The Winter 2016 No.37 ORGANICThe journal of the Organic GROWER Growers Alliance IN THIS ISSUE Schofield scribbles.....................................2 News .........................................................3 European Copper Conference ..................5 Nature note: Hip hip ................................6 Desert Island grower: Hugh Collins .......7 Organic growers in 70s West Wales .......8 Planning matters - Part 2 ......................12 Seeds of inspiration in Germany ...........14 Seed Co-operative share launch .............15 Managing soils using organic materials .. 16 Obituary: Bill Mollison .........................19 Sea buckthorn - a new organic crop? ....20 Book review: Back to Earth ....................22 Growing Dutch ......................................24 Just farm labour .....................................26 Growing pea shoots ................................28 Letter: Onions direct ..............................29 Growing carrots in tunnels ...................30 Book review: Organic Revolutionary ....31 2016 growing season review ..................32 Mental health and organic growing ......34 Thrift Farm: Social & therapeutic .........36 Juliette de Bairacli-Levy .........................38 Events .....................................................40 Page 1 - The Organic Grower - No 37 Winter 2016 meeting the EOF wrote a letter to George Eustice MP, Minister of State at Defra, outlining the immediate concerns. The group Schofield scribbles asked for reassurance that there will be continued recognition for organic farming and growing and that on-going support will Keep the soil in organic continue, acknowledging the public good delivered by organic production. The group is also pushing to have the benefits of Autumn is a quieter time in Pilling allowing agroforestry systems recognised and this is slowly happening me to attend a round of meetings as well as within an established All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on catching up on the paperwork that always Agroforestry. We are hoping that these initiatives will lead to a gets put on the backburner during busy useful engagement with Defra when we eventually leave Europe. summer months. September and October At the end of September, Debra and I went to Hardwick to were predominantly dry months here, which allowed us celebrate Tolly’s 40th anniversary year and the launch of his new to get a few non-essential but important jobs done on the nursery. book. The day was well attended and the weather behaved itself. As many of you will be aware, the hydroponic issue in the States A party atmosphere prevailed and we were all wined and dined has rumbled on all summer. This culminated in a submission in true Hardwick style. I have been going to Hardwick since Tolly from the OGA committee regarding certification of essentially first started there and it is always a pleasure. hydroponic operations, to the USA National Organic Standards So for all of you who are planning to go to the ORC Organic Board (NOSB) who had asked for comment on the National Producers’ Conference, I shall see you there and will end by Organic Program (a regulatory program housed within the USDA wishing you all a peaceful and calm winter. Agricultural Marketing Service.) According to my contact Dave Chapman, a tomato grower from Vermont, these operations are Alan Schofield, Chairman Organic Growers Alliance gearing up as they now have certification to supply the hungry market in the USA with soft fruit and salad products. The NOSB Sign-up to the Seed Co-op Share Offer! meeting is at the end of November and I will keep you informed of We enclose a share offer prospectus with this magazine and any outcomes that I become aware of. The OGA will be exploring encourage as many OGA members to join up as possible. Let’s this issue further with a session on “Keeping the Soil in Organic” build a movement of seed growers! at the ORC producer conference on 1st and 2nd February at Aston University in Birmingham. Since the last time I wrote, I’ve attended a Soil Association Farmer and Grower Board, a meeting of IFOAM UK group and the English Organic Forum (EOF). In addition to informing all UK Certifying Bodies, I have made these groups aware of what is happening in the USA relating to the hydroponic issue. The frightening part of all of this is that under the 2012 USA/EU trade agreement, NOP certification is now seen as equivalent to the EU Regulation. Therefore, products from these organic hydroponic operations could be exported to the EU market including into the UK and legally be sold as organic produce. At Elsoms we have a superb However, the main item on the agendas of all these meetings I attended has been the UK position following the result of the selection of organic