and posted out from Coventry. I don’t some of the work that the Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) think that either Tim or myself quite realised what we were letting should be doing. Whilst this is very important for members, it ourselves in for at the start! is equally important that policy and strategy are pursued to represent growers and occasionally, this has not happened. We The first magazine was 24 pages long but it was issue number two have recently responded to Defra’s Peat Consultation and have which set the tone. Responses from growers to the awful summer played an important part in the Soil Association’s consultation on weather bumped the magazine up to 44 pages and it has stayed like protected cropping but even so, there is still much more to do. that ever since, almost accidentally! The style, initially developed by Paul Benfield who is Scott’s partner, has evolved organically The conference season has just come to an end, with the producers’ (ouch) over the years. The content and balance has been a result conference held at a new venue this year. Whether it was the of a good working relationship and understanding between Tim, venue or the people attending the event, I felt it was a lot more who was responsible for the words and myself, responsible for upbeat than the last one and most people seemed optimistic about the layout and sourcing the news. Commissioning was shared the coming season. Travelling in reasonable weather to and from out equally. As you can imagine, producing the magazine takes a Cirencester was an added bonus, and a full conference report is lot of time and there are times of year when as growers we don’t included in this issue. have very much spare time! Reluctantly, Tim felt that he could no The next conference was the SA event at Manchester Town Hall. longer continue to devote the time needed to edit the magazine This was the first SA conference I had attended in five years, and and after the last issue has stepped down. We will really miss of course the first one without Patrick Holden at the helm. A Tim’s editing skills and craft, particularly his unerring knack of report of the conference is also in this issue, but to my mind it was being able to articulate what the rest of us might be thinking in a big picture conference in a big city with some big players in the his inimitable editorials. Thanks Tim, without you it could not audience, none of which was really my cup of tea. The event was have happened. He is not disappearing entirely, however and will well orchestrated and very pleasant but somehow something was continue to contribute articles and help out as needed. missing. At an open committee meeting at the close of the producer Maybe this just reflects a time of change with both Patrick and conference, we discussed with those OGA members present how Lawrence Woodward having stepped down from their very we should best proceed. The upshot was that Tim has now been prominent positions in the last year. replaced by an editorial committee! Kate Collyns has been helping out since the last AGM and has invaluable editorial experience. This year’s OGA AGM is over the Easter weekend and being held Jonathan Smith has also been involved for a while, coordinating at Hardwick in Berkshire. The timing is the same as in previous pages on Organic Futures and low-carbon farming. Collette years, with the AGM taking place in the afternoon and Jan Deane Haynes has been coordinating the advertising. We also welcome has kindly offered to run the business side of the event. There will Ben Raskin, Sam Eglington and Carolyn Wacher on board. They be an evening social after a walk around the walled garden, by have brought new energy and enthusiasm to the table. Calls via courtesy of Tolly and his team. Overnight camping and limited Skype and the use of Google docs have helped us to work together B&B is available on site and for those who stay over, the next day efficiently and plan ahead. sees the launch of Tolly’s boat after 13 years of hard work. In January this year, it seemed like an appropriate time to find out Please join us at the AGM if you can and have your say on the what you thought about the magazine and we ran a quick survey future of the OGA. We are having a forum session on local groups of The Organic Grower to garner your opinions and to help shape and regional events and would really value your input. Full its future direction. We had 44 responses (20% of members) which details are enclosed as an insert to this copy of the OG. is good for a survey of this kind and we are very grateful to those And so, as Spring blossoms all around us and we start planting for of you who took part. the year to come, I wish all a very fruitful season. The results were very heartening for us and we feel we are on the Alan Schofield right track. The vast majority feel that the magazine is very useful

Chair OGA and informative to their businesses. Perhaps not surprisingly it is the technical articles on crop production and weed, pest and disease management articles that are the most popular, but every section is really appreciated by at least a third of you! While 40%

Page 2 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 thought the balance was about right, there was a call for more individual issues and we may well adopt these. technical articles and more on the market. The most pleasing thing about the response is that 72% of If it came to the crunch you’d rather have than same number of respondents (29) would be willing to contribute to the magazine, magazines with fewer pages than fewer magazines of the same with a long list of topics and suggestions that we will try and length. The vast majority of you like the design and style of the follow through. We have already been able to pencil in grower magazine, preferring content to style. There were some ideas for profiles until the end of the year! tweaking the design, one of being a slightly different cover for Phil Sumption Protected cropping consultation

On the 8th March 2011, the Soil Association published draft The SA has always maintained that all protected crops have to standards for protected cropping. This followed feedback from the be grown in the soil. This situation has not changed and the first open public consultation last summer, which drew 49 responses, consultation response was overwhelmingly in favour of this. Some over half of which were from growers. Changes put forward EU member states allow the growing of some protected crops in include a recommendation to progress toward renewable sources containers using an organically acceptable substrate and the SA of energy, a requirement to record energy used in heating and will fight hard in the coming discussion within the EU for a level standards addressing key issues around fertility, crop rotation, playing field. The OGA support this action. soil and water use. The consultation, which was due to close on Energy - If fossil fuel is used to heat protected cropping structures April 6th, has been extended until Monday 2nd May. using more than 100kWh per metre2 per year for heating, an The key points of the proposed draft standards are: energy plan should be drawn up outlining how progress will be made towards renewable energy or combined heat and power Crop rotations - producers who do not rotate their crops (e.g. long over the next five years. season tomato producers) would have to demonstrate that they have a robust plan for delivering soil and crop health and dealing with Carbon Dioxide enhancement from waste sources only is to be potential issues such as pest control. Currently, SA standards allow permitted protected cropping systems to not rotate crops (apart from alliums, Water management is another area mentioned in the proposed brassicas and potatoes). There was a strong feeling that crop rotation standards and a move towards rainwater capture and recycling should be encouraged as much as possible, but there should be is being encouraged. flexibility to allow growers to meet the demands of their market. On the whole I feel the standards are a positive move in the right Fertility - a fertility management plan must be produced direction and will not affect existing growers using mainly their which demonstrates that the system maximises the efficient own compost or supplementing their own with a little bought in use of nutrients, builds soil health and fertility, and maximises fertility. The biggest test will be to try to get agreement across the sustainability of fertility inputs. The plan must also outline options EU in order to ensure a level playing field for all organic growers. for movement towards more sustainable fertility sources over time such as on-site composting and local suppliers. For this purpose a The OGA committee is working on our response, which will be management matrix is proposed which will guide growers to source submitted before the deadline of 2nd May. If you are affected their fertility in a more sustainable manner. However, I feel this by these changes and want to have your say, please email falls short of the mark in a couple of areas and will question the SA [email protected] or respond by post to Kathleen further through the consultation process. The matrix contains all Hewlett at the Soil Association. Alternatively email me or leave a forms of fertility inputs, from bought-in, non-organic liquid feeds comment on the OGA website. to home-made compost from materials on the holding and each is Alan Schofield. Email: [email protected] scored from 1-5. What is new, and not covered by the regulations, is the expectation that producers make year on year improvements, which represents a move towards quality improvement over time. This is essentially a good thing, but how will the grower be rewarded for this? The proposed use of Sulphate of Potash is to be allowed in cases of severe deficiency under derogation. The OGA committee was against this being allowed. It is unclear how this will be monitored and how regularly it will be allowed. There is also no mention of the amount of liquid feed that will be allowed on the growing crop and this is quite worrying as although some may be deemed necessary under certain circumstances, the OGA do not want to see crops grown using mainly liquid feeds. Schmutz Ulrich Photo: Dutch organic tomato house

Page 3 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 For Peat’s sake .... Peat bogs are a vital carbon sink and the market for peat based compost in the UK is responsible for 630,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year - the equivalent of an extra 300,000 cars on our roads. The majority of peat sold in the UK is imported from Ireland and the Baltic countries where peat extraction is also responsible for destroying wildlife habitats.

Defra opened their peat consultation process in December 2010 and closed it on March 11th 2011. In the consultation document Richard Benyon, Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries proposed that peat should be eliminated from the amateur market which currently accounts for 69% of peat use, for sale to gardeners by 2020 and to phase it out in the professional sector by 2030. The issue has been described, on an OGA forum, as ‘ the elephant in the room.’ Stakeholder meeting RSPB conservation director Mark Avery said: “It really is incredible that a product as hugely damaging to our environment A stakeholder meeting held at Wellesbourne in February was as peat is still being widely consumed in the UK. Despite attempts dominated by representatives of the growing media industry, to tackle this issue in the 1990s, little has been achieved aside propagators and nurseries, who, in the most part staunchly defended from exporting damaging peat extraction overseas. A financial the need for peat in horticulture. There was a danger that the meeting incentive is vital if we are to change the behaviour of consumers wouldn’t get past the first discussion point which was ‘Do you and encourage the horticultural industry to invest in alternatives.” support the overarching rationale for taking action to reduce the Peat-free composts for the amateur market have performed well horticultural use of peat?’ The chair of the meeting Judith McClelland in trials. Garden Organic believes that there is no necessity for the the Defra soils policy leader and Judith Stuart, a soils specialist were use of peat in any part of horticulture and their ‘Organic Gardening repeatedly attacked from the floor, mainly by middle-aged men who Guidelines’ clearly state that the use of peat is not acceptable branded the consultation flawed and misleading. in organic gardening. They have backed the call for a levy and However, there are some legitimate industry concerns over the also suggested that there should be a quota system for peat quality of the alternatives available. These include the cost to producers. They have also called for significant improvements industry of switching to peat-free growing media and the fact that to growing media labelling and improved provision of consumer if it was a unilateral decision by the UK, it could simply make information. The levy should be used to enable increased public UK businesses uneconomic compared to European competitors. and private sector investment in the development and supply of It was claimed that it would be the growers, not the supermarkets peat-free alternatives. and other major buyers who would absorb the extra costs. Many present said that they would be prepared to work towards Peat-free and proud? peat reduction, but not a phase-out which according to Gerald Is it time for us as professional organic growers to take a stand Schmilewski of German growing-media manufacturer Klasmann- against peat? Most of our customers mistakenly assume that Deilmann would jeopardise horticultural production in the organic standards don’t allow the use of peat. Yes we need UK. This was echoed by Roger White, Westhorpe Flowers & more certified peat-free alternatives, especially ones suitable Plants director, whose business produces more than 100 million for modules and blocking. Yes we need quality assurances that vegetable transplants a year. He wrote to the Prime Minister on growing mediums are fit for purpose. Yes there are question the behalf of fellow propagators saying “Defra’s suggestion to marks over the environmental credentials of coir, though the Defra phase out peat by 2030 would cost us £80,000 a year. We will take consultation paper suggested that transport emissions associated the UK Government to the EU court if it attempts to ban peat use.” with importing dry and compressed coir by sea from India and Sri The environmental lobby respond Lanka are significantly lower than transporting peat from Finland, and similar to transporting peat from Ireland. Our growing For many on the environmental side, the UK government is not systems have developed around peat, and it is undoubtedly a moving fast enough and there is a feeling of frustration at the seeming fine medium, but maybe we need to re-think. There have been unwillingness of the industry to engage in tackling the issues. After important technological advances over the last decade and the meeting in February the RSPB, backed by other groups including growers are now using an increasing volume of peat alternatives. Wildlife Trusts, Plantlife, Buglife, the Irish Peatland Conservation We should welcome and support the Defra move to phase-out Council and Butterfly Conservation as well as compost suppliers peat and hope that this commitment, if it is carried through, Vital Earth called for the Government to introduce a levy in the March is backed by support for our industry to make the transition. budget, on peat products bought from garden centres. According to The organic movement should be progressive and sustainable – in UK Government figures, the cost to society of peat through carbon my opinion that is not compatible with the continued use of peat. emissions alone is £11 per cubic metre - around £32million a year in the Let’s not ally ourselves with the dinosaurs! UK. This cost is not reflected in the price of peat, but a levy of around £1 Phil Sumption on a regular sized bag of peat based compost would help address this.

Page 4 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 The OGA response Alan Schofield wrote in response to the Defra consultation ‘Peat use has become an essential part of vegetable and flower production and its use in organic horticulture is hotly debated. Many growers already use alternatives but find themselves all too often at a cost disadvantage due to high buy-in costs and variability within the product. As commercial organic producers our range of acceptable products for use in organic systems is small compared to conventional growers and under organic regulation peat is only allowed in plant raising media. The OGA support Defra’s present and past support for a reduction in peat use in horticulture. Many uses of peat in horticulture are unacceptable and its use needs addressing urgently.’ The Consultation questions and Alan’s responses are set out below:

Q1 Do you support the rationale for taking action to reduce the horticultural use of peat? As commercial organic producers our use of peat is limited to young plant growing media. We support the above rationale

Q2 Do you agree that a better supported, industry-led voluntary approach is the right way forward? A phased-in reduction is our preferred method of achieving the goal. The transition to a peat free horticulture is not an easy ask for many growers and the phased-in approach provides a time period for viable cost effective alternative product development.

Q3 Do you agree that these are the core criteria that should guide the development of future policy? The OGA agrees with the core criteria. Every effort must be made to support the development of more sustainable alternatives.

Q4 Do you agree that the horticultural use of peat can and should be phased out in all markets, for all plant species and growing media products? Should there be any exceptions to this? Yes the OGA agree with a complete phase out. However commercial growers of all sectors will be the most affected and there will be valid cases for its permitted use in certain situations, which should be allowed. Commercial usage is around 30%. All other usage should be phased out quickly.

Q5 Do you agree that peat can and should be phased out of all public sector procurement activities? Yes and quickly

Q6 Do you think there is more that government and the public sector should be doing to support and enable the switch to peat free growing media. What are the priorities? Our methods of food production need to become less reliant on global resources. The priorities are:

Encouragement of alternatives to peat based on sustainable UK ingredients. Ensure a level playing field for commercial growers.

Q7 Do you agree that the use of peat as a soil conditioner should be phased out by 2013? The OGA support this action.

Q8 Do you agree that the use of peat in the amateur market should be phased out by 2020? The OGA supports the phase out in the amateur market. We feel this should be achieved by an earlier date.

Q9 Do you think that more needs to be done to build consumer awareness of growing media products? Most gardeners support a reduction in peat use. The replacement of peat with a viable alternative would be supported by consumers.

Q10 Are there any sub-sectors that you feel are likely to face higher or lower costs of transition? An alternative growing media for the production of small cell transplants in the food growing sector will be challenging on a costs differential basis and we feel commercial growers of food and flowers will be hardest hit.

Q11 Do you agree that a time limited industry-working group should be established? It certainly should and also draw on all the excellent work that has been and is being done in the peat free development sector.

Q12 Do you agree that the use of peat in the professional grower market can and should be phased out by 2030? Many commercial organic growers have already made and manage the transition. This practice adds to the costs of these growers. It is imperative that the development of future and existing alternatives do not leave the professional growers at a cost disadvantage. The transition to peat free has to be a global effort. The UK has to work with global partners to achieve this transition. 2030 is achievable.

Q13 Do you support proposals for Defra led monitoring of peat based growing media sales? All aspects of the transition will need to be monitored. Defra are well placed to do this.

Q14 Do you agree that data on the volume of peat used in horticulture is most effectively collected from growing media manufacturers? As long as it can be shown to be accurate then yes it is a good way to collect data

Q15 What are your views on timing and proposed objectives for the 2015 policy review? The OGA would support an earlier policy review to ensure that the parameters for the transition are laid down openly and transparently for all to work to.

Page 5 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Policy news

Eco-Farming Can Double Food implement to scale up agroecological practices. “Agroecology is a knowledge-intensive approach. It requires public policies Production in 10 Years - new UN supporting agricultural research and participative extension report services,” De Schutter says. “States and donors have a key role to play here. Private companies will not invest time and money Small-scale farmers can double food production within 10 years in practices that cannot be rewarded by patents and which in critical regions by using ecological methods, a new UN report don’t open markets for chemical products or improved seeds.” shows. Based on an extensive review of the recent scientific The report also urges States to support small-scale farmer’s literature, the study calls for a fundamental shift towards organisations, which demonstrated a great ability to disseminate agroecology as a way to boost food production and improve the best agroecological practices among their members. the situation of the poorest. “To feed 9 billion people in 2050, “Strengthening social organization proves to be as impactful as we urgently need to adopt the most efficient farming techniques distributing fertilizers. Small-scale farmers and scientists can available,” says Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on create innovative practices when they partner,” De Schutter the right to food and author of the report. “Today’s scientific explains. “We won’t solve hunger and stop climate change with evidence demonstrates that agroecological methods outperform industrial farming on large plantations. The solution lies in the use of chemical fertilisers in boosting food production where supporting small-scale farmers’ knowledge and experimentation, the hungry live – especially in unfavorable environments.” and in raising incomes of smallholders so as to contribute to rural

development. If key stakeholders support the measures identified Agroecology applies ecological science to the design of in the report, we can see a doubling of food production within 5 agricultural systems that can help put an end to food crises and to 10 years in some regions where the hungry live. Whether or not address climate change and poverty challenges. It enhances soils we will succeed; this transition will depend on our ability to learn productivity and protects the crops against pests by relying on the faster from recent innovations. We need to go fast if we want to natural environment such as beneficial trees, plants, animals and avoid repeated food and climate disasters in the 21st Century.” insects. “To date, agroecological projects have shown an average crop yield increase of 80% in 57 developing countries, with an Scottish Organic Action Plan average increase of 116% for all African projects,” De Schutter says. “Recent projects conducted in 20 African countries demonstrated The Scottish Government’s new report Organic Futures: An a doubling of crop yields over a period of 3-10 years. Conventional Action Plan For Organic Food and Farming in Scotland sets out to farming relies on expensive inputs, fuels climate change and is define organic farming, explains its benefits and sets out an action not resilient to climatic shocks. It simply is not the best choice plan for the future. The benefits of organic farming are considered anymore today. A large segment of the scientific community to be its contribution to delivering environmental, biodiversity, now acknowledges the positive impacts of agroecology on food water quality and climate change objectives. Scotland already production, poverty alleviation and climate change mitigation – has a significant organic sector: in 2009 some 221,000 hectares and that this is what is needed in a world of limited resources. of land was under organic management, 4% of Scotland’s total Malawi, a country that launched a massive chemical fertiliser agricultural area and nearly 30% of the total organic land in subsidy programme a few years ago, is now implementing the UK. In 2010 fruit, vegetables and salads accounted for 25% agroecology, benefiting more than 1.3 million of the poorest of organic food consumed with a value of £16.5 million; down people, with maize yields increasing from 1 ton/ha to 2-3 tons/ha.” 17% since 2008 and the report notes that “more than 80% of all organic food sales in the EU take place in only four countries; The report also points out those projects in Indonesia, Vietnam and Germany, the UK, France and Italy.” Sales have decreased only Bangladesh that recorded up to 92% reduction in insecticide use for in the UK, the other markets continue to grow and the report rice, leading to important savings for poor farmers. “Knowledge sees export opportunities for organic food, presenting two case came to replace pesticides and fertilisers. This was a winning studies. In partnership with the Scottish Agricultural College and bet, and comparable results abound in other African, Asian and organic organisations in Scotland, the report states the intention to Latin American countries,” the independent expert notes. “The provide conversion and maintenance support for farmers – both approach is also gaining ground in developed countries such as financial and advisory. The plan is also to provide guidance to United States, Germany or France,” he said. “However, despite its local authorities about the awarding of contracts to suppliers of impressive potential in realizing the right to food for all, agroecology organic food, and a consultation to ensure that its research budget is still insufficiently backed by ambitious public policies and is being spent on relevant projects. This all adds up to a significant consequently hardly goes beyond the experimental stage.” level of support for organic producers. The report identifies a dozen of measures that states should

