Higher Barn Farm

The Farm is 19.41 Acres and 7.8 hectares set on a north facing field with magnificent views towards the Quantock Hills, Exmoor and the Welsh Brecon Beacon. The soil is silty clay loam, with almost 5% organic matter and a high level of Microbial activity. It is made up of two fields. The small farm has been farmed industrially for cereal crops via contractors for some years. The farm is just inside the Exmoor National Park area.

Cerys, Amer, Bob and Anne are living there as an extended multi generational family with the two children Olive and Oak, and two further brothers and their families that might join in the project. The overall aim of the farm is to create a place where the whole family can live sustainably, where the children can be raised to learn about food and crafts. Whilst the aim is not to be 100% self sufficient the family would like to primarily provide for themselves and then sell surplus, and added value food like bread, and run courses to generate an income.

This report and drawing is to suggest how the farm can be developed and managed to create a sustainable and abundant home, and livelihood for the family and for many other creatures.

The Functions of the Farm have been identified as;

To produce food To produce craft materials To produce fuel crops To be a learning centre for Ecology and regenerative agriculture and “Field to Fork courses” To generate income To provide a safe space for the family To support biodiversity To sequester carbon and be resilient in the face of climate change For play and recreation of the whole family

THE SOIL The soil is a silty clay loam, with almost 5% organic matter. It has a high microbial activity and as such is a very healthy soil to start with. However when we dug a few holes on the farm there was very low worm activity and it did show slight signs of compaction.

The pH is 5.5 and as such is slightly acidic, which in turn is removing the available phosphate and potassium availability to plants growing in it. The pH needs to be adjusted to 6.5 and then the P and K levels should naturally rise. This can be done by adding 1.5 tonnes of lime per acre as stated by NRM. This can be done by a company called Glendenning ( as in the concrete). The “lime man” is called Graham and he is on 07976913712. They are based in Ashburton but he will know a haulier that could deliver it and I am sure your neighbour David will know someone to put it on for you. This is the balancing out of the pH of your soil after the nitrate fertilisers etc have made it acidic. The lime used is suitable for organic status.

Soil improvements already begun has been the sowing of a rich, deep rooting humus building green manures over most of the farm This can be topped with the tractor or it can be grazed off with local sheep, and as this is cut it will add organic matter to the soil and feed the microbial activity and worms in the soil. This can be improved by aerating the soil with a subsoiler, across the contour or on the key line. Allowing the water out and the air in. This has to be done in the summer months when the ground will not be compacted by the tractors. A simple single leg subsoiler can be found second hand for £1-200.(Facebook Marketplace, can be shipped by Pallet line - Farmers are all very used to doing this !)

The Microbial activity can be improved with the application of manures, this can be imported from local farms, but you would want to get something older than 6 months old so that any antibiotics or chemical additives in the cattle feed is decomposed. ( This is the Organic standards). Or you can use compost teas. ( see www.soilfoodweb.com for instructions) However as your soil is already high in microbial activity it will probably recover quickly with the green manures for 1-2 years, and possible subsoiling.

Measuring the changes can be done simply by counting worms. The Opal Worm test is a good reflection of soil health and is part of a national project run by Imperial College. Anne might find this interesting to do with the children. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/opal-soil

THE HOUSE and BARN Cerys is an architect and Amer is a builder so the design of all the buildings will be carried out by them.

The Barn will be retrofitted with a lean-to glasshouse to provide a space for plant propagation and Microgreen production in the winter months. Rainwater harvesting has already been installed on the barn for the glasshouse, polytunnels and for the intensive beds. The barn will be split into three sections as a packing space for crop sales, as a training space with integrated food processing kitchen and the third as machinery and tool storage. I would also recommend if possible that as much mezzanine space is provided for storage as this is always at a premium in barns. The barn roof can have PV panels fitted although it is asbestos I have seen similar types of roofs fitted with PV in farms.

Cold storage could be provided in the packing barn. A 2m x 3 m room would be big enough, however they do require a lot of electricity, so if the aim was to be off grid then another solution would be needed. Cold storage is necessary for chiling crops as they come out of the field and helps with the management of harvest times and delivery times, especially with high value crops such as soft fruit, salads and herbs, but also for long term winter storage of crops for the family such as potatoes, apples carrots and beetroot. The cold store allows them to be stored up to March, and will also keep them vermin proof.