and referendum to leave Europe. We have had some assurance from non-chemically treated seed, Defra that the EU Regulation will be adopted into UK law and will still form the backbone of organic certification. This will be fine in backed up by an experienced the short term of two-three years, but beyond that we are going team of specialists. to have to do some serious thinking on the future of UK organic certification. Presumably, we will have no influence on the EU Regulation once we have left, but no doubt we will have to retain For more information please contact our equivalence to enable trade in organic produce to continue Keely Watson or visit our website: within the European Union. At the EOF meeting at the end of October it was decided that in t 01775 715000 w elsoms.com order to get our voice heard within Defra, a collective approach to communication would be the best way forward. Following that Cover photo: Sea Buckthorn (SethPascoe) Page 2 - The Organic Grower - No 37 Winter 2016 OGA and general news OGA offers Affiliate Membership the long-term aim is to help foster a world in which people can earn their livelihood from the land without denying one to their to food sovereignty organisations children and grandchildren. With the changes brought by Brexit in the wings it is now more LandBase are currently working on a programme of courses important than ever that all organisations that represent the based on information taken from their survey, conducted over the food sovereignty movement and small producers work together. Summer. One of the first courses will beMaking a successful Market The Organic Growers Alliance has been forging links with Garden in April 2017 with tutors Charles Dowding, Hugh Chapman organisations such as the Land Workers Alliance and the CSA and Ashley Wheeler (all OGA members and contributors to this Network UK for some time. Organic Grower). To strengthen those links the OGA has created a new ‘Affiliate’ LandBase will officially launch at the Oxford Real Farming membership package that provides some key OGA benefits to Conference in January 2017. members of these organisations at the reduced price of £10.00/ year. The offer includes www.landbase.org.uk • An electronic copy of the ‘Organic Grower’ Small ads • Website benefits including access to back copies of the magazine, the forum and technical articles Packing Line 3ph s/s with u/slung waste line transport arranged cost new in 2013 19k - £8k+VAT EJ&A GUERIN, BRICKYARD • Entry to OGA events FARM TA7 0DQ 07850 495881 Tony Little, OGA Membership secretary said ‘We hope that this Two Fridges complete, 3ph&1ph, Total 71 pallets. Largest has offer will broaden our membership base. It is aimed at people who humidifier.Can be used separately. £6000+vat for the two. EJ&A have an interest in organic growing, but for whom it is not the GUERIN, BRICKYARD FARM TA7 0DQ 07850 495881. focus of their business and therefore may not wish to take out full membership.’ X5 wands for a Hamilton Handy seeder. Offers accepted, tray size and hole size written on the wands. Contact: accounts@ The LWA have also agreed to reciprocate and offer a discounted jacksveg.co.uk membership to OGA members. We will circulate details on this soon, to members. Looking for an opportunity We look forward to welcoming new members into the organisation Pannel organic is a successful 6 acre market garden with a well established customer base in the South East. My lease is not Introducing LandBase being renewed and I am looking for an alternative opportunity LandBase is a new organisation, supported by from spring 2018 onwards, employed or self employed. I have the Land Workers Alliance. LandBase seeks to a background as an organic market trader and have 15 years provide opportunities to those wishing to involve experience in organic market gardening. Ideally I am looking themselves in land-based activities on a range of for land to rent/buy with accommodation but realise this is not levels, and to close the gap between the growing interest in rural a set up easy to come by so all opportunities will be gratefully living and skills, and the lack of structured learning facilities for new considered. Send me an e-mail and I will send you my letter of entrants to small-scale food production in the UK. LandBase will introduction. Metske van der Laan. Mobile: 07958388071 provide experience-led, affordable, long-and short-term courses for Start-up grower opportunity motivated land-workers, both current and aspiring. Cotesbach Gardens CIC. 1.4 acre historic walled garden in SE To encourage this groundswell of interest, LandBase proposes Leics. Ideal for couple committed to creating local sustainable a flexible programme of modules tailored to individual needs, food sources. Organic growing