Page 6 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Policy/planning news UDSA De-regulates Round Up NFU chief legal adviser Nina Winter said: “With support from the NFU’s Legal Assistance Scheme, the NFU was able to explain to Ready Alfalfa the Court of Appeal why it had concerns with the High Court’s In a move that has taken organic seed and food safety campaigners decision, and how that decision could impact on farmers more by surprise, the USDA has deregulated Round-up Ready (RR) widely. We have been supportive of Herefordshire Council’s alfalfa and allowed the commercial planting of RR sugar beet in stance and we were pleased that the Council was granted leave to spring, before a court-ordered environmental impact statement appeal. Today’s decision from the Court of Appeal overturns the (EIS) has been completed. The permission without an EIS – usually High Court’s decision, and in our view, clarifies the legal position reserved for small field trials – is being used to enable field-scale for farmers on when land is “semi-natural.” plantings for the first time. The deregulation has come as a surprise Lord Justice Richards said: “There does seem to me to be a because until recently the USDA was consulting with organic fundamental contrast between “semi-natural areas” and land representatives on measures to minimise the risk of contamination that is subject already to intensive cultivation. Natural England’s in the advent of deregulation; all of which have now been thrown guidance expressly excludes all arable and horticultural land from out of the window – seemingly as a result of a negative Wall the types of land considered to be semi-natural areas. In my view Street Journal article and pressure from the White House to get that is a proper reflection of the meaning of the term. Landscape the crops released. These two crops present considerable cross beauty can arise not just from the natural or semi-natural features contamination threats both to beef and dairy products, as well of an area, but also from the appearance of cultivated land within as beetroot and chard crops and seed production. The potential that area, and the cultivated land does not become semi-natural for contamination of UK seed supplies is considered low, since just because it is included in a designated AONB.” most seed for the UK is produced in Europe. Neil Richards of Tamar Organics said it would be the esoteric varieties of chard that could be affected, because these are mostly sourced in small quantities from America. Ian Wilkinson of Cotswold Seeds said Hot topics on the OGA forum that his lucerne (alfalfa) seed is sourced from France, adding that There has been a lot of good discussion on the forums recently. American varieties were often unsuitable for UK production. Please have a look and contribute – all opinions and levels of The decisions are being challenged in the courts by a number of experience welcome! groups. Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety who brought the original law suit, commented on the • Weatherproof mechanical field scales New Farm website “I’m confident judges are getting wise now • Where is there information on yields? that agencies aren’t regulating industries as much as appeasing • Harvesting boxes for salads – what do you use? them.” Let’s hope he’s right. • Parsnip research Polytunnel decision over-turned • Agroecology and the Right to Food, UN Report In January the Court of Appeal overturned a decision by the High • Over-wintering crop losses – what did you lose over the Court against polytunnels erected on a farm in Herefordshire. The winter and what stood up better than you expected? NFU, which acted as intervener in the case, has said the decision is “great news and a victory for common sense.” The case originated • Hardy leek varieties? - Any recommendations? from a legal challenge brought by a Wye Valley action group, • Dwarfs and determinates - how best to grow dwarf beans, which objected to the original approval granted by Herefordshire peas and tomatoes using as little support as possible? Council to a farmer to erect polytunnels on his farm. The action group won in the High Court on the grounds that the Council had • Cultivation tools for sandy soils – any tips? made an ‘error of law’ in failing to carry out an Environmental • Mustard beetle – anyone had experience of this in salad Impact Assessment, which they said was required as the site lay in crops? a ‘semi-natural area’. The NFU applied to be an intervener in the • Solar greenhouses - Chinese style - could they work in case because of a number of concerns it had about the High Court the UK? judgment and the wider impacts it could have on the industry. In particular, the NFU was concerned that the High Court had found • Roll-up side vents on polytunnels – how best to do it? that the site, which had been under soft fruit crop and arable • What compost/growing media are you buying? rotation for a number of years, was a semi-natural area as a matter of law because it falls in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.organicgrowersalliance.co.uk and is adjacent to other areas under statutory designations.

Page 7 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Research news

Blight resistance ratings lowered (downgraded from an eight to a four), Markies, Morene, Nadine (downgraded from a six to a four), Orla, Pentland Dell, Pentland Variety Historic Rating 13_A2 rating Ivory, Premiere, Remarka, Robinta, Romano, Sante (downgraded (1-9 scale of increasing resistance) from a seven to a four), Setanta, Slaney, Spunta, Sunset and Verity. Harmony 3 5 More info at the British Potato Variety database www.varieties.potato.org.uk Pentland Ivory 3 5 Accent 5 3 Danish research into mechanical Dundrod 5 3 control of couch Premiere 6 3 Couch grass (Elymus repens) Barna 6 4 is traditionally controlled Cosmos 6 4 by repeated and prolonged Harlequin 6 4 cultivations, but the efficacy Kerr’s Pink 6 4 is strongly dependent on Kondor 6 4 weather and also on the Morene 6 4 exposure of rhizomes. A

Pentland Dell 6 4 Organic Garden Photo: Danish organic research CMN Kvik-killer Galactica 7 3 project focused on technological Habibi 7 4 solutions for uprooting, exposing and destroying the rhizomes Remarka 7 4 within a short timespan, to minimise leaching of nutrients. Six Sante 7 4 different implements for uprooting and exposing couch rhizomes Spunta 7 4 were studied in a field experiment at Jyndevad Research Station. Verity 7 4 The soil is coarse sand and the machines used were a rotary Markies 7 5 cultivator with Dutchi wide wing shares in front (Howard/ Slaney 7 5 Kongskilde Rotalabor), rigid tine cultivator and rotary tiller (Kvik- Sunset 7 5 Up harrow), rigid tine cultivator and rotary tiller (Kvik-Killer), and Lady Balfour 8 4 a beach cleaner (Beach-Tech 2800). The results showed that it was Orla 8 4 difficult to achieve a high percentage of uprooting and exposure Setanta 8 4 of rhizomes when using high capacity machines such as a spring- Stirling 8 4 loaded tine cultivator, or the rigid tine cultivator with spike discs Bamba 8 5 at the rear. The newly designed spike discs were not capable Druid 8 5 of uprooting more rhizomes than the standard spring-loaded Kikko 8 5 tine cultivator. However, there were indications of better weed control efficiency and there were no large and lumpy patches Midas 8 5 of rhizomes observed after treatment with the spikes, compared with the spring-loaded tine cultivator. The late blight resistance ratings for the majority of potato varieties For more info: http://orgprints.org/18343/ previously rated at five or above have been downgraded, after trials showed they were more susceptible to the dominant 13_A2 blight strain in the UK. Following anecdotal reports of increased susceptibility of some varieties to 13_A2 compared with ‘old’ genotypes, a three-year programme of testing was carried out by SASA, SCRI, SAC and the Sarvari Research Trust, part-funded by the Potato Council in collaboration with DEFRA LINK project. Assessments of the reaction of existing varieties scoring five or more for foliar late blight were made using the new aggressive 13_A2 genotype of the late blight fungus. Significant changes (two or more rating points) from historic ratings were recorded and have been up-dated on the database for the following varieties: Accent, Banba, Barna, Cosmos, Druid, Dundrod, Galactica, Habibi, Harlequin, Harmony, Kerr’s Pink, Kikko, Kondor, Lady Balfour

Page 8 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Business news The Dean Organic Trust Loans agricultural activities, such as any courses, consultancy work or B&Bs that the smallholders also provide. By comparison, English Loans are now available from the Dean Organic Trust, in order farms lost an average of £19,000 in agricultural activities last year, to help growers struggling to find bank loans. The Dean Organic remaining in business largely due to subsidies from the Single Trust was established in 1993 by two women with an interest in Payment Scheme.” The report gives some pointers, drawn from organic growing. Its purpose is to provide interest-free loans to the case studies, as to how best to earn a livelihood from a small organic farmers and growers who are either trying to establish a acreage; and also contains policy recommendations, including the business, or expand an existing one. establishment of land-based business innovation centres, along The Trust is aware of the problems and difficulties farmers and the lines of the Pool Innovation Centre in Cornwall; and planning growers have in obtaining bank loans and the banks’ repayment reforms to allow for sustainable self-build smallholdings. requirements. The Trust tries to be flexible with regard to loan www.ecologicalland.coop/projects-small-successful repayments, accepting monthly or annual payments, and is happy to discuss the repayment period. The Trust gives a year of grace Organic Conversion Information and the first repayment is required 12 months from the date of the Service (OCIS) closure in England loan. As a small Trust with limited funds, once loans are repaid The Organic Conversion Information Service (OCIS) closes, in the money is once again available to assist others. The Trust’s first England, at the end of March. For most of the last fifteen years it loans were given to help two farmers, in Cornwall and Devon; and has provided free on-farm advice to those interested in finding now it helps farmers and growers throughout the UK, including out more about the potential for converting their own holdings Scotland and Wales. Applicants have to show they have a track and how to go about it. From its inception in 1996 the initial record of experience in organics, and provide a business plan for scheme ran until 2006 with the Soil Association operating the the intended funds. The trust will also require personal references. helpline for initial contact and the Organic Advisory Service Loans are usually given for livestock, equipment or buildings. (Elm Farm) providing subsequent farm visits. During these The Trust also hopes and expects that the businesses they help ten years, with a hiatus during the foot and mouth epidemic in will promote the benefits of organics to their local communities. 2001, nearly 16,000 calls were received and over 8,000 farm visits Contact David Oakley at [email protected] or call 01767 262312 delivered. The scheme was re-launched in 2007, again entirely funded by Defra and free to applicants but now entirely under Small is Successful: Creating the management of the OAS. Stricter eligibility requirements Sustainable Livelihoods on 10 Acres weeded out the more frivolous applicants that had previously or Less been accepted. For this reason as well as the declining commercial appeal of the organic market, it never achieved the same level of The Small is Successful activity as the initial scheme but valuable advice continued to report from the Ecological be delivered by an experienced team that covered all the bases. Land Cooperative examines Defra figures indicate that about 750 farms (50,000ha) have eight smallholdings with entered conversion during this latter phase. The government’s land-based businesses on position is that it continues to value the organic sector and that 10 acres or less. The case financial support will continue to be provided under the OELS. studies are with one exception Tim Deane writes: I joined OCIS at the time when 30 plus advisors horticultural holdings, and struggled to keep up with the demand for organic advice. These include organic growers were the years when the organic market grew by 25% p.a. and Hugh and Patsy Chapman you heard all about it on The Archers – we were the missionaries (right) from Longmeadow of a movement that was on a roll. The original scheme allowed for Organics, Bridge Farm – ‘the an initial visit to make an assessment of the potential and then, if largest commercial forest garden in the UK’; and Spring Grove requested, a follow-up to outline the basics – soil management, Market Garden. Charles Dowding’s Lower Farm and the Real rotation, weed and P&D control and so on – of what conversion Seed Collection are also profiled. The authors say that “the actually involved. The certification bodies were then hard-put smallholdings demonstrate that economically viable and highly to cope with new enquiries and it was an element of OCIS that sustainable land-based livelihoods can be created on holdings it could weed out some of the weirder or more hopelessly rose- of this size. While the incomes generated would be described tinted applicants. The horticultural advisors naturally got the as modest, none of the smallholdings receive subsidies, and the small-holdings where the majority of the eccentrics were to be income we have examined does not include money from non- found. So I made my way from sand-blasted cliff top to barren

Page 9 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Other news heath, from acid-clay swampy woodland to an allotment in A greater number of birds were found on farms which had Warminster, with every so often a decent bit of vegetable ground fields covered with stubble, pasture and green manure crops, to lighten the mix and provide a note of reality. The clients ranged and more types of species were found on farms with pastures. from retired professional people to hard-bitten agriculturalists via However, when the researchers also took into consideration (on one occasion) Hari Krishna monks whose shrine I mistook the influence of landscape, it was found that organic farming for a puppet theatre. Tea might be offered from china cups or increased bird numbers and species only in simple landscapes, chipped mugs – as the visits lasted three or four hours you hoped that is, landscapes where 80-99% of the land is used for it would be offered one way or another. More than once the agriculture. In cleared landscapes, where 100% of the land is smell of skunk hung heavy in the air. All in all I discovered some agricultural, bird numbers were similar for both organic and remarkable country, met some remarkable people and acquired at conventional farms, possibly because there is a low species pool. least as much knowledge as I imparted. A few clients did, to my However, in complex landscapes, where less than 80% of land knowledge, convert their ground and set up an organic growing is farmed, there were fewer birds on organic farms compared business and it has been a pleasure to have been able to keep in with other landscape types. In addition, there were fewer touch with some of these. birds and species found on organic farms where mechanical weeding had been frequently carried out during the growing It was money well spent on Defra’s part, I think – both in the season. Mechanical weeding reduces the amount of food early days of feverish activity and latterly with a more targeted that is available for birds to eat, such as insects and worms. and serious approach. At least – it could have been spent worse in other ways. As a free service it was not always valued by the It is suggested that some farming practices could be adapted clients as much as it deserved – the available advice was both deep to improve conditions for wintering farmland birds. For and individual – but those that made real use of it were given a example, reducing mechanical weeding frequency in simple sound base to start out from which otherwise might have taken landscapes would increase food supply for birds. Furthermore, them much time, money and grief to achieve. the researchers recommend that agri-environment schemes Organic farming can benefit birds are improved by taking landscape complexity into account. in agricultural landscapes For example, organic farming is a more effective means of boosting biodiversity in simplified landscapes than in complex A recent study from the Rural Economy and Land Use Programme landscapes. Non-crop habitat could also be substantially (RELU) has examined the effects of different farming increased in cleared landscapes to increase the pool of species. practices on bird numbers and species found on farmland during the winter in six European countries. Overall, the greatest number ‘Sort out your soil’ - A practical guide of birds and species were on organic farms, especially when the to Green Manures farms were in landscapes where 80-99% of the land was used for To help farmers maximise the huge agriculture. The abundance of food available to birds that live on benefits of green manures, Cotswold farmland has fallen in recent decades, making it harder for the birds Seeds and Garden Organic have to survive the winter. Intensive farming, the type of field cover and published ‘Sort Out Your Soil - A weeding practices have all contributed to declining food sources. Practical Guide to Green Manures’

The study investigated the effects of different farm management The 40-page colour guide examines practices on birds living on agricultural land during the winter all the practical aspects of growing in seven areas across six countries: France, Germany, the green manure crops and gives full Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden. These practices covered: details of all the species used for the intensity of agricultural activity (judged in terms of yield), this purpose. The guide also offers the type of farming (conventional or organic), typical farming advice on how to choose the right species or mixture for specific routines, such as the application of pesticides, fertilisers and purposes, and how to manage the green manure crop from ploughing and mechanical weeding, and the type of field cover. establishment to incorporation. In addition, the researchers assessed the relationship between The guide’s authors, Anton Rosenfeld and Francis Rayns, have landscape complexity and the influence of organic farming. been researching green manures for many years and their findings Overall, there were more farmland birds and s pecies found on organic and experiences inform the in-depth guide. farms. It is possible this could be partly attributable to the greater cover of green manure crops (crops grown for nutrients and dug The guide is available - free of charge - from Cotswold Seeds into soils) in organic farming compared with conventional farming. www.cotswoldseeds.com/organic

Page 10 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Other news Mike Day retires It is hard to imagine NIAB without Mike Day or indeed to think of anyone who knows more about vegetable varieties and their suitability for organic growing than Mike. In the many years of collaboration between HDRA and NIAB on organic vegetable variety trialling, during the halcyon days of MAFF/Defra funding, Mike was always there. It was clear that he enjoyed his work and a highlight of the HDRA/NIAB variety open days was the comedy double-act that developed between him and Margi Lennartsson. His encyclopaedic knowledge of varieties is unlikely ever to be surpassed. We wish him well in his retirement. Photo: Garden Organic Garden Photo:

A NIAB variety day at Ryton with Mike Day. Sue Stickland is on the far left and Margi Lennartsson is on the left with the clipboard. Guess the year anyone? Pest news

Potential new fruit pest released systematically. The technique appeared to be successful up to week 20. By early July there were other biological control UK fruit growers have been agents such as orius and aphidoletes present among the wheat warned to be on the look out for plants. Although there was 93% adult wasp emergence from the a new pest - the spotted wing mummified aphids, 72% had in fact been hyperparatisised. Work drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), an on Spanish peppers has suggested that rearing units based on Asian species of vinegar fly which syrphid flies may be more effective later in the summer and this has spread to Spain and France. will be investigated further in UK crops this year. In North America, D. suzukii currently appears to be spreading rapidly and it has caused severe damage to some cherry, berry Majestik gains approval for outdoor and peach crops. The European Plant Protection Organisation has crops added D. suzukii to its Alert List. Growers have been urged to Majestik, an organically permitted insecticide (under derogation) monitor for adults from May until harvest using containers baited with a physical action, has been licensed for use in field vegetables with white wine vinegar and to inspect fruit for indented scarring. and other crops against spider mites. It acts by blocking the insect’s The eggs have a white filamentous breathing tube visible on the spiracles, resulting in effective spider mite suffocation. Certis technical surface. There is a factsheet available here. officer Alan Horgan says that “the impact on beneficial species is www.fera.defra.gov.uk/ short-lived due to the fact that they tend to be more mobile compared Hanging baskets to encourage with the pest and are therefore less likely to be affected by the spray.” biologicals He added that Majestik should be applied as soon as growers spot the mites to prevent the pest numbers escalating. The product has Trials, reported in HDC News (no.171), have found that hanging a zero harvest interval – a feature of its short persistence – and has baskets of wheat, barley or maize, infested with aphids that are no restrictions regarding operator safety or crop re-entry. “Spruzit common hosts for biocontrol parasitoids, but not a direct threat (which contains pyrethrins and rapeseed oil and is also permitted in to the crop, can be used to sustain populations of natural enemies organic systems) can be used alongside Majestik, adding to the control in glasshouses. The trials, in commercial pepper crops, used spectrum and meaning that brassica growers, for example, have an hanging baskets of wheat infested with the cereal aphid Sitobian extended armoury of products to control a range of caterpillar species avenae, irrigated and fed by the irrigation system. The aphids were as well as aphids and whitefly.” colonised with Aphelinus abdominalis, which is believed to be less susceptible to hyperparasitism than aphidius. Monitoring detected fewer aphid colonies in glasshouses protected with these units than in glasshouses where the biologicals had only been

Page 11 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 The Organic Research Centre Producer Conference - Cotswold Water Park - 2011 It might have been the change of venue, it might have been down to the sunny weather, but there definitely seemed to be an air of optimism around the growers at this years producer conference that contrasted from the mood of the previous two years. The talk was of having ‘weathered the storm’ and of ‘turning the corner.’ This was not politicians proclaiming to have spotted ‘green shoots of recovery’ but hard-bitten growers talking! There are good reasons to be optimistic, whether you believe the hype of the ‘Why I love Organic’ campaign or not, positive publicity for organic farming has got to help us. There are moments that can be defining for any conference. For many, at this conference it was Casper Lampkin’s inspiring presentation on the Aberdeen university organic veg bag scheme. For more on this and for summaries and presentations from of all the sessions not covered here, go to www.organicresearchcentre.com

Novel horticultural crops and very well in the resistance trials. Varieties of rocket and lambs genetic resources lettuce were assessed for resistance to alternaria and powdery mildew. Again, some heritage varieties showed lots of potential. The second workshop at the 2011 producer conference was chaired Next was a brief introduction to the SOLIBAM project, which by Margi Lennartson from Garden Organic. The session explored has just started and will look at strategies for plant breeding the potential of exotic vegetable production in the UK, and looked and management in organic and low-input arable and vegetable at ways of preserving genetic diversity in established crops. systems. See www.solibam.eu for further information. First on the floor was Anton Rosenfeld from Garden Organic, Scott Sneddon then brought us up to date with a discussion on who gave us a breakdown of the Sowing New Seeds project the pros and cons of modern varieties. He talked us through (www.sowingnewseeds.org.uk). This project, led by Garden the various resistances to mildew in both lettuce and spinach Organic and funded by the Big Lottery and the Brook Trust, is varieties, as well as looking at wider resistance in tomato, looking at what is grown on allotments and in gardens in the pepper and cucumber crops. There are many challenges for the Midlands. Around 12% of the local population are from different organic grower, and resistance to major diseases which have ethnic groups and many are growing exotic crops from their been bred into varieties can be the first step to a successful and countries of origin. Crops like calaloo (a green leafy vegetable), clean harvest. He went on to describe some of the new offerings green chickpeas, dudi (a form of gourd) yard-long beans, sweet in lettuce leaves, such as Salanova from RZ and Easileaf from potatoes and shark’s fin melon. Many of these crops grow well Vitalis. These are designed to be harvested as whole head and outside in the UK, and the project is showing that the resource then the core removed with one cut, leaving you with a mass of of knowledge lies with the older growers who in some cases similarly-sized leaves. bought seeds with them and have now naturalised these crops to UK conditions. Garden Organic are looking to add the best of I found the session both well presented and informative, and these varieties to their Heritage Seed Library (HSL). reminded me that even though we feel modern varieties should have it all, we have a lot to learn from ex-commercial and exotic varieties. Next up was Phil Sumption, who talked about the HSL and the Leafy Vegetable project. The HSL was started by HDRA in the Alan Schofield early 90s, under the then-director Lawrence Hills to maintain ex- commercial, heritage and heirloom varieties. The HSL now has 9,000 members who grow on these varieties and feed seed back to it.