If you decide not to have a cold store a vermin proof store is very important, a shipping container works well but gets hot in the summer and damp in the winter. You can also buy the panels used for cold stores cheaply and slot them together, these are slightly insulated. We bought an old Tesco delivery van unit, without the van. It cost £2000 and you simply plug it in. A root Store Cellar is a possibility as long as it is vermin proof.

ZONE ONE

Public Social Area Immediately in front of the Barn there will be an outdoor kitchen outdoor pizza / bread oven and eating area for participants of courses, and a slightly raised viewing platform that will provide overwintering parking for the shepherds hut.

The Rainwater harvesting tank is installed in this area, slightly buried into the hillside. This will create a slightly “industrial” or working farm feel to the area. It can be softened a little with some planting up of culinary herbs for cooking. The seating area outside will probably be too hot in the summer so providing some sort of overhead “sail” or pergola attached to the water tank with a grape vine ( Boskoop Glory) will provide some protection, with a large outdoor table underneath viewing the farm. However care would need to be provided not to limit the tractor access in and out of the barn.

Behind the Barn there will be a suitable dark cool area for mushroom production. Whilst I don't know much about this myself I do know that Grocycle offer training to produce oyster mushrooms, their business is set up in a small shipping container. Mic Eaton has just set up a Lions mane and Reishi Mushroom growing business in Dartington. They both use straw and Mic uses bran from Dartington Mill for the substrate to grow the mushrooms on, which will be a product coming from your farm in the future. For more information on this contact www.grocycle.com and Mic Eaton contact Bob for his details. I have put a 8ft x 20 ft shipping container in the drawing.

Private Social Area A covered area on the south side of the house is planned. This can be planted with peaches, olives and apricots espaliered along the sides of the house or sunk into the patio. Irrigation will be required and this could be done via rainwater harvesting and a simple tap linked to “T tape” lines put in and literally turned on and off a few times per week. The barrels could be topped up from the borehole water if it ran out. ( Peach Amsden June, Apricot Tomcot - Plumridge or FP Matthews))

This leads onto a grassy lawn planted up with mature trees providing a shady play area for the children. I would recommend removing the trees that are not wanted at this point such as the conifer and replacing them with trees and shrubs that you can enjoy, giving scent, flowers, food for the birds and butterflies, and play opportunities for the children. (see list of trees in Appendix 1 for Biodiversity).

Behind the Linhay there is a “hot” wall that can be planted up with espalier fruit trees such as Pears - Williams or Comice, and Cherry such as Sunburst or Stella, or Passion Fruit and Kiwi. A Brown Turkey Fig tree would probably do well in this area. (Plumridge or FP Matthews) with careful consideration of the placement of the windows of course.

At the entrance to the house the slight readjustment of the fences and laurel planting at the front of the courtyard will create more of a free range space for the children. The house will then be encircled by the private family garden rather than have a front back and middle garden space.

In my experience of running a training centre at my home it is important to have a clear delineation of the “public space” and the private space. Creating a bubble of private space around the house will help do this.

ZONE TWO Leading from the back of the barn there will be a “market garden” zone of polytunnels and “no dig” beds. These will be separated on the north / south line by rows of agroforestry alley cropping at 12 meter spacing.

The alley cropping will be made up of three types of rows, Willow coppice for craft work, and wind protection, Hazelnuts for eating, Crab apples blackcurrant and gooseberry mix. (see appendix 2 for numbers, varieties and suppliers)

In between the Alley cropping rows I would suggest that 50% of the beds are developed as “no dig” beds will be made with imported compost made from municipal waste and ramial wood chips brought in or made on site. These will run up and down the slope on the north south axis. These beds are normally 75 cm - 1 m wide wide and 20 m long for easy management. ( see appendix 3 for instructions as how to make the no dig beds). The other 50% on a tillage system to combine with the chicken tractor and winter crops. ( These tend to compact the soil more so will need cultivations.)