The Leafy Vegetable project ran from 2007-2010 and bought together EU partners to characterise, evaluate and analyse living and gene bank varieties of leafy vegetables. The HSL supplied lettuce varieties and they were assessed for field resistance to downy mildew. Some of the heritage varieties did well compared to commercial varieties: George Richardson, a heritage cos, did Photo: Sally Cunningham Sally Photo: Calaloo

Page 12 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Closing cycles: re-visiting the case Local groups: CSAs and mentoring for sewage sludge and green manure for the future composts Ben Raskin explained that nearly all the new horticultural William McManus of WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action enquiries he receives at the Soil Association are from Community Programme) reported on the huge increase in commercial Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects. The number of new CSA composting, up tenfold, over the past decade. Ninety per cent of projects are increasing all the time, partly due to the support this is certified to the PAS100 specification which governs input offered by the lottery-funded Soil Association CSA programme. materials, processing parameters and product quality. William This support includes information and resources, and especially then moved on to food waste compost, advocating it as a better valued by CSAs is the mentoring scheme. As most CSAs are source of available nitrogen than the green waste compost, from started by community groups, rather than experienced growers, which food waste is segregated. However, it is not presently any training or advice is eagerly received by the groups. allowed under organic regulations. A comment from the room At the moment, the mentoring scheme is funded by the lottery that it would be better to re-evaluate the swill regulations and feed through the Soil Association, but the funding is due to end soon; it to pigs, was greeted with some agreement. Ben posed the question to the room as to how best to carry on Brian Chambers of ADAS introduced the issues around bio-solids this essential training and mentoring. At the moment, to make the (sewage sludge), 77% of which is already applied to farmland, funding go further, members of several CSAs are invited to each showing how heavy metal content has declined along with the other’s holdings when the trainer/mentor holds a training day decline in British industry. Bio-solids are used rotationally, with there, so that the maximum amount of knowledge can be shared, over 150,000 hectares receiving an annual application and perhaps and new contacts forged. The trainer/mentor is currently paid, over a million hectares receiving bio-solids at some point. Re- but it seems unlikely that many experienced growers would be cycling bio-solids is a regulated process, with supporting codes willing to travel far to run a training day once the funding ends. of practice and a ‘Safe Sludge Matrix’ drawn up by UK water and While it might be possible to find some other small sources of funding sewage operators and the British Retail Consortium. The Matrix has for a bit longer, this route is still not a very sustainable solution. influenced ongoing discussions about revision of the regulations. Ben also suggested online resources might be useful, but the general The topic of ‘why can’t we use sewage sludge’ was then debated feeling was that the best way to learn is on farm walks and talking within the room. Brian suggested that the length of time before face to face with other growers facing the same challenges. Perhaps land could go back into cropping was an obstacle. However it local growing groups could be one way forward? was suggested that the length of organic rotations made it very suitable for bio-solids application – a suggestion that Brian agreed Following on from Ben’s presentation, we heard from two people with immediately. Why then are bio-solids not allowed under EU who make organising new initiatives look easy. First of all Kate organic regulation? Christine Watson suggested that the main Collyns gave a very clear outline of how simple it is to start a reason had been opposition from biodynamic groups in Germany new growers’ group: the key message appears to be don’t be too and Austria. There was concern that the desire expressed by those ambitious at the start. BABOG (Bath and Bristol Organic Growers) present at the conference to be able to use bio-solids would not be started with three growers in a pub deciding to go and have a look communicated to Brussels because of the loss of ACOS. around one of their holdings; the second meeting had six people attending the Community Farm in Chew Magna. Knowledge Katie Owens of OF&G presented the issues for certifiers around the sharing, perhaps some collective buying and just having fun are use of outside fertility and organic matter sources. The principal the initial aims. There was some feedback from TOG members problem being the presumption that feedstock would contain some (Thames Organic Growers), who are a much more established GM, and therefore be unacceptable under EU regulations. The room group, who suggested that charging a small membership fee of debated the likelihood of any harm from GM after composting/ perhaps £10 a year enabled them to organise a big day out – which digestion, and Nic Lampkin offered to raise the issue at the next for many was the highlight of the year. meeting of the expert group on organic standards. Caspar Lampkin then told us about an inspiring project he The closed cycle is integral to organic production and philosophy. is involved with at Aberdeen University, where students are In the past, appropriate sources of fertility produced off the running a 200-bag-a-week vegetable delivery group from a local holding have been limited and growers/farmers have tended to biodynamic grower and wholesaler. By almost entirely using think of closing cycles within the holding. As wider attitudes to volunteers to run it, they have managed to keep costs low enough recycling organic matter change, it presents the opportunity to for students to be able to afford the veg. The only outgoings on close the fertility cycle at a higher systems level. In doing this, it top of the wholesale costs were the hire of the van (including is important to preserve the principal of the cycle and not allow occasional excess payments from the inevitable prangs). Who says compost/digestate to become an organic fertiliser, as well as that students aren’t radical any more? ensuring the quality and appropriateness of the input. Ben Raskin & Kate Collyns Sam Eglington

Page 13 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Protected cropping New standards that many pollinating insects also see in UV light, therefore there may be a trade-off between less pests and less fruit/seed set; so Kathleen Hewlett from the Soil Association kicked off the workshop better for leafy salad plants rather than crops such as tomatoes. with an update on the results from the consultation on protected cropping standards development. This consultation was launched last year, with the aim of developing and clarifying standards Green Manuring specifically for protected cropping, since currently the standards The star of the session was Peter Dollimore’s info-packed are quite vague; plus the Soil Association hopes to influence the presentation on green manure options for protected cropping. EU’s new standards due later this year, with its own version. Many of us are guilty of failing to prioritise green manures in At the time of the conference the new standards were just in the precious tunnel space, despite the benefits of doing so: soil health; draft stages, but some interesting early details that emerged from moisture retention; sustainable nitrogen fixation; biodiversity the consultation included views on rotations and fertility: 55% (most obviously if some green manures such as buckwheat or of respondents believed in mandatory rotations for protected phacelia are allowed to flower); reduced inputs; plus possible cropping, whereas 85% believe that not rotating is acceptable only reduction in pests and disease. The main downside of course is the in special circumstances. The general consensus is that nitrogen short-term economics: Pete estimated that his protected cropping allowances should be based on the crop demand, but should stick area costs £2.50/sq m/year to produce £20/sq m/year of crops; to a fertility management plan. Growers should also be required and that establishing a green manure costs £3/sq m. There is also to measure and reduce energy consumption; and encouraged to the possibility that weeds can establish equally well in the green collect and conserve water. CO2 would also be allowed under manure, and it can harbour some pests and disease (such as spider the draft proposals. These standards are currently being refined mite in alfalfa, aphid in field beans and sclerotinia in phacelia). before going to consultation for 30 days, reviewed by committee, However, many of these pest, disease and weed worries can going to the standards board for approval, and then being subject be tackled with good timing and management. Pete also pointed to EU proposals, so there is still some way to go. out that green manures can only supply a small proportion of the following crop’s nutrient needs (150kg/N/ha in a good season). Alan Schofield then opened a brief discussion of these initial However, as growers we tend to prefer to grow things and look results: one concern was that some standards might end up after the soil if possible rather than leave it bare, and there are a being skewed towards long season tomato producers, who number of ways to get the best out of them. have different needs and growing practices to ‘average’ organic growers who grow a range of crops, and are therefore keener on Useful varieties include buckwheat, a phosphate accumulator that rotations and have different fertility needs. There was also concern is happy germinating in a decomposing crop, and fast-growing over the EU regulation that 51% of fertility must be sourced on- so shades out weeds; drought-resistant green amaranth, good for site or other organic holdings – depending on location, this could mid-summer as it grows high in eight weeks and doesn’t set seed be very restrictive to some growers. A further issue brought up until autumn, sown at a rate of 1-2g per sq m; Caliente mustard for was liquid feeds, and whether micronisation (possibly allowable biofumigation (though slightly problematic for rotations as it is a under organic standards) would mean that nutrients will pass brassica); mung beans for drought-resistance (though inoculation directly into the plant cells, bypassing soil processes: effectively may be necessary); sweet and crimson clover which are easy to becoming a hydroponic system. destroy; and yellow trefoil for undersowing. Good options for overwintering include hardy phacelia, and tares – possibly the Innovative polythene best nitrogen-fixer before summer.

Les Lane from XL Horticulture had got his venues mixed up, Pete drilled the legumes with a seeder in rows 10 inches apart; so Roger Hitchings stepped into the breach as ever to present then three weeks later this was undersown with the fast-growing the talk on polytunnel skins. Polythene has certainly evolved non-legume and hoed in. The ground was dried out for a few days over the last couple of decades: rather than a wasteful plastic to kill off weeds, then watered. Some crops needed a hand-weed product that only lasted a couple of years before degrading too. Pete has been including one winter and two summer green and needing replacement, now less plastic is needed thanks manures in his eight-year rotation, but will be moving to three, to UV stabilisers to produce thinner polytunnel skins that last since protected space is at a premium in the winter months. A much longer. There is also a now huge range of covers on offer very inspiring talk, and full of useful suggestions. that can be quite bamboozling: the latest heat-retaining anti- Kate Collyns fogging technology for bringing on plants for earlier cropping; or polythene that blocks UV light, so in theory hindering aphid and other pests that see in UV light. However, the point was made

Page 14 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Developing the organic market and engaging with consumers In the beginning was the word: the O word. But after a market being contacted with ideas that might help promote the cause backlash, accusations of elitism and some severe bashing from the (email [email protected]). FSA and biotech industries, we all know that the O word is in There are also packages of digital promotional materials available need of some serious ‘Bigging up’. So the closing plenary of the to growers to link up the campaign with customer networks to help ORC conference was a welcome and upbeat opportunity to unveil unify the word. So why then aren’t we growers on the OTB? In the the Sustain/Organic Trade board initiative – an industry and early days Finn Cottle said the OTB was for traders only. Being EU-funded, £2 million, three-year generic marketing campaign. part of the Sustain initiative would have suited us better anyway; An attempt through the use of PR, news articles, adverts and the but at some point the OTB and the Sustain bid became one – with internet to ‘rebrand’ organic. To reconnect (in the mind of the mass Catherine Fookes of Sustain now being employed by the OTB. public) the word ‘organic’ to the issues and principles inherent within it, in a non-woolly, non-elitist, humorous and positive way. And then there was the nagging doubt for the OGA: if the OTB was Oh, and to increase the organic market by 15% over three years. thinking purely in terms of the market, wouldn’t we just be pushed further down the road of ‘organic as product,’ which is the exact route A big ask, but in the best tradition of evangelism the launch began that got us into this elitist, lifestyle choice nightmare in the first place. with the good news that the market has ‘levelled out’. Then we moved onto the adverts which had already started gracing the back Nic Lampkin pointed out that it is not just a matter of selling more pages of mainstream magazines such as Heat, Grazia and OK. If organic food in the short term, and that unless we ”increase people’s you absorb these ads for as long as they are likely to be digested, lifetime commitment to organic values, we will have missed a they do manage to signify that organic might not be just for posh valuable opportunity to use public funds for public benefit.” people after all. They also re-connect the issues of health and animal Can marketing affect real change? Growers are naturally welfare with the organic cause in a light-hearted way. And for suspicious of anything that sounds like 80s’ market speak. We’ve growers who tend themselves to not be posh, they are a welcome never been motivated by gaps in the market and we never did it change from the twee yummy mummy mould of promotion. to make ‘loadsamoney.’ The forces of nature limit us, as do our The PR campaign organisers have secured the favour of certain soils and the size of our holdings. For most growers, organic is a journalists who are once again willing to speak up for the organic political, economic, ethical and, let’s go so far as to say, genuinely cause, such as Martin Hickman in the Independent, January 2011: spiritual stance. It’s part of the ecological resistance movement to “Overall, organic is likely to be a little healthier and tastier than consumerism, not a cunning ruse to sell more. conventional. At every checkout shoppers vote for how they But the truth is that we have a long way still to go to create the food want farm animals to be treated, how the landscape should look, citizenship of our dreams. There are viable alternatives springing whether wildlife should thrive or disappear. Buying organic is a up: food co-ops, buyers groups, alternative supermarkets all vote for family farms and hedgerows, for fields and wildflowers desperately trying to knit the organic founding principles of and for birds, bees and butterflies. Romantic maybe, but right.” It fairness, care, health and ecology into the very constitutions may have taken a £2 million pound campaign to have the clout, of their business models – running counter to the unregulated but perhaps common sense will prevail. supermarket monopolies. But all the while most people go quiet No modern campaign would be complete without viral powers of or wrinkle their nose at the word organic, we won’t cross the class persuasion. The Why I Love Organic website engages the viewer divide or be seen as we see ourselves – that of champions of the with a series of questions and facts, quizzes and competitions. In ultimate fairness: the rights of the planet. clear and simple language the pitch is ‘There are many reasons to Most people do speak ‘market speak’ and are swayed by love Organic – what’s yours?’ You can even paste your testimony celebrity endorsement and fake advert scenarios. And though it onto the wall for other believers to share. Genius, because Joe grates to have Our Saviour come in the form of ‘brand experts,’ Public can say what they like without the risk of Advertising it’s a language we might as well learn. At the end of the day, Standards jumping on their back. the OTB probably need us as much as we need organic to be One of the main themes in the campaign is to meet head on the ok. With our lifestyles and our passion, we are a mighty fine price differential of organic. Rather than deny price premiums, it marketable phenomenon. just tries to convey why organic might be worth it. All in all the So swallow your pride, check out the website and spread the team has come up trumps – a far cry from the strange and obscure word. Organic is love… apparently! images on ladybirds’ backs that Country File threatened us with http://www.whyiloveorganic.co.uk/ a year ago. The marketing company Haygarth are also open to Collette Haynes

Page 15 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Passing on invaluable experience

When I first started growing and getting to meet people in that information exchange, advice and support flows from older the organic movement, I found a unique and extraordinary to younger generations. Without this mechanism fewer and fewer warmth and willingness to share amongst many experienced young people will come in to the profession, something all of us growers. At a time when I was immersed in “knowledge” from should want to do something about. a University perspective, speaking to people like Tolly was a Below, for example, you will find an excellent article by Adam real breath of fresh air. York and Lesley Bryson about their experiences of finding a new E.F. Schumacher wrote “an ounce of practice is worth a ton piece of land. To anyone who hasn’t been through this process of theory”, and nowhere is this demonstrated better than in before, this is invaluable experience. Everyone who already is in horticulture. On a guided walk around Tolly’s farm one day, the this profession will have at least one piece of good advice to share, concept of growing vegetables for a living made so much sense. and this is what Organic Futures is all about. All the variables that we were told could affect crops, just a few You may have good advice on how to negotiate with landlords miles down the road at University in Reading, seemed largely over a piece of land... how to raise that finance for start up... useless information when stood in the field looking and learning. finding somewhere to live nearby...how you learned the necessary It’s these such experiences that makes the organic community so skills, and much more besides. We’re looking for articles for the unique, and it’s why it makes perfect sense for Organic Futures to magazine, case studies that can be downloaded from the website, be hosted by, and be a part of OGA. Over the past year or more or even just a thread on the OGA Forum. we’ve been running articles in this magazine that aim to help new All contributions will be very welcome, helping to draw together entrants in to organic farming and growing. a fantastic and unique resource to help inspire, inform and enable We’re glad to say that Organic Futures now has dedicated the next generation of growers. webspace on the OGA website, which should allow the Jonathan Smith project to grow and do more good. The aim of this resource is to inspire, inform and enable new entrants in to organic To look at the web pages go to www.organicgrowersalliance.co.uk and follow the farming and growing. This includes information, links, case link to Organic Futures.

studies and articles. To contact me with ideas or offers of articles and case studies, please e-mail The beneficiaries of this resource will primarily be new entrants, [email protected] but it is the established growers that need to support this to ensure Finding Land

We spent much of recent years in a drawn out process of moving narrowed down to most of Cornwall, S.Devon, SW Wales and Glebelands, our intensive cropping business, from the heart of County Down, areas with low frost days and soil. In theory we suburbia to a milder SW coastal position. While still immersed had sufficient funds to buy 5-10 acres of decent land and a small in the building dust that followed here are some thoughts on the house. We had no desire to build or renovate a house. challenges and opportunities for those seeking out new holdings. As with all property hunts, it is usually drawn out and laborious Our rationale sought to reconcile our desire to take seasonal to seek agricultural sites. Start ups are scarce in horticulture too. In extension a step further, establish a commercially viable market any area there is likely to be at least one land agent or company town model for production, and enjoy a physical environment covering sales of farmland. They may well be old school auctioneers unhindered by junction 8 of the M60. The first two requirements or valuers, or contemporary estate agents with searchable online narrowed down the options as well as lengthening our search presence. There are a couple of smallholding specialists but considerably, but most of the big factors we identify apply commercial horticulturists are rare customers of all the above. On a anywhere in the UK. couple of visits, sellers looked genuinely bemused that we wanted to dig holes in their fields before looking at the house. Where to look? Other sources of land include local papers, Dalton’s the We worked our way along any of the SW facing coastal areas of business sellers and Quinton-Hazel the garden centre/nursery the country, reading up on traditional areas of production, trying agents. Contacts or relatives in the area may help but pursuing to get information on soils and good climate data. Our search was rumours can be hard work. In general prices have been rising

Page 16 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 The opportunities Despite the problems outlined, niches remain, such as unmodernised houses, glasshouse complexes, small houses or being adjacent to a main road (which you may well want). The presence of an agricultural tie (a legal restriction to certain types of occupiers) may knock around 25% off the value.

Bare land is worth considering as local authorities can grant three years permission for a temporary dwelling while you set out to prove viability. If you can hack caravan life then the “Field To Farm” book and website are useful - how to live on agricultural land legally without the need for planning permission. Provided you have at least 5ha you can put a mobile home on your land and live in it, build a barn of up to 465sq metres (5000 sq feet) and start an agricultural business. Failing this, rediscover wealthy relatives....

While this can all seem daunting it is probably no worse than any other time in history and we do have relatively benign landlords such as the National Trust as an alternative, or stepping stone to ownership. Initiatives such as county council farms and post WWII smallholdings provided by the state might be too sensible to hope for? Governments often fear intervening on land ownership despite it determining the very stability of many countries historically. What else might be done to support the new entrants, so often said to be needed, and what did we find ourselves doing? Photo: Adam York / Lesley Bryson Lesley / York Adam Photo: Adam, Lesley and Terry - February 2011 What did we do?

for several years and will continue to do so, what seems dear We took the gamble of buying a separate house first (near today can soon look cheap in retrospect. The gamble of course Cardigan in West Wales) and managed to buy land close-by, to our is forecasting crop returns and the market in years to come. great relief. This was after a list of near misses not helped by the At the outset of our research land under £4000/acre was sentiment of potential sellers to hold on, particularly in Northern commonplace whereas land under £6000/acre is becoming Ireland. Policy measures that might help include reviving unusual. In the meantime some crops have moved markedly in agricultural ties to protect agricultural or forestry workers. It is price, e.g. leeks, while most have not. The biggest cost, labour, salutary to note that section 106s (which can be a secure version of has been squeezed to not much above zero, notably in Southern such a tie) are commonly used with supermarket developers but Spain, a source of many imported crops, so the impact of energy are too much trouble to manage for rural housing! costs might be expected to show more from here on in. Penalising second home owners with council tax many times the standard rate would also puncture the high prices of smallholdings. The problems Planning policy favouring smallholdings seems obvious and it Several problems also became apparent to us. Firstly, despite is interesting to note planners’ ability to use financial accounts to recession and high house prices there is a steady flow of identify genuine rather than hobby usage when temporary residence urban escapees and retirees with sufficient cash to buy well is allowed. A more radical policy would be Usufruct, a tradition above agricultural use value. Even the choking off of pony allowing occupancy of unused land so long as it is cultivated, paddock buyers has had little impact on upward prices. perhaps to organic type management. Taxation and inheritance law Government money printing and interest rate control also could be used readily to disincentivise large land holdings. leaves land looking like steady parking for cash and savings. In the near future we can answer queries for new entrants, Such purchasers are particularly keen on houses with 5-15 do email if stuck (at least while it’s all still fresh in our minds). acres and grade 1 and 2 land areas. Secondly, sites near to The OGA Forum can also come up with answers too. settlements and cities, the sea, train stations, main roads or south facing all carry premiums. Thirdly, consolidation Adam York/Lesley Bryson

by neighbours trying to keep up with economies of scale is [email protected] making smaller units less and less common (note fewer farm dispersal sales of late).

Page 17 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Care farming Care farming as a concept is defined as the use of commercial farms and agricultural landscapes as a base for promoting mental health and physical health, through normal farming activity1

The term has gradually gained recognition in the United Kingdom from its roots, introduced from Holland in 2005.

Although, the term may be new, these sorts of services being provided on farms are not. There are a number of examples of projects all round the UK where people with physical or learning disabilities, people with mental health problems, young offenders or recovering addicts spend time on farms, smallholdings or rural projects. Some receive education or training. All benefit from the value of physical work, learning new skills and a reconnection with food, nature and rural communities. It has been suggested that the most common sort of care farm in the UK at the moment is where an independent project is based on a farm.2

There is a growing network of farms and holdings that are opening their doors. A good source of information and inspiration is the “National Care Farm Initiative”. They have a number of regional contacts that can give advice and guidance. With imminent changes in the health services in the United Kingdom, it is good to know that your GP could prescribe a dose of organic growing. I would encourage any growers to investigate the opportunities of opening their holdings up to the idea of care farming. As well as the obvious benefits to the participants it can bring an added function to any holding bringing both personal and financial diversity to your enterprise. Growing Well: Cumbria Growing Well is an award winning, farm based charity, that promotes mental health recovery and well-being by encouraging involvement in its community focused organic growing enterprise. Our team members cultivate ten acres of Low Sizergh Farm, under Soil Association certification. Both the Farm and Growing Well benefit from the relationship. The farm receives rent, and a portion of our crop is sold through Low Sizergh Barn Shop. The remainder is marketed through our community supported agriculture scheme.

As Growers I believe that we are custodians of a therapeutic process. The act of growing food is an important and socially significant act. This beneficial process is at the centre of all (ideal in our relatively harsh Cumbrian climate) and diversity of Growing Wells’ work. We specifically developed the organisation experience and opportunity. to support individuals while they are recovering from mental Our team have to feel part of something; people are motivated health issues. Our growing business is organised to enable not by their wage packet but by how positive the experience is for activities and opportunities to be open to each individual. Each them. To feel this connection to a workplace, individual efforts person is encouraged to become more involved and take on as have to be valued and these have to be understood within the much responsibility as they can handle. The business is built on context of the enterprise. I spend a lot of time communicating the people committing their time regularly. hopes and aspirations of the business as well as the detail of our A Grower’s perspective production plans. I am boss, teacher, facilitator and task master; a role that any small business person would recognise. Running a growing enterprise that also provides opportunities for individuals recovering from mental health issues is not We hope that everybody that works at Growing Well becomes a dissimilar to running a conventional growing business. That committed skilled and proficient human dynamo, in any normal is the very point of Growing Wells’ ethos. We do not provide business you would try and hold on to such individuals, but at therapy we provide a work hardening opportunity. Our working Growing Well our purpose is to support people to leave us and take practices are complex and we have developed our production in their place in the community. For the business this is a challenge line with our customer’s needs, our environmental concerns and that we have to juggle and balance on a daily basis. Most business our social aims. We have developed a system that works both strive for a stable workforce, we strive for positive change.

commercially for us and meets the needs of our volunteers. This It is my job to provide the right environment for both plants and is a mixed, diverse system, consisting of protected and field crops people to flourish. I probably share this aspiration with most that are managed both intensively and by machine. Our system organic growers. encourages diversity on a number of levels, diversity of product, James Smith

Page 18 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Fir Tree Community Growers

Fir Tree Community Growers is a project of Climate Friendly has huge social area of deprivation where we focus our activities. Food Community Interest Company (CIC), a not-for-profit social CIC has three directors – myself, Keith and Alan, our landlord. enterprise with charitable purpose set up in April 2010. It is three We also have a steering group formed from those interested in acres of rented land, stock free and now an organic market garden the care farm. in St Helens, Merseyside, growing organic vegetables largely for sale to Organic Direct in Liverpool. We are also a care farm, Setting up engaging with volunteers who were regular users of day care Our only option was to rent the land but the days of renting a centres and other services some of which have now closed down. cheap field close to population centres were over many years ago. We aim to offer people who have had a difficult time a change It was easy to rent because of our personal relationship with our of scenery in the countryside. For example, we have welcomed landlord. The set up costs were met by the Local Food funding, children excluded from mainstream school and their families and but I did voluntary work for nearly a year to get the project off the women and children from refuges. One comment from a social ground, and this was made possible by the fact that I was eligible worker suggested that it was a good opportunity for children to for statutory maternity pay. spend time with their families. Inspiration Our story Our biggest sources of inspirations were Salop Market garden Motivation for our project is really the story of my relationship in West Bromwich, designed with help from Iain Tolhurst, and with Keith, my husband. After meeting at Woodlands Farm, Growing Well in Kendal. We organised a trip to Growing Well Lincolnshire in 2000, we wanted to run our own box scheme and with community groups from St Helens and MIND, and were started our business as Sow & Grow Organics. This was successful showed round by Beren Aldridge. until the land was flooded in 2007 and we nearly lost our house at Our original intention was to be a mental health project, like a time when we had little income. Growing Well, but we didn’t receive much encouragement I went back to work to pay off our debts and reached the dizzy from mental health organisations in St Helens, and we have heights of middle management, but I really missed not growing learned that there has to be a willingness on both sides to make vegetables. The Big Lottery Local Food Programme presented a a project happen. However, organisations that support adults lifetime opportunity for us to set up our dream organic market with learning disabilities and physical disabilities were very keen garden and engage with the community. By this time we also had and the St Helens Community Empowerment Network has been two young children and a mortgage so needed an income that also our best source of support and advice but we have not found the fitted around the kids and this seemed be a solution. traditional business support organisations particularly helpful.

Our landlord, Alan Abbott suggested I come back to the farm, and work with disabled groups. He had kept some recently converted land under organic management and we realised it was a good offer. The new piece of land is in better condition than our original plot as it has been drained with the subsoil intact. Who is involved? In the first nine months of operation we involved 45 volunteers in our project. We have also had 900 beneficiaries and these include people who have visited the farm, attended a training course, a workshop, a talk or an activity at a stall. Our Lottery funding aims to tackle deprivation and as St Helens is a former mining town it Jenny, Alice, Keith and Emily

References - Growing Well.

1. Hassink J. 2003. Combining agricultural production and care for persons with disabilities: a new role of agriculture and farm animals. Wageningen University, Netherlands In: A.Cirstovao & L.O.Zorini (Eds), Farming and Rural Systems Research and Extension. Local identities and globalisation. Fifth IFSA European Symposium, 8-11 April 2002, Florence. Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e l’Innovazione nel Settore Agro-forestale della Regione Toscane (ARSIA) Florence, pp. 332−341.

2.Wilcox D, 2007. Farming and Care across Europe., A Nuffield farming Scholarship Award www.ncfi.org.uk

Page 19 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Day to day management We have three volunteer days a week as well as providing work placements for long-term unemployed young people who have some form of learning disability. The first group, Brown’s Short Break Respite is for adults with physical disabilities mainly in wheelchairs, and their carers. This group comes with its own challenges because the carers are not very involved in the project and it is difficult to find users of five wheelchairs meaningful jobs – however, they are fantastic vegetable packers.

The other groups that join us are generally adults with learning disabilities who are mainly able bodied. A visitor remarked that we have brought laughter back to the farm and one of our groups

Photos: Jenny Griggs Jenny Photos: – the Enabling Scheme from St Helens Coalition of Disabled Funding People – really does laugh all day. The group is up for anything Our decision was that we would proceed with the project if we got and we really admire the way that their learning disabilities don’t Lottery funding because the alternative was for me to go back to stop them from leading fulfilling lives. work after my maternity leave, which I really didn’t want to do. This group has also gained two AQA (Assessment and The process to apply for Lottery money is difficult and rigorous. Qualifications Alliance) Unit Awards in Grow Your Own We felt that we didn’t do very well at the interview, and had some Vegetables, but we are aware that we could improve our teaching anxious months before the final result. Thankfully we secured resources by using symbols and pictures in addition to the written £83,900 from the Big Lottery Local Food Programme, £10,000 word. AQA Unit Awards are administered by the largest exam from Awards for All and £4,500 from Halton & St Helens Health body in the UK and were set up for non-traditional learners so Improvement Team. We feel we were successful because of my that their hard work can be recognised. Climate Friendly Food patient persistence and knowing the right people to ask is always is an AQA Unit Award Centre and as a manager, I am regularly helpful. It was obvious that during the assessment process we assessed to ensure a good standard of training. were passionate about the project and were also well informed. I have also been learning British sign language so that I can Our landlords and community groups in St Helens were also part communicate with one of our wheel chair users, Kelly. She is of the interview process and were very supportive. always willing to have a go at anything, even bending down to do Structure planting and she is supported by her brother, who is her carer. As she and I are of a similar age, we have a strong bond and it really Our structure is a CIC, a not-for-profit social enterprise and we motivates me to improve my communication with her, especially plan to be independent of grant funding at the end of the year. she is great with our daughters, Alice and Emily. Her mum tells When the personalisation agenda for adults with disabilities me how important our farm is to her, and this is a major incentive comes into force, the idea is that the authorities will pay us directly to keep going into the future. for use of our care services. CICs are remarkably easy to set up and administer and are obliged to declare publically where their surpluses will be used and also ensure that an asset lock is in place, so that the assets are not owned by the directors. In line with current social movement ideas, this ensures that should the enterprise be wound up the assets would be passed on to a similar charity or social enterprise.

In our Articles of Association we have clauses for co-operative decision making between directors and this means that we have to agree by consensus at meetings. I am the company secretary and do all the day to day business administration, for example liaising with the accountant. I am also the volunteer co-ordinator and lead all training and outreach work and Keith is the farm manager and in charge of all the growing operations. Alan provides general support with the volunteers and generally is a sounding board, but as Keith and I are married we are not allowed to counter sign cheques or grant applications, so Alan’s involvement is essential to our transparency. Kelly

Page 20 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Facilities The costs of all our equipment, with the exception of the tractor was financed through the £10,000 Awards for All grant. We also bought two shipping containers, 10 sets of tools and over 40 trowels in order that we can work with large numbers of people. We also have a wheelchair accessible Portaloo, (which uses eco-fluids so is in effect a compost toilet) and have installed wheelchair access ramps and gates. In addition, we have constructed high raised beds and bought in lots of educational learning resources. We use the barn in bad weather, but thanks to a £5,000 grant from the Stockfree-Organic Centre Network we have bought a beautiful second hand yurt and hope to start using it as a teaching centre. Box scheme We run a mini box scheme for about 10 neighbours and friends and these are delivered on foot during the main growing season. The rest of our produce is delivered to Organic Direct in Liverpool for 9am on a Wednesday and we find it’s a lot easier than running a full scale box scheme. Organic Direct formerly bought in everything from a wholesaler, but they are keen that we grow and sell more vegetables to them. They also work part time with disability groups and they give us positive feedback about the quality of our produce, so we enjoy our good relationship with them. Of course, selling wholesale has its downsides in terms of price, but of course we don’t have to pack the produce. Current status Personally, we find that working the way we do, means that our family life has dramatically improved and I wouldn’t find so much flexibility with any employer. I can take my daughter to the school bus and pick her up and in the holidays both kids are with us and it works very well. But it has been hard to find enough work to keep Keith busy, and over the winter he has had to go Total crop nutrition: back to contract draining. However, in the long term, we will try A comprehensive range of liquid & granular fertilisers, plus and rent more land and hope that Fir Tree Community Growers trace elements, all certified for use in organic growing can support us both. We also need to concentrate on finding other systems. income and we hope to encourage people to pay for training. Formulated to help the grower address nutrient deficiencies and boost growth in outdoor & protected crops. We are looking forward to the 2011 growing season, and are just looking through the seed catalogues, having already done our New for 2011: Stimplex® forward crop planning with Organic Direct. Our customer audit Concentrated liquid seaweed crop biostimulant revealed that over half of our produce is going to vulnerable Stimulates plant cytokinin and auxin activity to maximise crop groups like the elderly and families with disabilities and we are potential – certified organic from a sustainable source. hoping to expand and reach more people in St Helens. Through the social landlord Helena Partnerships, we are looking to take on Bio-degradable mulching films: CERTIFIED BY OF&G an additional acre of their land under the Climate Friendly Food 100% non-GM plant starch based bio-films for weed control participatory certification scheme. and crop earliness - compliant with EN13432 as fully Everything feels that it is going in the right direction and we can compostable, bio-degradable and residue free. honestly say that we have never been happier than we are now. For all your certified crop needs contact us on: Jenny Griggs Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01673 885175 www.ilex-envirosciences.com

Page 21 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Making a dibber peg board for module trays I’m sure many folk have made these contraptions and there are bound to be all sorts of interesting ways of doing so. I thought I’d share my latest method, which was one of those stumbled-upon series of ponderous “I wonder if” steps. After a couple of aborted attempts with MDF, dowel, a drill and some glue, I realised the number of small cells in the tray required much greater accuracy; but I couldn’t justify purchasing a laser-guided robotic bench drill.

So here it is: I’m sure someone has come up with a better way somewhere; but this, if a little time-consuming, results in an excellent bit of kit – for both creating holes to sow into and pushing out transplants for planting. Please bear in mind that this is suitable for trays of many cells: ours are 336 (14 x 24), where the size of the hole in the base and the number of cells make accuracy an issue!

Ingredients Step 1

Make your own Kiddies ‘Play-doh’ (the salt gives Squish the dough into each cell of half a module a good texture and prevents self-leavening (rising) tray: I only do half a tray and dib twice, but I’m sure which soon messes things up: 4kg plain white flour, you could do a whole tray if desired. Ensure the 2kg salt, water added until the consistency is pliable dough starts to ooze from the base hole to be certain but not too sticky it has evenly filled the cell. Skim off all excess from Two module trays of the type you wish to dib/poke, top and base to ensure each cell contains an even old or slightly broken ones are fine if you have them quantity of dough and the cell dividers can be seen.

Dowel cut into short equal lengths; 55mm was about Step 2 right for ours and one end of each can be briefly Create a jig or something to hold the tray, base upwards, with high enough sides sanded to remove any splintered edges. The diameter to accommodate another tray inverted and suspended on top of it. Extra pieces should be 1-2 mm less than the base hole of the of the dowel can be used between cells module cells – in our case 9mm to keep the two trays slightly apart. The

Tubes of weatherproof ‘no nails’ or similar stuff. idea is that the slight distance between Check compatibility with the plastic tray! We use Evo trays keeps the dowel pegs nice and Stick SERIOUS STUFF with instant grab; three tubes straight when they are inserted. is enough for this type of tray Step 5 Step 3 Check over the tray to ensure all dowels are sitting Place the tray comfortably and evenly; the odd one may need earmarked for use as the pulling up or pushing down due to unevenness dibber plate, base-down in the dough below. Once you’re happy, begin over the dough-filled filling the cells in the top tray with the ‘no nails’, tray, sitting on the ‘spacer’ dowels. Check the contraption just enough to surround the dowel so it is stuck to is stable and fix further supports if it is still wobbling. Once the cell edges, but also covered over (to prevent it you start gluing, you won’t pushing back out when pressed down later). Leave the glue to set and dry want it all to slip sideways. for the recommended time.

Step 4 Step 6

Insert your dowels into each Remove the supports, lift the trays cell, pushing through the base from the jig and carefully prise holes of the top tray and into them apart. It is easiest to clean the dough of the lower tray. when the dough is slightly dried You may find it easier using a but not completely hard: this means pair of long-nose pliers. Press it flakes off without sticking but is not encrusted on. (Or just start down just enough that using it and it will soon clean up.) the dowel sits firmly in That’s just about it: if any pegs fall out they can be easily glued back in the dough but leaving and you should get good use from it. I have made two; each lasted a year enough remaining in before needing some sprucing up. The time to make it is well worth it; the empty cells to hold however, if anyone does know an off-the-shelf alternative, please let me to the glue. know – I obviously haven’t found it yet!