Walking from the house to the barn a new “desire line” can be created via the field. This is a hot sunny space that will provide a good home for planting of perennial herbs for dying, medicinal use, cosmetic use. It might be a good idea to put the perennial culinary herbs here as well as most of them double up as medicinal and cosmetic as well and it will allow the field to be cultivated more simply. ( see Appendix 4 for lists of plants and suppliers and suggested numbers)

Next to the house garden there is a suitable soft fruit area and culinary herb area. On the far side of the alley cropping area there will be a tree nursery area. (See Appendix 5 for soft fruit numbers and suppliers). (See Appendix 6 for Culinary Herb lists and suppliers) (suggestions for tree nursery see Appendix 11)

A mobile chicken tractor system can move through the alley cropping tillage area and the Grain area to clear up the crops once they are finished and provide fertility. ( see appendix 7 for chicken tractor suggestions, suppliers of point of lay pullets and suppliers of food)

The Polytunnel The tunnel can be managed on a no dig system with T tape irrigation. Suggested cropping is;

Tomatoes Cucumbers Peppers Aubergines Basil Winter Salad Early Carrots and Beetroots, french beans etc in the hungry gap If you wanted to create “stacking” in the tunnel then Passion fruit can be trained across the top of the tunnel.

The No Dig beds will grow; Mixed Vegetables Early Carrots/ beetroot Salad all year round Brassicas - chinese cabbage rocket and oriental salads Squash and courgettes Sweet corn French beans Spring onions Lettuce

The Traditional cultivation area will grow; Sunflowers poppy and chia seed Beans for drying Potatoes Onions Green manures and chickens Maincrop carrots and parsnips Winter Kale, cabbage, swede, sprouts etc

ZONE THREE Large scale grazing area Above the intensive beds area there will be a meadow planted with deep rooting humus building green manures. A Hedge for Biodiversity will separate the two areas. This could be either a wilder type hedge / shelter belt made up of a selection of trees from Appendix 1, or it could be a more formal hedge that is trimmed regularly, for this type of hedge a mix of Field maple and Hawthorn is common.

This area will be grazed off by “borrowed sheep” on a grazing licence of no more than 120 days so as not to compromise the organic status of the farm. These would be managed by the shepherd with electric fencing. The wool or meat from these sheep can be swapped for grazing rights. The Chickens in the mobile house can also go in their area when there is not suitable space elsewhere.

This field can be planted up with large trees to provide shade for animals and people and crops such as Sweet Chestnut, with care taken to source nutting varieties, and standard morello Cherries. The edge of the field can be softened with trees planted for foraging and wild harvest (see appendix 1). WIld mushrooms can be encouraged in this area through introduction of spawn from wild field mushrooms and Shiitake logs placed in the shade and near the pond where they can be soaked. Wild cooking can take place in this area, the use of a Kadai is portable and fun. Bug hotels can be put in this area. The Walking / running pathway can be kept open through cutting with the flail mower. A seat by the reservoir will provide lovely views.

Orchard and Pool On the flat West side of the field is a place for an orchard and beehives ( see appendix 8 for a list of suitable varieties rootstocks, estimated numbers and suppliers)

In the orchard there will be a natural swimming pond / water store created. The pond could be filled from the overflow of the rainwater harvesting tank, and from the reservoir at the top of the hill, that itself is filled from the borehole. This would provide extra capacity and resilience for the rainwater harvesting tank in very dry weather. To do this you would need to put in a 50 mm alkathene pipe with a pump at the tank end to lift the water that far. We have found that these polish pumps work well for this purpose. The Pond would have gentle sloping edges to allow for easy access, and they often have a form of a jetty to jump it. They need to be filtered and aerated, this would be done by lining the pool with a liner, then gravel, then planting the marginal areas with plants such as mints, flag iris, bullrushes to clean the water. We provide aeration in our water ponds with a Flowform that we buy from Simon Charter at www.ebbandflowltd.co.uk. They do need electricity to run, but can run from a solar panel as well. I do not know much about natural pools apart from the above and would suggest that you get expert advice to install one successfully. Simon Charter does design these and is very reasonably priced. These ponds can also be spectacular for biodiversity as well.