Page 22 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 The final product! The pegs push the module plugs out of the tray so they can be removed quickly in handfuls for planting The tray is 14 x 24 = 336 cells so is very efficient on space and compost but requires very accurate peg spacing if they are to be wide enough to push out plugs without damaging the roots. Pete Dollimore - with thanks to Danny Boorer

Hankham Organics

Planting ‘Mustard - Ruby Streaks’. Photos: Pete Dollimore Pete Photos: Welsh growers’ meeting - December 2010

In the latter half of 2010, Organic Centre Wales (OCW) staff visited most of the organic businesses adding value to their product in Wales, as part of the Better Organic Business Links (BOBL) project. As the information was collated, it quickly became obvious that the Welsh organic horticulture is struggling (no surprise there), and what was required was a coordinated effort by the whole of the sector.

OCW joined forces with the OGA to organise a workshop, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, as a first step on 3rd December 2010. Though the number was depleted by the treacherous weather, 35 people made it, including growers, wholesalers, retailers and caterers. The emphasis was on the full participation of everyone there. Speakers were under strict orders to keep it short, and Mick Westrip, chair for the day, held them to it. Nick Weir of First Resource did an excellent job of facilitating the discussions and not only kept us focused but made sure we actually came up with some answers! Tony Little started by summarising the findings from his discussions with businesses and identified four broad themes to focus on, which the subsequent sessions explored in more detail: finding and accessing new markets; working together better; presenting our produce and our ‘organicness’ better; and building closer links with our local communities. Accessing new markets one for Montgomeryshire. They are not easy to set up – all the models needed public money to support them in the first instance There are businesses in Wales that already, or could potentially, – however, there is a wealth of experience for us to build on. The buy significant volumes of organic fruit and vegetables. discussions identified some key ingredients to success including Aberystwyth University and Kealth Foods (a baby food keeping the overheads and operating costs, and using the resources manufacturer) were two examples represented at the workshop, available within the hub membership as much as possible. For but are others especially in the catering and hospitality sectors. We example, PPD uses the vans of its membership to deliver, while identified several reasons why these types of businesses don’t buy Stroudco requires its membership to contribute in kind. more Welsh product including: quality; reliability and continuity of supply; the logistical challenges (particularly tricky for Welsh The other focus of this session was improving relationships businesses); and price – although there may be flexibility on the between different parts of the supply chain, and the need for a latter if the other issues were sorted out. greater degree of ‘professionalism’ was alluded to. The key has got to be better communication: it is good to talk! The message seemed to be that there are markets there, but we have got work to do before we can really break into them. At the time of writing OCW are helping businesses to tender for the supply of fruit and veg to higher education institutes in Wales, and are in the process of setting up meetings with key processors. Working together better This session focused on food hubs. We seem to have been talking about them for ever and a day, but now things are beginning to happen on the ground. James Ross showed a short film about Pembrokeshire Produce Direct (PPD), and Nick Weir described the set up at Stroudco Food Hub in Gloucestershire. Since the meeting,

Cwm Harry Land Trust have put forward proposals for developing Little Tony Photo:

Workshop on veg presentation

Page 23 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Issue Details Develop food hubs Look at extending the Pembrokeshire Produce Direct model to other regions. Identify existing facilities/ businesses that could be used Investigate IT systems currently available to facilitate producer collaboration Adding value and identifying new markets Facilitate communication between processors/caterers and customers Investigate opportunities in the processing markets & convenience stores Work with prepackers to identify opportunities to supply supermarkets Find outlets for grade 2 produce Information and training for producers Post harvest management of produce Product presentation and meeting quality criteria Selection of crop varieties in terms of marketing and presentation Training on HACCAP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) Information on carbon calculators Communicating with the public Promote food for life/ sustainable food communities to growers Work through schools Support the organic awareness campaign www.whyIloveorganic.co.uk

Presenting our produce and our Putting a plan together ‘organicness’ better The final session of the day was spent organising all the ideas and There is potential to improve the quality of organic produce, right comments into some kind plan. It gives a sense of direction and a through the supply chain. Adam York looked at ways of keeping platform to build on, and has the backing of businesses from right produce looking fresh right from the moment you make that first across the supply chain; if we all muck in it might just work! cut in the field to its arrival at the retail outlet and ultimately the Tony Little art of creating attractive, vibrant displays. Attention to detail, Organic Centre Wales, tel: 01970 621632, email: [email protected] severe trimming, regular use of a mister spray and zero tolerance of substandard produce were key elements.

Sue Fowler focused on getting the organic message across, and the possibilities afforded by the new ‘Why I love organic’ campaign. Basically preaching is not only ineffective but counterproductive. The trick is to personalise the message – ‘I eat organic food because…’, ‘I grow my produce organically because…’. Building closer links with our local communities • Quality organic seed for professional There are any number of ways of building closer links with growers. communities, and there is increasing interest from many • Field vegetables and salad crops. communities (albeit starting from a very low base); the rise of Independent UK seedhouse CSA projects, food coops, buying groups and community markets are all testament to that. Lucy Watkins of OCW summarised • For details of our range of seeds visit our the Sustainable Food Communities project delivered by the Soil website www.elsoms.com and see our Association as part of the BOBL project. It aims to use interest in food and food issues as a driver for social and economic organic catalogue. Please contact us if you development, and build on that to increase use of organic produce; require a hard copy. and there are opportunities for growers to get involved.

However, on the flip side of the coin, some growers are finding that the increased interest in food issues meant more own-grown Spalding, Lincolnshire. PE11 1QG produce, which was having an impact on sales. Potential solutions Telephone 01775 715000 Fax 01775 715001 included: changing cropping plans to accommodate amateur growers; providing (paid) advice to gardening clubs; and selling www.elsoms.com e-mail [email protected] seedlings and transplants in the spring.

Page 24 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Organics in the Baltic Sea

Somewhere between Finland and Sweden in the Baltic sea lies a As you might expect, the bulk of farmers concentrate on beef and group of hundreds (or possibly thousands) of islands. This is the sheep; however there is also a strong tradition of horticulture, autonomous archipelago of Åland. Although part of Finland, 95% and there are currently10 organic vegetable producers. Most of of the inhabitants speak Swedish as a first language. They have their produce is sold on the islands, although some is exported their own parliament, tax system and stamps, and nearly 25% of to Finland. The local market for non-organic vegetables exceeds the farms in the archipelago are certified as organic. Not only that, demand so much is exported to Finland, where it gets a better but as money for research is drying up around Europe, the local price than if they sold it to Sweden. Marketing is key and they government in Åland still funds variety trials for horticulture, have created an independent marketing brand for the islands, including organics, with 192 trials carried out last year. mainly used for potatoes and other vegetables. Seed is bought from Swedish companies, although as in the UK, much of it originates from Holland or Germany.

The islands’ main horticultural crops are potatoes and onions, and indeed the potato processing plant is one of the major employers on the islands. However, there are other smaller enterprises too and nearly 3,000 tonnes of apples are produced each year. There are two organic greenhouses and one non-organic version on the islands – all heated.

Although the islands have one month extra of growing season than the mainland, there are still only 180 days of growing from late April to October. Usually the maximum temperature is in the low 20Cs, although it has been known to hit 30C.

In addition to growing herbs and salad crops, Soile also co-runs I was privileged to hear a presentation from the very aptly named Sunklar: an organic bag scheme set Soile Wartiainen as part of the European Commission Lifelong up four years ago and now supplying Learning Leonardo da Vinci funded project “Finessa” – creating to one hundred customers every an online organic and biodynamic course for farmers and growers. other week. It runs from a school, Soile is one of seven agricultural advisors employed by the local only during term time and only in government. She is herself an organic grower and responsible for Mariehamn – the main town on the largest island – population supporting the organic producers on the islands. The certification 12,000. The scheme is 100% organic, but inevitably with a lot of is controlled by local government, and before a farmer can become imported produce, particularly during the typical spring and certified they need to complete a course (four days for growers early summer months. Innovative exceptions include the bag of and one extra day for livestock). Until this year there have been dried peas from the islands included in the bags (and they also vocational agricultural courses run on the islands; although these sprout them occasionally and supply them as pea sprouts). A very are now being shut down. inspiring story from a tough region, Soile is a remarkable woman. A count in 2010 revealed just under 600 farms in Åland, of which Ben Raskin 142 were organic, with a couple more in conversion. The average size of farm is a modest 24 ha; however, as in many countries, the trend is for farms to amalgamate, so although the number of organic holdings has not increased every year, there has not been a decrease in the total land area under certified production.

Getting your hands on one of these farms is almost impossible. On average only one farm is sold every two years in the region, and you need to have lived for at least five years on the islands or be related by blood to an existing relative in order to purchase property. This makes it very hard for new blood to enter farming. Most organic production tends to result from existing farmers moving to organic conversion rather than new producers coming in.

The Åland islands

Page 25 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Soil Association conference

Science and society go organic, then this would delay global warming by 4-5 years. This was the first of the workshop sessions at this year’s Soil Urs went on to look at the question of whether we can feed the Association conference in Manchester. Chaired by Peter Melchett, world, and looked at the efficiency of feed grain and biofuel Policy Director at the SA, we first heard from Dr Urs Niggli, production, as well as the problems with intensification. More Director of FIBL – Europe’s largest organic agricultural research roughage-fed animals were needed, and we heard of milk now centre. His presentation looked at the role of organic agriculture in being actively marketed in Austria from high-roughage systems. the context of EU and global challenges. Building on the previous Oh, for a supportive government in the UK! plenary where the delegates had heard snippets from the Forsyth Professor Carlo Leifert from Newcastle University then spoke report, he said that agriculture as a whole had failed to internalise about how we can improve the sustainability of crop production costs and was taking differing approaches to sustainability, such and future food security using the QLIF (Quality Low Input Food) as mintill (minimum tillage systems) and GM research. He felt project results as markers. We can now say without doubt that the future lay in what he described as “organic plus innovative organic milk has higher levels of omega 3 and 6. elements,” including agroforestry systems for the tropics, and Over the last 40 years we have been using more nitrogen mintill where appropriate. phosphates and water in our food production. Doubling the There are 35 million hectares worldwide now in organic production wheat yields of the 1960s needs four times the amount of nitrogen – 0.8% of global agriculture. He outlined many studies which used then. Looking at the production costs in energy usage terms have been done over the years; but results are inconclusive, with of nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers, organic farming looks more some positive but also some negative results coming from organic energy efficient per area in production. However, when viewed systems. He showed how Fairtrade and free range systems were from the perspective of kilo of produce harvested, it did not look winning in the market place, with organic just holding its own so favourable. This highlighted the call for internalising all costs. ahead of these other systems. Professor Leifert felt that the steep rise in commodity prices Urs went on to highlight the major benefits of organic systems: since 2008 will continue here since the EU is a net importer of 30% more higher species noted; as well as 50% more arthropods phosphates. Best estimates are that reserves will be depleted in 30- compared to conventional systems. Organic farming also benefits 40 years time. Phosphates are becoming politically sensitive, with bees and other pollinators, as well as worms and other soil life. It China now taxing all exports. Once again another reason for us also provides more breeding sites for farmland birds. to revisit the use of human wastes within agricultural production One FIBL project he mentioned is looking into soil carbon on 62 systems here in the West. organic farms around the world. The project now has 16 years’ There then followed a lengthy Q&A session, with the usual worth of data and they have found an average of 11 tonnes more suspects of soil carbon and natural resources getting plenty of carbon stocks in the topsoil per hectare in favour of organic farms airtime. versus conventional ones. If all the global agricultural land was to Alan Schofield Future Farming Feedback from delegates suggested that this was the highlight even their approach to farming – although these were varied and of the conference for many. This is perhaps explained by the SA interesting – but that all four were passionate about reaching out to conference being now so focused on policy; whereas this was people beyond the usual scope of organic farmers. Peter described unashamedly farmer- and grower-focused. Susanne Padel started the impact his methods have had in persuading his non-organic the session off with a brief explanation of some work she has been neighbours that they could cut down on their inputs, by as much as doing on a best practice and social benefit tool (OCIS Public Goods). 50%; while Jim was passionate about linking his farm directly to the There followed four personal stories from farmers and growers village he lives in, and the surrounding areas. about how they are seeking to ‘future-proof’ their businesses in So while you may not necessarily agree with Adrian’s description of the face of peak oil, climate change and so on. Three of these were his “small flock of layers” (8,000 birds), or want to be in the business larger enterprises; Peter Hall at Concept Orchard, Kent, Adrian of growing on a couple of thousand of acres of veg, it was great to Dolby at Barrington Park and Andrew Burgess of RB Organics, see passionate visionary producers telling their story. while the fourth, Jim Twine at Court Farm in Somerset, gave the small farm and local/community-focused alternative. What linked Ben Raskin the presentations for me was not the enterprises themselves, or

Page 26 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Market Places of Tomorrow

Are there any real alternative trading and retail options for UK producers outside of the main supermarkets? This was the topic of a seminar at the Soil Association conference in Manchester in February.

There was much debate about supermarkets at the Soil Association just a marketing ploy, but were first principles governing conference with Joanna Blythman, food writer and journalist, every decision and business plan. The Co-op sells a significant suggesting that organics should not be ‘in bed’ with the multiples. proportion of loose foods in order to minimise packaging and It is easy to see her point, for whilst supermarkets may be the they concentrate on healthy products with 1,300 product lines providers for the majority, their power and monopoly has done producing an annual turnover of £350,000. They are membership little to protect producers, local economies or the environment. owned, with four members of staff supported by volunteers. Taken to its logical conclusion, it could be that cheap food and Anna emphasised that any marketing or advertising was more price competition produces factory farms, with little regard to about community engagement than self promotion and their the principles of fairness, care, health and ecology. Should we be outreach work in markets and school halls, is regarded as shedding our principles and our elitist image, to bring organic to ‘social marketing’. The co-op offers cookery classes and events, the majority? writes articles in newspapers and appears on radio shows. Their newsletter True Food News tries to create the kind of Biocoop food citizenship required to support producers and encourage The seminar offered some an ethical and healthy food culture. It offers a genuine viable grass roots alternatives and an inspirational beacon of light alternative to the dominant supermarket culture. and hope. The first presentation, about Biocoop, showed the potential of co-operation and activism. Now a federation of 300 Viable alternatives individual organic shops and producers throughout France and ‘Viable alternatives’ will have to become the new buzz other countries, they form an ethical supermarket brand. The words if we genuinely seek supermarket alternatives so that structure involves warehouses with 700 staff, an elected board producers, animals, soil and community can thrive. But the with representatives from producers, retailers and consumers and determination of other speakers to succeed, despite funding four subsidiary transport and finance co-ops. There is a unifying cuts was infectious and we heard of alternative models around charter available to members of the public in all Biocoop shops, the country including the Stroud Co-op, Unicorn Grocery and and this ensures fairness and transparency. Biocoop is owned by Growing Communities in Hackney. all its members and accounts for 15% of France’s organic market It is too easy to be cynical of alternatives, but personally in that share and still manages to retain its principles. seminar, I experienced an antidote to the conference as a whole. Suma Wholefoods Up till then, I found that it had been beset with debate, angst and argument that can inevitably occur with the involvement Suma Wholefoods, which operates of different individuals and groups. It lacked the camaraderie in the UK, presented their radical and organic unity that I had expected. But the speakers in this business model which was created seminar were down to earth, open and honest and had a buzz in Reg Taylor’s kitchen in 1975 and of enthusiasm and hope, with no status games or snobbery. No has now grown to a large scale wholefood co-op. The co-op has defensiveness or boardroom smiles, no celebrity. These were more than 2,000 food buying groups across the UK, all benefiting all people just quietly getting on with it, living by example and from community-organised bulk buying, with reduced packaging willing to share. and costs, providing accessible, reasonably priced organic food. Shared ethics run throughout their operation with community So why do we need Viable alternatives? Firstly, so that growers involvement and education being their priority. can be genuinely supported whilst getting on with growing. If alternatives worked we could give up the box schemes and stop True Food being both growers and retailers. And secondly because viable alternatives do work, supermarkets will very soon get the idea Anna Louise Bachelor and start putting ethics into their core operational principles! A from True Food bit of healthy competition for them - they tried doing veg boxes for Community Co-op in a while, but I suspect that ethics might suit them better. Reading presented a viable alternative to the current supermarket structure. This Collette Haynes community owned enterprise has a not for profit membership, and was founded on the core ethics of organic, ecology and wholefood. Anna explained how these core ethics were not

Page 27 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Organic cut flowers: a huge niche market Small area – huge market – good returns: the time is right for specialised cut flower growers What makes a good cut flower? • Species: it’s great to be innovative and try to introduce new species to the market, but it’s not a good idea to base your whole business plan on innovation. Grow popular species like sunflowers, sweet peas, antirrhinums, commonly known as snapdragons, and dahlias but don’t try to compete with the ‘big four’ of roses, carnations, lilies, and chrysanths.

• Stem length: anything under 50 cm is too short. No matter how pretty the flower, if it’s under 50 cm in length, the florists won’t want it. The only exception is sweet peas.

• Colours: flowers are like fashion clothing - colours come and colours go. White and pink are always popular for weddings. At the moment burgundy and green are very popular, but sadly, yellow is not. In my first year I grew Photo: Arjen Huese Arjen Photo: lots of yellow flowers and they all ended up on the compost Arjen with one of his harvesting trolleys full of zinnias. heap. The only exception are sunflowers, all their new The conventional cut flower industry is amongst the most dubious colours of brown and peach shades don’t sell at all, the only of international agri-businesses whilst impacting on home-grown demand is for deep yellow. production. This is down from 45% in 1990 to 20% in 2000 and now in 2010, only 10% is grown in the UK. Most of the production has • Vase life: choose your varieties to make sure they last at moved to Columbia, Kenya and Ecuador, frequently resulting in least a week in the vase. In the UK we have a huge advantage environmental and human misery. Lakes in Kenya are shrinking over the Dutch and the South Americans, as our flowers because of the need for irrigation at the cut flower farms and the don’t have to travel for very long and we can control the remaining water is totally polluted with pesticides. Columbian transport. It’s helpful to do experiments beforehand in your flower farm workers are being maltreated, exposed to one of own living room, expose your flowers to full sun in a warm the highest level of pesticides in the farming industry, ending room and count the days… up with degenerative diseases and left to fend for themselves. • Scent: a bouquet consists of the 4 F’s: Feature flowers, Filler Genetically modified flowers are already being sold in the UK, flowers, Foliage and Fragrance. The fragrance doesn’t have with the Australian company Florigene breeding several varieties to come from every flower and not necessarily from the of carnations in unnatural colours and distributing them via UK feature flower – it can be from some wonderfully scented wholesalers. In addition, there is the environmental impact of foliage, like ornamental basil or rosemary. Some flowers are flying cut flowers across the world in dedicated cargo planes, with being bought for the scent like sweet peas, and in these cases huge carbon emissions. you need to grow very fragrant varieties.

I had been growing vegetables organically/biodynamically for • British, local, organic - in this order: the whole floral 10 years when three years ago, I decided to make the switch to sector seems oblivious to the amount of pesticides used on growing cut flowers. Without too much knowledge and too shy conventionally grown flowers with the prevailing attitude to talk to the florists without having anything to offer, I started being hey, you’re not eating them so why bother? But out reading through the seed catalogues, selecting what I liked British grown, or even better locally grown, is definitely a and what I thought I could grow and sell. Since I don’t like selling plus and florists will buy these over imported alternatives. directly to customers and resent spending time on farmers’ markets, I decided to sell only to florist shops. However I made a lot of mistakes the first year, but also learned what makes a good cut flower variety

Page 28 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Which varieties to choose? Just as professional growers don’t buy their vegetable seeds from the gardening section in the multiples, you as a flower grower need to find the breeders and the suppliers where good old- fashioned breeding has gone into commercial cut flowers and they offer top quality varieties, bred specifically for that purpose. Unfortunately, with only 70 cut flower growers left in the country, the seed merchants are not going to produce catalogues especially for cut flower production, so you need to do the research yourself. A good place to start is a US seed merchant, Fred Gloeckner Seeds, who have a huge range of excellent cut flower varieties and you can order straight from them, or through a UK-based

merchant like Moles Seeds. Unfortunately there are hardly any Huese Arjen Photo: Roses, nicotiana, ornamental cucumis and sweet William. organically grown seeds available, so you’ll have to apply for a lot But it’s important to get the balance right and not overdo the of derogations. The only exception is the Israeli breeder Genesis nitrogen, which just adds to the leaf mass, not helping the flower Seeds, who have a good sunflower variety, Zoar F1 as well as growth. Potassium is also essential for good flower production. an interesting variety of ornamental basil, Cardinal. Seeds from Genesis can be ordered through Tamar Organics. Some flower species require physical support, especially when the site is quite windy and antirrhinums especially have a tendency to How hard is it to grow flowers fall over and should always be grown with support netting. The organically? Dutch growers use a horizontal mesh system, which can be raised as the plants grow taller. Growing annual cut flowers isn’t too different from growing vegetables, although the perennials are a different ball game Hygiene is important, and even though a rinse with the hose is altogether. Annuals like sunflowers, zinnias, antirrhinums, sweet usually enough for vegetable crates, flower buckets need to be peas, papaver and amaranthus can be sown in modules - seeds are sanitised and kept free from bacteria, which will plug the water- expensive - planted out and grown on like vegetables. Each type conducting vessels of the flower stems and cause premature of flower has its own optimum harvest moment: some flowers wilting. The easiest and cheapest way to do this is to use household need to be cut when fully open because they won’t open in the bleach, but there might be a more organically sound alternative. In vase, while others should be cut when still in bud or just showing any case, always use buckets that are spotlessly clean, and take off colour in order to get the most out of the flower. Sweet peas are all the leaves from the stems before you put them in the buckets. climbers and obviously need support whilst growing, and also Ethylene from apples or tomatoes will also cause wilting or petal protection from the rain to prevent damage to the petals. drop, so make sure you don’t store your flowers in the same place. Perennials like peonies, hypericum, eryngium and roses should Marketing ideally be grown in Mypex. I have several beds of perennials I always grew some flowers parallel to my vegetables, but since I without any mulch fabric and the amount of weeding required started to focus solely on cut flowers, I have found that financial every year is staggering. So now, whenever I plant perennials, returns have rocketed. It’s hard to give enough attention to two types they go in Mypex. of crop, each one having totally different requirements for marketing, When I started out I thought flowers wouldn’t need much fertility, packaging materials and outlets. As with vegetables, you can pitch and would do well on relatively poor soil. But I was very wrong your marketing at three different levels: either you supply consumers - poor soil results in thin short stems and poorly developed directly to farm shops and farmers markets; you can supply retailers flowers lead to a short vase life. Most flowers are heavy feeders, and flower shops or you supply wholesalers or supermarkets. and currently I use organic chicken manure pellets for fertility. When you think of supplying consumers you need to bear in mind that flowers are a ‘raw material’ like wheat or barley. Few consumers will buy a straight bunch of antirrhinums, and some processing is usually required, whether it be making the flowers into a hand-tied posy, a wedding bouquet or an impressive funeral arrangement. This is a specialist job, and florists have completed extensive training in order to transform a few pounds’ worth of raw material into a £30 bouquet, something you will struggle to do on a farmer’s market. They do justice to a high quality product by turning it into a stunning work of art. Photo: Arjen Huese Arjen Photo: A view over the nursery with the rain cover frames for the sweet peas and roses

Page 29 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Florists will pay good money for good flowers, with current prices being 30p for one zinnia, 50p for a sunflower and 70p for one peony or delphinium. Prices have been steadily increasing due to the exchange rate of the Euro and increases in fuel prices. Selling to florists is fun, they will appreciate the quality you can supply and they are getting increasing demands for British, local and sometimes even organic flowers. From this season onwards I am intending to increase production VEGETABLE & FLOWER SEEDS and am planning to only supply wholesalers as I am getting A MASSIVE range of both, old favourites & new and exciting fed up with driving around the countryside from one florist to vegetable & potato varieties, including organic and unusual. another. I supply a wholesaler in Dartford with whom I have been dealing for the last three years who supplies florists in the south- east. They are keen to promote British, local and organic flowers and they are being very supportive, trying to increase my market share through features in their magazine and inviting me to talk to the florists. Tuckers Trustworthy Seeds – The Value for Money range Recently, I have been approached by a supplier of cut flowers to all the major supermarkets and even they are very keen to Contact us for a increase the share of UK-grown cut flowers. I have agreed to grow FREE GARDEN CATALOGUE & / or GROWERS BROCHURE organic sweet peas for them, and these should be in every Marks Available by Mail order or online at: & Spencers store this summer! WEBSITE:www.tuckers-seeds.co.uk Getting started: The Association of Speciality Cut Flower Growers EMAIL: [email protected] TEL: 01364 652233 FAX: 01364 654211 (ASCFG) in the USA is a rich source of information for new flower growers. Their website is full of information and their members’ section features a very active bulletin board of professional, small scale cut flower growers.

Twice a year I offer a one day “Introduction in Organic Cut Flower Production” course at the Biodynamic Agricultural College in Forest Row in Sussex. During the course we go through all the major aspects of cut flower production and we tour the nursery. TAMAR ORGANICS All participants get a useful welcome pack, full of catalogues, variety lists, suppliers’ lists, etc. The next course is on the 4th June Organic Seed Specialists and OGA members get £25 off the course fee (normal price £80 + VAT). Email for more information. • Over 500 Organic Varieties, Traditional and Arjen Huese Modern. Arjen Huese trained as a biodynamic grower at Warmonderhof College in • Vegetables, Herbs & Flowers Holland. He subsequently worked in Sweden, Germany, Holland and Brazil before • Onion sets, Garlic, Seed Potatoes, Soft &Top settling down in the UK and starting Wealden Flowers, a 5 acre biodynamic cut Fruit. flower nursery. He is also course leader for the Biodynamic Organic Horticulture Training at the Biodynamic Agricultural College. • Independent family owned company

Wealden Flowers: www.wealdenflowers.co.uk • Secure Website for professional growers Email: [email protected] • Organic Growers since 1994 Biodynamic Agricultural College: www.bdacollege.org.uk Florigene: www.florigene.com www.tamarorganicspro.co.uk Flowers in Kenya: Growers line Tel/Fax: 01579 371182 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/feb/14/valentines-day-roses-kenya Tamar Organics, Cartha Martha Farm, Child labour in Columbia: http://ihscslnews.org/view_article.php?id=179 Rezare, Launceston, PL15 9NX Fred Gloeckner Seeds: http://www.fredgloeckner.com/ Genesis Seeds: http://www.genesisseeds.com/ Sow Organic Grow Organic Moles Seeds: http://www.molesseeds.co.uk/ Association of Speciality Cut Flower Growers: http://www.ascfg.org/

Page 30 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Grower Profile: Trill Farm Garden Ashley Wheeler and Kate Norman

We took on Trill Farm Garden at the end of February 2010. The 2.5 acre plot had been cultivated for the previous couple of years and was equipped with a twin- span tunnel, deer and rabbit fencing and irrigation from the borehole. The land is rented in a share farm agreement and is part of a 300-acre farm in East Devon.

Prior to taking on the land, I (Ashley) had studied for a horticulture degree at Reading University and specialised in historical garden design, which led to a job in this field. However, having been brought up on an organic smallholding in West Sussex, I was pulled back into vegetable growing (my parents ran a box scheme with 350 weekly customer). So although it was in the blood, last year was a big learning curve and we experimented with different growing techniques and systems (for example, both no-dig and green manures, as well as many different ways of mulching). Last year was a major change: new area, new business, and combined with this was the news that Kate was pregnant! Baby Digby arrived at the end of September.

Having arrived late in February, we had to quickly find our feet, prepare the land, sow seeds and try to find some customers. Luckily the farm already had links with next-door neighbours River Cottage, and they have continued to be a supportive customer. We decided to visit a few other restaurants in the area, taking a sample box with us and having a chat with the chefs about the sort of things they were looking for. We had a great response, and at the end of the summer we were supplying five restaurants, a pub and a deli in the vicinity. This was enough to see us through, with hardly anything wasted. The salad was a big hit for us and we couldn’t produce enough for the demand – this year we are almost tripling the amount grown. Our customers tend to use us as much as possible and supplement this with the bigger growers. This worked well for us due to the limitations of growing a wide variety of vegetables within a small plot. Many of the restaurants we work with change their menu according to what they can get locally, and were therefore happy to take gluts (we were even able to sell all of our courgettes!). Last year we grew over 100 varieties of vegetables, from turnips to tomatoes, from cucumbers to corn. We learnt that some things are just not worth growing, for example cauliflowers, taking up too much space for their return, wherea Savoys grown in the same area are much more in demand. Kohl rabi wasn’t as popular as hoped, whereas Jerusalem artichokes, pink fir apple potatoes, wet garlic and pea shoots were a great success with restaurants.

This year we are concentrating on growing more salad and honing our growing to suit the requirements of restaurants. We hope to offer a range of slightly more unusual vegetables that some of the bigger, more mechanised, growers are less likely to grow. We are currently putting up two more tunnels, one for propagation, and the other for growing herbs, ready for the next growing season. Photo:s: Ashley Wheeler and Kate Norman Kate and Wheeler Ashley Photo:s:

Page 31 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Chicory, under-grown in the UK! Chicory is a valuable salad plant, especially between October and April when leaves can be in short supply. If it is sown in the spring it will flower, but sowings in July give worthwhile yields before winter and it is an excellent second crop to follow harvests of peas, broad beans, carrots, beetroot, lettuce, onions etc. Bitterness of the leaves is perhaps a reason for reluctance to grow it in the UK where endive also is much under-utilised. However I have never received any complaints from customers who are probably too busy enjoying the steady supply of salad in winter, made possible in part by chicory. If anybody is worried about the bitterness of the leaves, I have received assurances from many herbalists that bitter flavours are a great tonic for the liver.

The following is a summary of growing and harvesting practises for three main ‘Variegata da Lusia’ chicory in November, grown after types of chicory to harvest in winter: onions from a sowing on Jul23rd, was harvested with a loose heart in late November Chicories for winter hearts Tips for sowing • Early July is the best sowing time Summer slugs can cause havoc among seedlings and even small plants, but this is mainly avoided by raising sturdy plants indoors. • Until third week of July is also possible Sow in seed trays to prick out one per module, or sow three seeds • Seed is best sown undercover in seed trays or modules per module and thin to the strongest.

• These chicories can follow many vegetables, even onions Spacing and growth • Seedlings are susceptible to slugs, but older plants have few 30-35cm (12-14”) allows enough room for good sized plants. pests Once plants are well established, they can tolerate dry conditions • The potential rewards are high with a second crop offering in August and early September, before growing strongly in hardy, delicious winter salad autumn, when they look shiny and beautiful. Hearts develop quite Varieties late and, once firm, do not stand for more than two or three weeks before some of their leaves start to rot. Hence the importance of Most sources offer red radicchio of matching sowing dates with the intended harvest period. one kind or another, mainly Palla Rossa types, meaning ‘Red Ball’, a fair Problems description of their hearts. Franchi Slugs are the main and, thankfully, the only significant pest. Seeds offer a fuller range, including Lusia (not organic) with a mostly Heart leaf rot occurs when hearts stand for too long, after green outer heart and gorgeous developing before they are needed. yellow and pink inner leaves. There Early frost of about -3 C or -4C, from about late October onwards, are a variety of long leaved, deep can damage the hearts which have firmed up, but plants which red Treviso chicories which have Treviso chicory have not hearted up can survive to -6C or lower. exceptional frost hardiness, but miserably small hearts and there are Sugarloaf chicories with long, thinner Harvesting and pale green hearts. Sweeter heart leaves are the main harvest but we found that in the Sowing dates extreme cold of last December, when salad was scarce, we used some outer leaves as part of the mix in salad bags, with leaves cut Date of sowing is extremely important. May for example is too into 3-4 pieces. This increased the value of each plant to impressive early, resulting in plants flowering rather than hearting. June levels, around £3-5 per head, with chicory leaves making up about sowings are on the early side for winter use, giving hearts by a third of the total salad mix. September or early October, while sowings in late July give plants We also found that pulling whole plants in late November, with too little time to make good hearts. a trowel under the roots so a little soil came too, then packing For winter salad, therefore, it is possible until about 24th July. My them tight in flat crates with polythene above and below (some preferred date is around 15th-23rd for winter hearts, but I suggest gaps for breathing), allowed storage until Christmas. Defoliation sowing early July in colder areas. was possible at any time for selling in salad packs, and although

Page 32 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 the frost got into the barn where they were stored, it almost but Harvesting not quite, froze the plants. It helped that hearts were not too I continue to experiment with harvesting and the best results so tight, therefore less susceptible to frost damage. We also stored far are from picking Castelfranco as a leaf lettuce, under cover trimmed hearts in crates lined with polythene and they kept until either in tunnel or cloche. Plants reach about half to two thirds mid January. of their size in late autumn, after which lower leaves are twisted Sugarloaf stored best but they are the least colourful chicory and off. Plants regenerate quickly and harvests become abundant from have papery leaves that are less desirable, so I use them in small late February until flowering begins in late April and early May. proportions, about 5% of the mix. Chicory for forcing

Chicories for winter leaves The bitterness of leaf chicories is balanced, in mixes of salad leaves, by the pungency or heat, of many oriental leaves. They are really worth getting to know, for their bright colours, frost hardiness, resistance to slugs and health giving effects of cleansing the liver.

• Late July is the best sowing time for winter leaves

• Early August is another possible time

• May be sown or planted after many earlier harvests

• Offer salad leaves of bitter flavour in late winter and early spring

Varieties • May is the best sowing time for parent plant

Almost any kind of chicory will do, and sowing a mix gives varied • June is another possible time colour and leaf shape, and once again, Franchi Seeds offer a good • A winter salad, grown from roots which are dug in late selection of leaf chicories. There is also one variety, Castelfranco, autumn, then forced indoors whose green leaves speckled with yellow and orange are particularly pretty and frost resistant. If sown in mid July and left • Plantings in July can follow early potatoes, salads, spring unpicked, it may heart up before winter, so for winter harvest of onions, carrots etc leaves it is best sown no earlier than the end of July. It works well in tunnels and cloches for continual winter harvests. Varieties The standard Witloof is reliable and grows sturdy chicons. I have Sowing dates tried F1 varieties like Zoom without noticing much improvement. There is a wider window of possible dates than for hearting A variety Tardiva (Stormy Hall seeds) grows lovely late chicons varieties. The last week of July and first week of August are ideal, in March, which extends the season at a time when Witloof is and until late August is possible, especially if a cloche or fleece can producing more stem than leaf. cover plants through winter. Sowing dates

Tips for sowing Any time in May, while sowing in June is also possible for slightly Direct in rows or sown indoors and then planted out are both smaller roots. viable. Tips for sowing and planting out

Spacing Sow a few extra seeds to allow for thinning a month later when Around 22cm (9”) in all directions, or when sown in rows, aim for seedlings are well established. Sowing in modules to plant out 30x10cm (12x4”) after thinning. later works well and results in forked roots, which is fine for forcing. Plants can be set out as late as July, allowing them to be Problems preceded by earlier harvests of spinach and lettuce. Apart from slug damage to seedlings, there are few issues of pest Spacing or disease. There can be slug damage to the bottom part of lowest leaves, mainly a brown discolouration on the pale stem. Severe Plants need room to make sturdy roots, 25x50cm in rows (10x20”) winter frost may kill unprotected plants. or 40cm each way (15”) on beds.

Page 33 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 General tips

Chicory is easy to grow although it can look a little ragged and once established, it makes a thick cover of leaves. However, time is required at the end of the season for harvesting and potting up the roots.

Problems

Tender chicory seedlings are appreciated by slugs, so take the usual precautions; raising plants indoors is helpful. Roots left in the soil when harvesting grow chicory weeds in the following spring and summer.

Harvesting roots

December works well for digging roots out. I pot them into 10” pots with compost of variable quality, mainly to keep them moist as most growth is fuelled by the roots. They can also be packed into dustbins or old sacks and lots of other ways I have not thought of! (Do bear in mind that growing in containers is not permitted in the organic standards - Ed)

Growing chicons

As these roots are kept in the dark and with some degree of warmth, harvest time will approach. Growth is controlled by temperature, so three weeks at 20C equals about six weeks at 14C or three months at 10C.

Darkness is also important as any light allows greening and opening out of the chicons with a consequent increase in bitterness.

Harvesting chicons

Some roots grow two or three large chicons up to 150g each, and some roots grow thirty small ones and need thinning when the first yellow buds appear. I use them as an ingredient in salad bags so can use both large and small chicons, which I pull off the main root and then cut or snap at the base to liberate many leaves.

Chicons change quickly from being swollen hearts in the shape of a candle flame, to stem-like hearts with less leaf, so it is best to harvest as soon as good swellings are visible. Then a much smaller, second harvest will grow and even a smaller third one if there is time before all new chicons become stem-like in April.

Then there is also a higher risk of aphids on leaves, especially if the compost has dried out. Charles Dowding

Excerpts from Charles Dowding’s new book ‘How to Grow Winter Vegetables’

To be published April 21st 2011 by Green Books, all colour, £14.95

Page 34 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Apprenticeship corner Life after the apprenticeship The Soil Association apprenticeship has changed my life. The closure of one particular grocers, it was now impossible to find two seasons I have spent working and learning with Mark Stay good quality, fresh vegetables in the town. Birstall is served by a at North Aston Organics have opened up a whole new set of reasonably sized Co-op store, a small Tesco, several other grocers possibilities, giving me the skills and confidence to start growing and, of course, Ocado. Yet somone had still felt moved to write food and, hopefully, be paid to do so. I also now have a group that letter. The reason it galvanised me was because it showed that of very good friends in the other apprentices and as we all finish other (normal) people perhaps felt the same problems with their or near the end of our apprenticeships, each of us is agreed on food supply as I did; a carelessness – in the original sense. the value of the last two years, but is also asking – where next? From my experience, this is exactly what has been so good about (I’ve volunteered to compile the apprentices’ alumni newsletter so the apprenticeship scheme so far. It has taken on people who someone had better do something!). care about the way their food is produced and turned that into My plan (well plan A) is to try to start up a small business: a an understanding of organic principles and a set of skills to move market garden as close to the edge of my home town of Leicester forward and actually change the way their food is produced. It as possible. The last couple of months have, however, seen a has also, through the seminars and other contacts, introduced number and a good variety of grower vacancies being advertised us to people who have been growing organically for many years (including one in Nova Scotia which I considered applying for). and have been eager for us to learn from their experiences and As a result, my hesitancy over the several plan Bs I had formulated practices. This has been invaluable. I think a final strength of the stirred me into inaction. scheme is the number of different paths people appear to be taking post-apprenticeship. It can only be a good thing that experience of Fortunately, something I read recently helped me out of my the apprenticeship is taken to a diversity of areas. For my part, it’s indecision. In the letters page of this month’s Birstall Post (my back to plan A… local rag), amongst the perennial exchanges about graffiti and dog-walkers, someone had written to complain that, since the David Lashley

Kate Colwell - First winner of Charles Wacher Trust Award under the SA Apprenticeship Scheme

Kate joined Abbey Home Farm for two ideal conditions for growing and harvesting and those popular years under the SA Apprenticeship with customers. She also looks at ways of extending the season Scheme simply because of her love for using different equipment and also considers methods of flower food. She wanted to know where her food preservation. came from, what went into the growing Kate finished her apprenticeship in June 2010, but continues to of it, and her desire to be as self-sufficient work at Abbey Home Farm occasionally. I suspect she likes to as possible. check up on the flowers she has lovingly reared and likes to see Flowers for cutting and selling have been how they are managing without her! grown for more than 8 years at Abbey She still has her love of food and her dream - to run a crêperie Home Farm, but Kate certainly didn’t expect to concentrate on using vegetables that she has grown - is still there. But until that these during her time there. But she immediately enjoyed the dream comes true, she continues looking for work on a smaller diversity of the flowers and with her experience of studying in scale, with a greater community and social element. art, found that she could combine her artistic skills in flower arranging with her enthusiasm for growing. By becoming more Congratulations Kate and best wishes for your future. involved in production of the flowers, she also learned about the Carolyn Wacher associated problems of growing of cut flowers in other countries, Carolyn Wacher is Secretary to the Charles Wacher Trust (Charitable Trust and especially about the high carbon footprint of 90% of the Number 327804). Charlie was one of the original growers who founded the flowers available for sale in the UK. Organic Growers Association and following his death in 1986, it was decided to Her final project, which won her the award is entitled “The set up a Trust in his name which supports young entrants in organic horticulture. Flower Patch” and covers over 28 varieties from aquilegias to The Trust has recently decided to sponsor the SA Apprenticeship Scheme on a zinnias. She looks at varieties suitable for the cut flower business, regular basis, by awarding £200 to the apprentice with the prize-winning project.