Field Number Two (does it have a name?) Going through a gap in the hedge coming to the second field there will be a small wild flower meadow with a shepherds hut for occasional visitors.

Further down the slope the field will be divided into two sections.

Grain and Agroforestry Further agroforestry rows of nutting Walnuts (Buccaneer is a Common Variety) will be planted across the contour. In between the trees grain crops of Wheat and Oats, (possibly Buckwheat, Quinoa, Lentils) will be planted. A green manure added in the rotation and this can be grazed with the chickens.

The initial idea is to harvest these grains by hand and thresh by hand. However with careful planning of the spacings of the trees the field could also be harvested with a small scale combine inthe future if the work became too labour intensive. (Appendix 9, sourcing wheat varieties, oats, threshing equipment and milling)

ZONE FOUR AND FIVE - Woodland The other part of field number two, will be planted with woodland, joining up with the neighbouring woodland , the steep slope will be planted with timber trees for fuel, building timber, ramial wood chips, Biochar, biodiversity and fun. (Appendix 10 for lists of suitable trees and sources of them)

RECREATIONAL ZONE Around the whole site there will be a walking or running route. Through the woodland an “anaconda” run and slide will be created for the children and the rest of the family. A zip wire could be put in under electricity wires where no trees can be planted. A hide can be placed at the bottom of the woodland for bird watching, with a bench at the top of the hill for the amazing views. In field number two a wild meadow and glade will be home for short periods of time for a shepherds hut, for extra members of the family. This Is a lovely secluded and quiet spot again with wonderful views across to Wales.

The paths can be kept clear by regular cutting with the flail mower on the back of the tractor.

Biodiversity and recreation go hand in hand for Anne, this is her area of expertise and I think the children will be included in this learning and studying. The walking route is key in terms of observing plant life, insect life and bird life. The walk will include bug hotels, viewing spaces and hides. Places to sit and stare. Lots of different habitats will be created, woodland edges, orchards,ponds, wildflower meadows, grazed meadows, woodlands, hedgerows. Deer and Badgers are in the woodland next door, Wherever possible plants chosen can provide insect and bird food sources and habitat.

The Swimming pond, pizza oven, wild cooking spaces will all offer numerous areas for fun and experiencing nature.

The Children can have “mud pie” corner, swings in trees, slides, jumping logs, Tree houses, zip wires, dens and camps. The list is endless, and it will be a sensory paradise for them. Safety is key, so clear boundaries and zoning around the home is important, and in my experience keeping the participants on courses out of the home zone is also important.

RENEWABLE ENERGY PV panels can be placed on the Barn roof, or on the side of the field as marked. Cerys will redesign the house to reduce its energy requirements. Wood from the small managed woodland will provide heating in the long term.

WATER There is currently a borehole that pumps water up to a reservoir at the top of the farm, this is then gravity fed back to the house for drinking water.

Rainwater harvesting from the barn is going into a newly built 70,000l tank. This will then pump irrigation water to the intensive vegetable beds and to the polytunnels 32mm alkathene stand pipes can be put into the ground across the proposed path or track and from there the header pipes for the T tape can be laid.

When full this tank can pump excess water into the pond for long term storage, and can be refilled from this pond when water is running short.

By Reducing the wind speed in the cropping area and therefore the evapo- transpiration rates of the plants a reduction in water requirement can be made. The use of compost and wood chips will increase the organic content of the soil making it more resilient to heavy rainfall and to drying out.

T tape for irrigation in the tunnels and outside it is more labour intensive to put down but 90% plus of the water then reaches the crop plant, overhead irrigation loses 70% of the water to evaporation. Some crops like the roots, need overhead irrigation, but T tape will be more effective in the long term. This equipment can be sourced from Access irrigation. www.access-irrigation.co.uk

I would recommend that all of the tree plants are planted through a mulch mat, and these will reduce the water requirements in the first establishment years. There is Mypex that is plastic based, and costs £30.00 for a 100 x 1 m roll or the new Ecotex that is biodegradable but costs £160 for 100mx1 m roll. Or you can source coir matting for these trees. I source these from BHGS in Hayle in Cornwall. The Ecotex is direct from hy-tex.co.uk. You could also use cardboard and wood chips.