Page 35 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Notes from a visit to northern Germany…

Last August we travelled through Northern Germany and were given the opportunity to visit a vegetable grower near Bremen. The holding is part of the ‘Hofgemeinschaft Verluessmoor’ roughly translated as ‘farm community at Verluessmoor’. This comprises two farms (including field scale vegetables, dairy, arable and poultry), the vegetable holding and a thriving and diverse farm shop. The Hofgemeinschaft is a registered association originally set up by biodynamic farmer Friedel Lütjen, who we had the pleasure of meeting.

History which provides a reliable, if low, return. He also supplies the farm shop of the Hofgemeinschaft and 5 other shops, however, Friedel explained that the original farm Rainer finds it difficult to compete with the wholesalers. The has been in his family since 1850, when recession has not hit their business as hard as others and he the village was founded by pioneers who is able to sell all the produce he grows. Apart from Rainer made the moorland cultivable. This was and his wife the holding employs two full time staff plus work quite a challenge given that the peat layer experience and seasonal workers. was 7m thick at the time. Unsurprisingly, peat was the main source of income for Box scheme the farmers in the early years. It was only Friedel Lütjen Rainer delivers around 300 boxes a week though he would like possible to build permanent farmhouses after to increase this to 500 in order to sell more of his own produce the completion of a ship canal, which drained the land. Over through the boxes. The box scheme is very flexible: there is a the years income from peat became less important and in 1948 standard box, one for raw food diets, one with only local/regional the farm was cultivating 12.5ha including vegetables. In 1954 a produce and a mother/child box containing easily digestible young Friedel Lütjen went to an inspiring lecture on biodynamic vegetables. Their own produce is supplemented with bought- farming. When the family farm was handed to him in 1963, he in vegetables, especially between February and March. Recipes decided to manage the farm biodynamically and became certified are often provided for more unusual crops. Other products such under Demeter. The ‘Hofgemeinschaft’ was founded in 1979 in as bread, dairy and eggs are also bought in, where possible from order to buy a neighbouring farm. local producers. All products in the box are organic, but not Securing the future necessarily biodynamic. Boxes come in three sizes and customers can substitute items or select the contents of their box entirely. Today the association manages 235ha, 92ha of which it owns, Customers submit their orders online two days before delivery. together with several hectares of woodland. In addition a Vegetables are harvested the next day and the boxes are packed foundation was set up to legally safeguard the biodynamic integrity by two people ready for delivery (2 vans). of the Lütjen estate in perpetuity. This meant that Friedel’s family waived their rights of inheritance. The underlying philosophy Protected cropping is the belief that soil is a non-renewable resource that should not Four large polytunnels are located on parts of the farm too be owned. Managers, including Friedel’s son and grandson, run wet for field production. They are double-skinned with the enterprises as if they were their own. Important financial automatic vents which provide air circulation. The tunnels decisions have to be passed by the board, which has to contain a are re-covered every ten years. proportion of practising farmers. The association has around 50 members, including the Lütjen family, farm and shop managers, friends of the family and interested members of the public, but an influx of new young members is badly needed. The vegetable holding The Luetjen family had been growing vegetables on the home farm from the 60’s and the vegetable holding was bought in 1992. Since 2005 the holding has been managed by Rainer Merkt, who despite a busy timetable gave us a friendly welcome and much of his time.

The 5ha holding includes 2000m2 of protected cropping. Rainer grows a wide range of crops, mainly for their box scheme,

Page 36 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 soldiers and weeds within the rows still have to be hand weeded.

Rainer grows a large variety of crops outside, some direct- sown, such as spinach, but mostly transplanted using bought-in modules. A borehole provides water for a movable sprinkler system. Harvesting is done by hand.

The most common pest is the cabbage moth caterpillar which is kept under control by covering the crop with fleece or mesh. Rainer largely avoids carrot fly by growing carrots away from hedges, which provide a habitat for the pest, but sometimes uses fleece or mesh as protection. In order to encourage natural predators and wildlife, Rainer established a beetle bank, grows some flowers and also lets some crops such as fennel go to seed.

Rainer Merkt with the peppers trained through fishing nets Along with the vegetables and some strawberries, cereal crops are The main summer crops are tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. also included in the rotation, under-sown with grass-clover. A lot of the varieties come from local biodynamic plant breeder Ulrike Behrendt, such as the open-pollinated tomato Ruthje, from which Rainer saves seed. Other varieties include Ruth, Piluweri and cocktail tomato Devotion, with Pantos being the main pepper and Aramon and Helena the main cucumber varieties. Both peppers and tomatoes are fertilised with 2kg compost per m². Early in the season a liquid feed from nettles is made. In the future Rainer plans to try under-sowing with green manures. The tomatoes are trained on re-usable cotton strings. They are irrigated by drip lines which are supplemented with overhead sprinklers as necessary.

The peppers are trained through fishing nets, which are fixed to Photos: Phil Sumption Phil Photos: vertical posts 3m apart within the bed. The netting is very strong Chain and disc cultivator and can be re-used many times. Rainer considers the peppers to be a marginal crop without heat. Field production on the farm Cucumbers are trained by allowing two main stems to grow up, The Hofgemeinschaft also grows field-scale vegetables. Carrots and thinned out to 2 fruit per node. Towards the end of the season and potatoes are grown as part of a 7-8 year rotation (grass for the leaves are stripped off, which restricts the cucumbers to a more cattle – cereal – 3x green manures of mixed legumes - carrots marketable size. Late season cucumbers provide the best return. – potatoes – autumn cereal under-sown with grass – back to In winter Rainer grows lambs lettuce, which is very popular in pasture). Biodynamic preparations of horn manure and horn Germany (see OG11), and winter purslane. Other crops that are silica are applied annually, and any cow manure spread on the grown in the tunnels are spinach, radish and swiss chard. The field will have been treated with a biodynamic preparation. If the latter is planted in August and can be harvested until Christmas weather allows, sowing follows the moon calendar. and again from March onwards. In between crops, he sows a green We visited a 4 ha field with carrots of the Nantes 2 type-Fynn, manure mix of oats, vetch, red clover and phacelia. This is cut with drilled at the end of May and ready for harvesting in the first week a mulch mower before being incorporated in spring, ready for of September. Following an initial pre-emergent flame weeding, planting. Rainer also has a glasshouse, which is heated early in the Polish seasonal workers (traditionally many come across to work season, from which he can harvest his first tomatoes in mid-June. on farms in the summer) weed by hand without using hoes. The Outside crops windy site discourages carrot fly. A long rotation and not using fresh compost also helps. Electric fencing is necessary to keep Rainer does not have a conventional plough, but uses a ridge out deer. Students and other seasonal staff help with the harvest, plough which keeps soil disturbance to a minimum, creating which is done by hand. The carrots are then sorted, stored and good growing conditions and encouraging micro-organisms. The sold to the wholesale market as required. Marketed as ‘moor ridges are formed 2-3 weeks before planting. They are weeded carrots’, they sell for a good price due to their renowned quality. several times using chain attachments pulling out the weeds on Our next visit was to a potato field. Four varieties are grown on the sides of the ridge. Once the plants are more established inter- 3ha, namely Solara, Linda, Gala and Belana. Following carrots row hoes are used but some persistent weeds such as gallant

Page 37 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 in the previous year, the field was fertilised with cow manure. vegetables from Rainer, but some As the peat soil stays cold for a long time pre-chitted potatoes products have to be available all are planted in ridges in May into warm soil to advance the yield year round. ahead of the onset of blight. However, blight can still be a problem Despite its slightly remote and in Friedel’s experience the tastier varieties are unfortunately location the shop is well-known also more susceptible. The potatoes are also marketed as ‘moor and customers travel from far potatoes’ and sell well. afield. The biodynamic / organic market in Germany is growing (see OG13) and sales in the shop have been largely unaffected by Photos: Phil Sumption Phil Photos: the latest recession. However, Karsten Mayer there has been a shift in the customer base: twenty years ago customers were mainly ‘greens’ motivated by environmental factors. Today, most customers are relatively well off and concerned about their health, often considering the choice to buy biodynamic and organic products as a kind of status symbol. The shop The shop runs a membership scheme: new members pay a €50 one-off deposit (which is returned at the end of the membership) The shop is run by Karsten Meyer. Like the managers of the and a monthly fee, which entitles them to a discount. The deposit other enterprises, he runs it as his own business, owning all the and fees help the shop to cover its running costs and to invest stock and making the commercial decisions. He also makes sure in positive changes that would otherwise have to be funded that the building and shop is kept in good order, but does not through an expensive bank loan. In order to avoid abuse of the have to pay rent. The shop is certified under Demeter and is membership card, each displays a photograph of its owner. visited by inspectors twice a year. Altogether we were inspired by everyone’s enthusiasm and their Initially, the shop was purely an outlet for produce from the farms dedication to biodynamic principles. We would like to take this of the association, but it now stocks around 4000 biodynamic and opportunity to thank those we spoke to for making time in their organic products, from fresh and processed foods to cosmetics busy schedule to show us around. and cleaning products. The size of the shop is 270sqm. Karsten tries to concentrate on seasonal and local produce, including Isabeau Meyer-Graft and Phil Sumption

greenwaste, and sources other than stealing another farm’s Letters fertility. I agree that every crop has its temperature threshold, but that is Dear OG, more to do with the roots working and not the release of nitrogen Compost or green manures? by the soil biota. I am, however, massively concerned about Re: Charles Dowding’s article, OG13. Charles’ recommendation that we should be adding nitrogen-rich I have to say that I am very much of soil amendments in winter. Even if Charles argues that it does the orthodoxy that green manures are an important part of the not lead to much nitrogen leaching (which I doubt), it does lead solution to reducing climate harm and with Iain Tolhurst, I (under to widespread volatisation of air emissions; nitrous oxide and my maiden name of Hall) have written detailed notes about their other emissions are especially increased by freezing and thawing. use in Growing Green: Organic Techniques for a Sustainable Nitrous oxide (N20), caused by augmentation of the nitrogen cycle, Future. For an agricultural technique to be sustainable, it has to: 1) is the weak spot in organic systems. N20 is 310-times as potent continue indefinitely; 2) be easily replicated in most circumstances; as carbon dioxide, and more importantly destroys stratospheric and 3) the practice has to be widespread. Unfortunately, reduced ozone in a similarly damaging way to CFCs. Hence why the tillage in agrochemical systems usually depends on herbicides scientific community are as concerned about nitrogen as carbon in and infringes 1), and the techniques Charles Dowding describes the climate change debate. depends on ghost acreage for mulching materials; and at a global Having ley green manures allows the soil to recover, as well as level cannot be replicated for all cropping systems and therefore augmenting the nitrogen cycle. However, organic proponents are infringes 2). Organic systems have to move towards closed- wrong to think that all nitrogen automatically becomes bound by system fertility, and any augmentation of fertility must come from humus and stays dormant. That only happens in wild systems, the recycling of societal wastes such as treated sewage, garden

Page 38 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 and if we only depended on the natural fluxes of nitrogen, yields boxes – the majority of farms run a 16 or 17 week delivery from would be minuscule. Cultivation is a necessary evil to feed world June to October. Customers sign up to receive their box at one populations. of three or four predetermined pick up locations around the city or at the farm itself. The box varies weekly depending on what From a yield perspective, it is better to incorporate sappy green is available, and all boxes are the same size and price. Once the manures into warm wet soils; but then there will be lots of N20. season is in swing, the farm will host regular events for CSA From a climate change perspective and for maintaining long-term members including such things as volunteer farm days, movie humus, it is better to incorporate woody-stemmed green manures screenings and communal meals. in cool, dry soils in early spring. As with everything with climate harm, there is no one silver bullet. The most important thing about People are connected to their food producers by a CSA - we need green manures is that they bring new carbon and nitrogen into a to start talking about our farmer, as we do with our dentist and farming system from the atmosphere. If every cropping system hairdresser. Despite recent enthusiasm for gardening, we still rely used green manures, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere on farmers for our food and they hold generations of knowledge would be reduced and Haber-Bosch (synthesised) nitrogen could and best practice. Volunteer opportunities on the farms get people be eliminated. Climate harm would be reduced even more, if out of their gardens and on to the farm, bringing back to the rather than cutting and mulching the ley green manures in situ gardens the knowledge gleaned from the farm. (which has its own N20 problems), we made micro-scale biogas, Unfortunately, the average age of farmers in Canada (and indeed put the 80% nitrogen-rich biogas effluents on woody compost, in the UK) is about 63 and there is a desperate need for the younger and used the biogas to replace the fossil fuel use on the holding. generation to take up farming. One of the biggest hurdles is lack That, alas, is another story. of capital, but the Canadian CSA schemes are designed to give Jenny Griggs (née Hall) farmers a financial advance at the beginning of each year, in order to cover equipment, seed orders and other costs of preparing the land. Because CSA members sign up early in the season, the Dear OG, farmers can plan crops and calculate the sales income required CSA schemes - do we have the wrong model in the UK? from other sources.

As a grower, I am interested in those CSA (community supported In Canada, the UK “food box” system has not yet taken root, but agriculture) schemes throughout the world, which differ from those Kelly wonders whether consumers would still choose to invest in currently operating in the UK. We have had a couple of young a farm if they had the choice of having a home delivery together Canadians, Kelly and Danny, staying with us here near Exeter, and with the choice of opting in or out each week? Perhaps the UK we’ve been comparing models from our different countries. is missing a trick, because the strength of Canadian CSAs is the In the UK, it would seem that CSA schemes are generally set up relationships built between the customer and the farmer - after all, and run by people in the community. This has several advantages; we always go back to the same hairdresser. giving people a fantastic opportunity to get involved with What is surprising to me when talking with Kelly and Danny something they are really passionate about, and a very strong is how common and successful the Canadian model is. It seems sense of community with responsibility for many issues giving that this model is becoming the norm for small scale, organic, them a real insight into small scale agriculture. In Canada, the sustainable, local agriculture. farmer sees a CSA as a guaranteed source of income, a predictable market for their product and an anchor into their community. The Martyn Bragg, Shillingford Organics customers regard it as good value and convenient providing easy access to local, seasonal food. They also see it as a connection to Kelly Bowden and Danny have been working as WWOOFers with Martyn Bragg, the land and source of good, wholesome produce. Shillingford Organic near Exeter for 3 months. Kelly works with dairy sheep in Ontario, Canada. As a future young farmer, Kelly believes that whatever the CSA model, it is one of the only economically viable ways to create a thriving farm. Schemes in Canada are simple and effective, and administration can be simpler than a box scheme. Drop-offs take a fraction of the time compared to a home delivery system, and individuals will pack and collect their boxes themselves. Finally, box numbers are stable for the entire year and farmers can plan their planting schedules more accurately.