BUSINESS SUGGESTIONS The business can be formed and registered in lots of different formats. We chose the CIC format limited by share as it allows us more access to grant money for our work with people If you're not intending to do that then simpler formats such as Partnerships or Sole traders might be more appropriate. The Accounts are simpler for this type of business.

Most farm and food businesses register for VAT voluntarily so that you can claim back the VAT on what you are buying to develop the business, this makes a lot of sense in the development years. VAT is not charged on food. However VAT is charged on Training.

You will need Public product and employer liability insurance, and this is generally from the NFU for farms and it costs approximately £1000 per year.

You could register with either the Soil Association or the Biodynamic association for Organic status, this costs about £600 per year (plus VAT). This means you can sell your produce at a premium making it more economically viable. It takes 2 years to achieve organic status so it is worth registering at the beginning so once you are cropping in 2 years time it will be fully organic.

In terms of saleable crops, it would be good for you to focus on high value crops that have a ready local market. This is often Salads for restaurants, and local shops. Fruit and Herbs and Mushrooms are other high value products. Adding value to sell preserves, or ferments is another way to reduce the stress of fresh sales and having a high value product.

Running Courses, we charge £60 per day per person, assuming a 15-20 people on courses over 20 days per year can generate £18 - £24,000.

We can help to Develop a business plan, once you have decided on the potential crop/ s you will produce for sale, and how many courses you aim to run per year. We can start to cost out the development costs as the next step.

Timeline

Year One 2020/ 2021 Winter Establish Green manures Plant structural agroforestry rows Plant woodland Apply for Organic status ?

Year Two 2021 Spring and Summer Put up Polytunnel 1 Put up Lean to glasshouse Create some raised beds ( 30%) Start some cropping on a small scale Graze with sheep Subsoil Packing area in Barn

Year Two Autumn and Winter Plant soft fruit area Plant Perennial Herb area Plant orchard Sow Winter wheat

Year Three 2022 Spring and summer Chickens arrive Plant up summer grain area Plant up alley cropping tillage area Create swimming pond Bring in the last 30 % of no dig area Put up polytunnel number 2. Barn conversion to create a training room. Crops this year achieve organic status.

Appendix 1 Trees and Shrubs for Biodiversity/ Bees / Forage and Wild Harvest Chose from the following; Birch (sap) Rowen American Hawthorn (Martin Crawford) UK native Hawthorn Crab Apple Sea Buckthorn Elderberry ( Danish Varieties from MArtin Crawford) White Beam Small Leaved Lime Sloe / Blackthorn Rosehip Buddleia Honeysuckle Species Roses

Plumridge Nursery or Woodland Trust, or some from FP Matthews

Numbers required for Edge of Meadow Trees ; ● 25 for edge of meadow ( large trees 1-2 m, 2 year old whips or 1+2 year old trees as stated in the catalogue. ( I can help you with this!). ● 10 shrubby rosehips and buddleia to add some extra interest. ● 10 climbers to add to the hedgerow for biodiversity.

Hedge across meadow; 100 m ● 50 trees to be thinned later ● OR 300 formal hedge of trees (but buy 1 year old whips or tree seedlings for this.) double row of 3 trees per meter of acre campestre ( field maple) and Hawthorn to be trimmed into a square hedge

Appendix 2 Alley Cropping for Vegetable Area Willow Coppice for Crafts 200 m Osier willow, and then choose the colours you like. Plant at 1 m spacing in a straight row. Hazel cobnuts - Kentish Cob 135 m plant at 2.5-3 meters apart so you will need 45-50 trees of 2 different varieties. The common ones are Kentish Cob and Cosford. ( lists fo suppliers below of FP matthews and Plumridge) Crab apple Black current Gooseberry mix;115 Crabapple John Downie (wild ones free from Woodland Trust) Black Current - Ben Sarek Ben Connan or any of the Ben series Gooseberry - Invicta (green) Hinnonmaki Red ( dessert variety)