In Canada, the CSA model consists of a standard box of vegetables being delivered from farm to consumer on a weekly basis. Customers pay at the beginning of the season for the entire year’s

Page 39 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Nature notes – Pheasants, predators and penguins

Pheasants table and scratching about in the bullocks’ bedding. Now that it is spring and the doors are open they are making a nuisance of There’s a plague of pheasants locally themselves in the tunnels. I don’t mind the odd pheasant about which has become something of a cause the place. For one thing there is always a casserole, if you need célèbre, with a television programme it. But pheasants and polytunnels, that’s not a good mix. Last (which I failed to see) devoted to the year there were four or five that ripped the lower leaves of the problem. The reason for it is what can aubergines to rags, possibly because they fancied the aphids. only be described as the industrialisation In the end I did for the pheasants and the ladybirds did for the of pheasant shooting; the result - that aphids. There’s a few holes in the plastic to show for it and I fear the valley woods between the beauty that this year there will be more still. spots of Steps Bridge and Clifford Bridge begin to resemble over- stocked chicken runs. Of course the birds are fed close to the one Predators narrow public road that meanders up the valley and so, equally Examining the extent of the wreckage of the brassica crop, once predictably, they hang around along its length and in their scores the weather had warmed up, I found on one cabbage both a small considerably impede the motorist’s progress. More seriously, this grey slug and a hoverfly larva. The slug had perhaps moved into pheasant farming is altering the ecology of the woodlands. some sort of refuge for the coldest of the weather, though I dare I worked on the home farm of an estate for a few years. Much say they can take a bit of frost, but the wee hoverfly larva must to the disgruntlement of the farm manager (who only had me to have sat it out in the frozen cabbage. Well the cabbage survived manage) I was required to turn out as a beater for the nine driven after a fashion, which is more than any of the broccoli managed to shoots each season. His stern Methodist radicalism made him achieve, and the larva seemed quite fit. I couldn’t see any aphids an objector to the whole business, but I enjoyed it as a day out or other food source, but no doubt it has better eyes for the job rambling around the side valleys and woods of the upper Tamar than I do. We tend to think that, because these larval insects estuary with plenty of different company and often enough a good are soft and squishy, they would surely freeze to death. Such laugh at the expense of “the guns”. On one occasion I even had the anthropomorphic sympathies are entirely misplaced. There are a thrill of shot whistling by just above my head as a woodcock (a few insect species that spend the winter alive and outside, from red rag to a bull with a gun) took off from in front of my feet. But those startlingly green caterpillars you find in various crops to generally the thing was kept within bounds. Certainly there were the winter gnats that look too feeble to weather more than a light plenty of pheasants around – two full-time keepers saw to that, but drizzle or moderate breeze, and they are all better equipped for it they also saw that the birds stayed by and large where they were than you or I. Lawrence Hills suggested that hard winters might put. Although the guns paid handsomely for their sport the object favour pest species by limiting the activity of the predators, but was to satisfy the squire’s fondness for the pastime, not to make I’ve never been able to work that one out. money – which even with pheasant feed put through the farm account it probably didn’t. Meanwhile the farm staff, Ivor and me, Penguins had to break into the shoot’s store to get hold of some netting so You may have seen a news story – tagging the flippers of king we could fold off the kale to the sheep. But that’s another story. penguins significantly (16%) limits their chance of survival and ability to raise chicks (39%). Thus not only have we been killing This current story concerns twenty eight shoots in each short penguins, the data we’ve collected in doing so is of no value. season, the integrity of a SSSI nature reserve severely threatened, It only applies to penguins handicapped and locals and visitors having shotgun pellets and even dead by having had their flippers tagged. You pheasants falling on them. I wouldn’t say any of those birds thought imperialism was dead? It’s fine are finding their way here (dead or alive), but a neighbour has to look at the world, it’s good to watch caught the bug and is releasing his own to give himself and his its life, but there’s a limit. D.H. Lawrence mates some extra sport. He grew a few acres of swede and kale said that to know a living thing is to just a field away across our boundary. The lambs tongue (fat kill it. We tag farm animals and we tag hen) which had completely obscured the crop by August just criminals, but the wild and free are not added to its value as pheasant habitat. Before the winter was far ours to own or to know. advanced a dozen hens and several cocks had moved in with us – lurking in the sweet corn stubble, hanging round the bird Tim Deane

Page 40 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Reading this book you may fear for the author’s eyesight and the Book reviews health of his mouse-clicking finger. He has for instance had the energy and persistence to discover that the statement (originally Meat – A Benign dreamt up by a Newsweek reporter) that ‘the water that goes into a Extravagance by 1,000 lb. steer would float a destroyer’ now has 110 separate Google Simon Fairlie citations. Of all the statistical clichés about livestock the one that stands out in its enormity (we are told) is the constantly quoted Permanent Publications, pb figure, often preceded by the word “staggering”, of a kilo of beef 322 pp. £19.95 consuming 100,000 litres of water. Translated into the simple and unremarkable life of a Bramley, a steer that the author “had the As an impressionable teenager, way pleasure of rearing” this would mean him having consumed 25,000 back in the 1960s, I read (in a hip litres each day of his life (an acre 10 ft deep in water!). “How he magazine) that the word ‘masturbation’ managed to achieve this feat I am at a loss to explain, since all he did was like a litmus test. If you mentioned while he was alive was to hang out in a field and eat grass, without it and everybody around you curled up and died you knew you ever manifesting any unusual desire to drink water”. were living in the wrong age. It’s hard to get away from references Simon Fairlie is no Cobbet, though as a champion of productive to masturbation and allied activities these days. Instead society’s rural life he is surely in the same league. He doesn’t proclaim squeamishness has left the bedroom, and the bushes, and taken prejudices loudly, using the mallet of common sense to bang them up residence in the kitchen, and even in the fields. We can cope into people’s consciousness. He doesn’t seem to have prejudices in with sex, but food in the raw is another matter. Once in a while I the first place. Instead he gives credit where it is due, not least to make lardy cake. On the odd occasion that I’ve mentioned this to vegans and vegetarians for widening our view of our relationship people the response has tended to be one of disapproval tinged with animals. Even-handedly and exhaustively he sets out the with disgust. Apparently lard, like offal, is about as raw as it gets. evidence from all sides of the argument, but it is his common Maybe lard is the new masturbation? sense that renders it down into sense for the reader, common So I was heartened while reading Simon Fairlie’s justly praised sense founded on his own long experience of land work. It is only “Meat – A Benign Extravagance” to find that the word ‘lard’ towards the end of the book that you realise he bears any animus derives from the Greek ‘laros’ meaning pleasant to eat, via ‘larinos’ towards veganism when he discusses “the fence” that he sees as the the noun for fat itself. He goes on to explain the importance of logical conclusion of solely vegan agriculture, the fence between the fat as concentrated energy in a subsistence diet, especially in wild and the tame. And he does take sides – he’s on the side of the northern climes, and hence all those phrases we don’t give a peasant, the small farmer, the edge-living dispossessed cow-keeper, passing thought to – “fat of the land”, “cream of the crop” etc. all those who live lightly on their little share of the earth’s space and There’s the larder too – where you hang the bacon. He points out resources. And he’s on the side of a planet that is fit to live on for the lingering fault line between the working-man’s greasy spoon those that value freedom and the chance of wilderness. (more fat there!) and the office worker’s sun-dried tomatoes. The So does meat-eating have a place in a system of land use that is EU has done a good job of promoting olive oil, as no doubt it has self-reliant, organic, low carbon and ruralised? The answer is yes, needed to do, but have the traditional products of our own land within limits. But there isn’t an argument for eating lots of meat become so inappropriate to our lives? In a way this is what the – “Meat is an extravagance”. This last is one statement of Simon book is about. It’s a wonderfully inclusive exploration of what it Fairlie’s that I would argue with. It appears in the introduction. takes to feed the world, of how this can be achieved in a human, The conclusion I drew, once I got to the end of the book, was that rather than mechanistic, setting and of what the proper place for there is a watertight case for some livestock farming – ruminants livestock in the process may be. I wouldn’t want you to think that where land will support grazing but not arable and monogastrates he lays overmuch stress on lard. It gets just two mentions in the in all situations, to consume the necessary buffer surplus of grain mostly comprehensive and reliable index. harvests and the food “wastes” that currently we do mostly waste. The author’s “central question” is whether the farming of animals That is too rational to be an extravagance, even a benign one. for meat can be sustainable, not whether it is right or wrong. The The author suggests that some will find the book hard work. But it is book is concerned with the environmental ethics of eating meat. comprehensive rather than dense, leavened with great humour (such Secondary questions dealt with include whether meat-eating is a that I often laughed out loud) and written in a sprightly and limpid waste of resources, how much and in what manner it contributes style. Sure – it takes a bit of effort, but the way is illumined by a guide to global warming, whether it robs the hungry to overfeed the of intelligence and insight who knows how to make the narrow wide, already well-fed and the nature of its effect on wild habitats. When and the rocky smooth. Anybody wanting to understand our vital I say “dealt with” I mean dealt with. Simon Fairlie is a terrier after relationship with the rest of creation should read this book. the evidence and, like any proper terrier, whatever evidence he finds (and he finds a lot of it) he administers a good shaking to. Tim Deane

Page 41 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 they found none, and so obtained seed from Mexico that provided Book reviews a resistant (‘r’) gene. Meanwhile, the peasants searched their fields for what seeds they could find and planted them in the hope Return to Resistance that the next crop would be better. The process of getting the ‘r’ gene into maize suitable for Kenya began; but before it could be Return to Resistance was first published some 15 years ago in completed the gene was matched and cancelled out: so another 1996 and last revised in 2007. It was written with the intention gene was sent for. Meanwhile the peasants planted their maize. of explaining the very complex subject of resistance-breeding to The second r gene failed even sooner, not making it out of the non-scientists, and providing a blueprint for a return to resistance greenhouse. The peasants planted their maize. The next plan instead of ever-more pesticides. was to combine the two r genes; that didn’t make it out of the The book is composed of three sections: Explanations, Examples greenhouse either. No further genes were searched for because and Solutions. The first section introduces the two forms of all the time the peasants had been planting their maize and it resistance in plants using ten pairs of contrasts to explain the was now resistant to tropical rust. Robinson’s conclusion that we development of our understanding of resistance from the re- should copy the peasants was not very well received in the plant discovery of Gregor Mendel’s work in 1900. The two forms of breeding profession, and he was asked to leave Kenya. This lack resistance characterised by J E Vanderplank as ‘Horizontal’ and of cooperation from professionals has led Robinson to turn to ‘Vertical’ resistance are determined by the presence or absence amateurs to try and fulfil his vision through plant breeding clubs. of a gene-for-gene relationship. This relationship is a theory put The third section of the book is given over to the organisation forward by H H Flor in 1940 to explain the failure of a resistance of plant breeding clubs and plant breeding techniques. The first gene to protect a plant from infection. Resistance genes had been club was formed at the Universidad Autonoma de Chapingo. discovered by British scientist R H Biffin in 1905 in wheat. The Although not related in the book, this plant breeding club has potential to incorporate these genes into new cultivars through been very successful (a report on its work can be found on http:// back crossing was quickly exploited and led to the introduction of newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/international/pan-am_don/nov04/ new resistant cultivars. However, after a few years of commercial chapingo.shtml). It has the considerable advantage of being linked cultivation, the resistance of these cultivars broke down, leaving to a university; however there are other organisations that could scientists mystified as to how a gene for resistance that failed could provide technical support to a group of growers working to breed have evolved in the first place. The theory goes that for every gene their own varieties. The beauty of Horizontal resistance is that as a conferring resistance, there is a gene conferring virulence: when quantitative variable, it can be altered along with other variables, the two come into contact they cancel each other out. However, if contributing to adaption to organic agro-ecosystems including there are many genes for resistance and virulence, the frequency beneficial insects. with which they cancel each other out is greatly reduced. Robinson Sam Eglington therefore concludes that the gene-for-gene relationship is like shoaling in fish: a phenomenon that protects a genetically diverse Return to Resistance is available in hard copy via Amazon and other bookstores population like those found in wild ecosystems, but continually and as a free download at share books: http://sharebooks.ca/ fails to protect individuals in the genetically uniform agro- ecosystem. This failure had lead to an abandonment of resistance breeding in favour of pesticides. Small ad Organic veg growing business for sale. Since this book was first published, there has been a small revival of resistance breeding; however, almost all of it follows the failed Established for 12 year in Carmarthenshire South Wales. back-crossing methods, or uses GM instead. The intention of the Turnover approx £50,000 pa, growing on excellent soil on gentle book was to inspire amateur breeders to explore the potential of south facing sloping fields. 15 acres of land and seven 60m the other side of the coin: Horizontal resistance. The second section polytunnels. Secure market to local wholesaler and box scheme. uses the history of a number of crops to show what Horizontal All enquiries to buy (or sharefarm) to Roger Hallam, Organics resistance offers. The most inspiring example by far is that of the To Go, Werndolau Golden Grove Carmathen SA32 8NE. peasants of 1950s’ Kenya. Air freight had opened up the Kenyan Tel: 01558 668088 market to maize growers in Mexico; however with corn on the Email: [email protected]. cob came tropical rust. This disease was devastating: like blight in Ireland, it destroyed crops, turning the maize fields the colour of scrap metal. The government started a breeding programme This is a classified ad section that is free to members! to address the problem, but they also provided food relief which meant the peasants didn’t have to eat their seed corn – it was this that ultimately solved the rust problem. The breeding programme started by studying Kenyan maize landraces for resistance genes:

Page 42 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 Pest and Disease Management for agroecological approaches cannot deal with pest and disease outbreaks. The full range of inputs is covered along with guidance Organic Farmers, Growers and on when and how to use them.

Smallholders - a complete guide The rest of the book is taken up with a comprehensive listing of Gareth Davies, Phil strategies for managing insect pests and diseases with the final Sumption and Anton section providing guidance in the diagnosis of these problems Rosenfeld. Crowood together with the provision of solutions. This is the guide that Books pb 416pp £25.00 many growers will probably use when seeking ideas for difficult problems, is incredibly detailed and comprehensive with good This is the latest in a series of use being made of tables. authoritative books written by Garden Organic staff. This will not This is not necessarily a book that you would take out into the field only be an invaluable addition to for quick reference but it is a book to study in order to gain a fuller the bookshelves of producers but it understanding of pest and disease problems and their management. should also be required reading for It will provide new insights even to the experienced grower and it students, consultants, researchers will assist in the education of new entrants and apprentices. It is and policymakers. The depth and breadth of the information is also a book that conventional growers should read. astonishing and demonstrates why it is sometimes difficult to Roger Hitchings explain the organic approach in a couple of sentences. Come and join us! Because it was considered essential to set the scene in some detail, the book does not refer to specific pests and diseases until the Join the Organic Growers Alliance and help to build an effective second half. The first chapter sets out the principles of organic pest representative organisation for organic horticulture. Benefit and disease management and the use of the word management your business through increased opportunities for information instead of control underlines the principle of working with nature exchange and new insights into the craft of growing organically. and not against it. Organic principles, statutory regulations and Enjoy the sense of community that comes from contact with certification are also covered. other growers! Membership includes entry to all OGA events at cost, subscription to this journal, access to other forms of The authors seek to convey an understanding of what is actually communication as they are developed and support from a going on when we take a piece of land and cultivate it to grow recognised representative body in dealing with any regulatory crops. It actually represents a major change to the ecology of the and bureaucratic problems that may affect your business. soil and its surroundings, and the imbalances caused can give rise to various ‘problems’ as the overall balance is affected. The Full membership is open to anyone whose living depends ecological causes and dynamics of pest and disease outbreaks wholly or mainly on commercial organic growing. This includes are explored along with suggestions on management using those employed in practical horticultural research and advice. £25. behavioural and agroecological approaches. Associate membership is available to nongrowers who wish Prevention is always better than cure and approaches that to support the work of the OGA. It covers the same access to incorporate organic principles are explored in some detail. These events and publications, but does not include the right to a vote will be familiar to organic producers but should provide insights in any ballot of members. £25. to those who are entering the organic world for the first time. The Student membership - as associate membership. £15. topics include soil fertility, the role of crop rotations and their contribution to diversity, plant resistance and the importance of Join online: www.organicgrowersalliance.co.uk conservation in providing habitat for beneficial insects. OGA committee Cultural control covers a number of approaches including the Alan Schofield, Lancs (Chair): 01253 790046 nature, frequency and depth of tillage; the timing of planting, Debra Schofield (Treasurer): 01253 790046 plant spacing and the techniques of intercropping, trap cropping Scott Sneddon, Derbyshire: 01629 583009 and companion planting. Physical aids have become increasingly Roger Hitchings, Carmarthenshire: 01554 810158 Phil Sumption, Leicestershire: 024 7621 7744 important with the development of a wide range of crop covers, Peter Richardson, Wiltshire: 0782 1403739 barriers, scarers and traps and the harnessing of nature is covered James Clapp, Powys: 07973426152 Patrick Lynn, Notts: 01636 812105 through a discussion of biological control. Adam York, N.Pembrokeshire: 07511 546701 Mike Westrip, Powys: 07896 130982. It is not until page 138 that any specific reference is made to pest Collette Haynes, East Sussex 01273 891943 and disease control using applied inputs. Cropping operations Peter Dollimore, East Sussex: 01323 741000 can impact heavily on the local ecology even in organic systems Ben Raskin, Wilts: 07990 592621 Jonathan Smith, Isles of Scilly: 01720 423663 and there are occasions when preventative techniques and

Page 43 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011 walk will be followed by some fabulous Lebanese food! £2 for Events walk plus £5 for food! To book contact Phil Sumption: psumption@ gardenorganic.org.uk

Wednesday 6th April 2011 – Compost tea in Practice. Thursday 19th May 2011 – Fit for Farming - Renewable energy 9.00 - 16.30. Martin Lishman Ltd have organised this seminar at event – Aintree. www.fitforfarming.com Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire to discuss the practical uses of compost tea. Includes demonstrations from experts with many Thursday 26th May 2011 - Organic Top Fruit Group - visit to years experience of using, brewing and applying compost tea Peter Hall’s Concept Orchard. Peter Hall has kindly agreed to in arable and livestock, seed production, vegetables, viticulture, host a farm walk at his Concept Orchard in Kent. The farm walk fine turf and horticulture. Cost £125 plus VAT. Tel: 01778 426600 (6-8pm) will be preceded by a meeting of The Organic Top Fruit www.martinlishman.com Group (2.30 to 5) for producer members. Contact 0117 914 2400 or email [email protected] Wednesday 6th April 2011 – Agroforestry Farm Walk. 15.00 – 16.00. Soil Association event. FREE technical farm walk Monday 18th July 2011 - Mercia Organic Producers farm walk to review Stephen & Lin Briggs’ establishing agroforestry and BBQ at Chevelswarde Organic Growers, South Kilworth system at Whitehall Farm, Ramsey Road, Farcet, Peterborough, near Lutterworth in Leicestershire. Hosted by John and Ruth Cambridgeshire, PE7 3DR. To book call 0117 914 2400 or email: Daltry. Visitors will be able to see the crops growing on 2.5 acres producer.support@soilassociation outdoors and 10 polytunnels and, of course, the 1 acre of vines and winery. £2 for walk plus £5 for food! To book contact Phil Tuesday 12th April 2011 - Fit for Farming - Renewable energy Sumption: [email protected] event – Midlands. Stoneleigh. www.fitforfarming.com Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th Nov 2011 The Future of Agriculture Saturday 16th April 2011 – Bath & Bristol growers’ group - A Biodynamic Approach, venue: Emerson Campus, Forest Row, meeting at Arcadia Organics. BS49 4QA. From 4pm. Farm walk East Sussex. Cost £150. This event will be of interest to organic kindly hosted by Phelim Knifton and general chat/networking/ and biodynamic farmers and growers (young and old!) and anyone gossip/weather whinge, possibly followed by pub. All welcome who would like to explore the biodynamic approach or deepen no matter where your location, free entry. Contact Kate Collyns their connection whether a producer or consumer. FFI contact [email protected] BDA Office Tel 01453 759501 email: [email protected] or Saturday 23rd April 2011 – Fourth OGA AGM. This year we see www.biodynamic.org.uk/events/conference-2011.html are holding the AGM at the Hardwick Estate Whitchurch on Thames, RG8 7RA. Details have been mailed to members. AGM at 14.00 followed by tour of the walled garden and an evening Contributions wanted! social. Those that stay the night (camping available) can witness For the next issue we will be running a feature on irrigation. If the launching of Tolly’s boat (subject to the level of the Thames!) the weather continues in this vein, we will all need some advice! on Sunday at noon. We are particularly interested in novel or low/renewable energy approaches, or ways you have solved problems. If you have Saturday 7th May 2011 – Apprenticeship day at Eastbrook Farm, anything to offer, please get in touch! Bishopstone, Swindon. Wilts. SN6 8PH. From 16:00. Whether you are interested in taking on an apprentice, have tutored a group, are becoming an apprentice this year or are a potential The funder, the day will provide an opportunity for you to hear from apprentices, hosts and SA staff what is involved through a farm ORGANIC GROWER tour, open discussion, presentations and dinner. £10 towards food (apprentices £5), More info or to book contact Rachel Harries: The Organic Grower is edited by Phil Sumption, with help from Kate Collyns, Carolyn Wacher, Sam Eglington, Jonathan [email protected] Smith, Ben Raskin and Collette Haynes. If you have any news, events or ideas for articles please get in touch. Wednesday 11th May 2011 - Fit for Farming - Renewable energy [email protected] event – East of England showground. www.fitforfarming.com Thanks to all our contributors. Thursday 12th May 2011 - Rooting community food in an Adverts: Collette Haynes [email protected] enterprising future. Making Local Food Work conference, Subscription to The Organic Grower only: Sheffield. www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk £16 for individuals, £24 for institutions Monday, 16th May 2011 - Mercia Organic Producers Farm walk Copy date for next issue: May 25th 2011 at Akiki Organics. 18:30. Evening farm walk at Akiki Organics - a biodynamic smallholding of 12 acres near North Piddle in Worcestershire. Hosted by Charbel & Susanna Akiki. The farm www.organicgrowersalliance.co.uk

Page 44 - The Organic Grower - No 14 Spring 2011