All available from Plumridge nursery or FP Matthews Suggested numbers and varieties; ● Willow coppice row 200 m - 200 plants ● Hazel rows 135 m - 25 x Kentish cob and 25 x Cosford ( my suggestion) ● Crab apple and fruit rows 115 m !0 x crab apples at 10 m spacing with 8 fruit bushes in between 90 fruit bushes, 45 xBlackcurrant 45 xGooseberry Hinnonmaki https://kentishcobnutsassociation.org.uk/ more information on growing and sourcing Cobnuts

Appendix 3 How to make a no dig bed FIrst cover the area with a silage sheet to kill off the green manures, then use a broadfork to loosen the soil. Apply thick layers of municipal green waste ( we get ours from COastal organics in Exeter - its free but you have to pay to have it delivered). This keeps the weeds down and the moisture in. They are 75 cm wide with 35 cm for paths in between. Ours are 20 m long. Once a crop is finished we use a pedestrian flail on the BCS tractor ( pedestrian tractor) to cut the crop down and put it back into the soil We then Broadfork, pile on the organic matter and start again. October till March it is left with no crops to prevent compaction and we put either a green manure down or the silage sheet again.

Appendix 4 Perennial Herbs for Dye, Medicine and Cosmetics Lavender, Mugwort, Meadowsweet, Echinacea, Feverfew, Chamomile, St Johns Wort, (Garlic in vegetable beds) Valerian. Lemon Balm, LEmon Verbena. Manuka / Tea Tree. Ginkgo tree Dye Plants; Nettle, Woad, Madder, Dyers coreopsis, Weld, Ladies Bedstraw, Hollyhocks Bay Devonshire Lavender and Herbs - wholesale nursery but if you buy enough they will sell to you.

125 sq m in total. My Suggestion; ● 2 x Bay, 2 x Ginko, 2 x Manuka ● 10 x all the other plants plus the perennial culinary herbs (20 different plants in total) gives you plenty of room to plant up and then develop the space over time. Some plants such as lavender and culinary herbs will be more useful so you could get more of those. This will also look lovely and attract lots of bees.

Appendix 5 Soft Fruit Rhubarb - Timperley Early or Victoria Strawberries - Florence is very robust giving large crops of delicious strawberries replant every 4-5 years Raspberries - Tulameen with posts and wires and Autumn Bliss Autumn fruiting variety that does not need wires Blackberry - Loch Ness thornless variety does need wires Grapes - Boskoop glory does need posts and wires Blueberry - Chandler - you can make the soil more acidic for these by putting coffee grounds around the roots. All from Plumridge nursery or FP Matthews

My Suggestion

● 1 x 80 m Grapes, ● 1 x Blackberries or Tayberries ● 1 x blueberry and other berries / currants ● 3x70m Autumn Raspberries ● 3x60 Raspberries ● 3x50 Strawberries (need moving every 4 years so plant 50% at a time) ● 2x45 1 x Rhubarb 1 x 1 x strawberry

Appendix 6 Culinary Herbs Perennial Culinary herbs; Rosemary, Thyme, Tarragon, Chives, mint (Devon Herbs) (These also could go in the perennial herb garden for ease of management and as they also double up as cosmetic and medicinal herbs source from Devonshire Lavender and Herbs Annual Culinary Herbs; Parsley, Coriander, Basil ( tunnel) dill, calendula, borage, nasturtium. ( Seeds vital seeds or the Seed Co-operative)

100 sq m My Suggestion;

Appendix 7 Chickens We create mobile chicken houses from a Hay trailer readily available on Facebook market place, and then buy a metal shed from ebay and then modify them with a side entrance for the chickens, and roosting bars. The manure falls through the bottom onto the soil. The chickens stocking rate is 4 per square meter of house, so we have a 3x4 m that houses about 50 hens. Each hen lays 250-300 eggs per year depending upon the breed. We use white leghorn. There are lots of breeds listed with Organic pullets, based in Exeter and Ben could talk you what breed would work well for you. www.organicpullets.co.uk They eat Organic layers pellets that we buy in, and the green manures, and your grain.

Appendix 8 - Orchard Fruit trees on semi vigorous rootstocks from the mixture below; Apples; 10 of Discovery, Saturn, Red Windsor, Fiesta, Ashmead's Kernel, Elstar,Egremont Russet, Belle of Boskoop, Bramely, Newton Wonder. Pears; x 2 Conference Plums; x 8 2 of each Czar, Belle du louvaine, Opal, Marjories Seedling. Quince; x 2 Vranya or Any Medlar x 1 Nottingham Cherry x2 morello cherry Plumridge nursery or FP Matthews and Adams Apples 40-50 trees in total 5 m between rows and either 3m between trees or 4m, depending upon if you want it to feel like a scattered orchard or more or a sense of distinct rows.

My Suggestion; 3 x nutting sweet chestnut for the field 3 x morello cherries for the field 20 x plums, 5 each of Czar, Victoria, Belle Du Louvaine, Marjories seedling 4 x pears conference 12-22 apples - 2 x discovery, 6 x saturn, 6 x Fiesta or Elstar, 6 x Ashmeads kernel, 2 x Bramley. 2 x quince Vranya 2 x medlar nottingham

Appendix 9 - Grains Winter wheats are sown in October and harvested July/ August. These are better for the soil, but the gluten levels tend to be lower. We have access to 2 x population winter wheats the YQ developed by Martin Wolfe and a population wheat from Somerset. We can give you seeds from each next autumn. Spring wheats tend to be higher in gluten and we are growing a miluka paragon mix next spring, this can be ordered organically from Copes, or we can add some on to your order. They go in at a rate of 100-130 g / acre. Buckwheat - Harpe is the Breton Variety good for the South West, Seeds can be sourced from Hodmedods or Tim Westwell might let you have some of his seed. They can be harvested by a bar scythe or by hand scythe, and put into stooks for drying.

After that the process is; Threshing - small scale thresher Pedal powered thresher information via facebook.com cambridge.cropshare/photos They bought one from China I believe. Drying to 14 % moisture ( you need a moisture meter) this can be done with spikes that blow air through the grains. Cleaning. The cleaning can be done by SW seeds that have a mobile cleaner but your amount might be too small for them to turn up. We used to take our grain to another farm so it could be done together.

Milling - we have a small mill for sale for £3000, that used to belong to Grown in Totnes. Or others can be found online. Check out the USA “NEw American Mills” and Maine Grain” to get a flavour of what is happening in the USA around fresh grains.

Oats will need dehulling and then flaking, the oat groats can be stored whole and then flaked as and when needed as they will deteriorate once flaked overall two month period.

Alternatively you could take the grain to a small scale processor like Dartington Mill and have that done there !

I have attached some details of small scale processing equipment if there was scope to set up small processing co-operative in your area. LEADER funding will pay for 40% of this. FYI https://projects.sare.org/sare_project/one16-277/ https://www.loafoftheland.org/

A bit of bedtime reading - Organic Cereal and Pulse Production - Steven Briggs

27 walnut trees

Appendix 10 Woodland Trees Coppiced sweet chestnut Standard sweet chestnut, Coppice hazel, Oaks Alder Bird cherry For in fill, edges and biodiversity add in some; Hawthorn Rowan Whitebeam Holly Spindle ( have a look at what is growing next door and copy those species )

10,000 -11,750 square meters or 1-1.3 hectares

Appendix 11 Your tree nursery Tree seeds grow better with the right mycelium around their roots. To this end collect leaf litter and soil from the adjoining woodland and spread it over your new tree nursery bed. You can collect tree seeds this time of the year. They need either scarification or stratification. That is some sort of abrasion or cold treatment to break dormancy. This Is quite complex so my suggestion is to collect the seeds then look up what is needed on the internet. They will be ready to sow in spring at high densities in the tree nursery bed, It might be the squirrels turn up and eat some of them but you can cover the bed with netting to try to reduce this or just enjoy them as biodiversity. Or you can eat them !

Sourcing; Woodland Trust ( free) Your own Tree nursery Plumbridge nursery Wisbech (get a catalogue) or FP Matthews have a fantastic website. OR Adams Apples all have good quality and reasonably priced plants.

You need to order soon.