#organicfarming — Public Fediverse posts

Simple but clever design

"Scots College Year 12 student Daniel Cox has reached the final round of the Australian Science and Engineering Fair (AUSSEF) with an innovative project that uses heliostats to concentrate sunlight and kill weeds – eliminating the need for harsh pesticides"

#organicfarming

https://www.industryupdate.com.au/article/%E2%80%9C-future-stem-bright%E2%80%99-year-12-student-develops-ingenious-solution

Simple but clever design

"Scots College Year 12 student Daniel Cox has reached the final round of the Australian Science and Engineering Fair (AUSSEF) with an innovative project that uses heliostats to concentrate sunlight and kill weeds – eliminating the need for harsh pesticides"

#organicfarming

https://www.industryupdate.com.au/article/%E2%80%9C-future-stem-bright%E2%80%99-year-12-student-develops-ingenious-solution

The care, love, and hard work we have invested in our vegetable garden are beginning to show.

Here is a short video of the cabbage section. It has been 3 ½ weeks since we planted them together with the students of Jerome Academy.https://mas.to/@sustainable_schools/116834866866008089

Since day one, we have been using organic manure, along with mulching and regular watering.

Take a close look at the leaves. What do you notice? Do you have any suggestions on what else we can do to help them thrive more natural?

We believe they are doing well, but we would love to learn from your experience. Your thoughts are most welcome!

#GreenSchoolsWeek #sustainability #gardening #organicfarming #schoolgardens

The care, love, and hard work we have invested in our vegetable garden are beginning to show.

Here is a short video of the cabbage section. It has been 3 ½ weeks since we planted them together with the students of Jerome Academy.https://mas.to/@sustainable_schools/116834866866008089

Since day one, we have been using organic manure, along with mulching and regular watering.

Take a close look at the leaves. What do you notice? Do you have any suggestions on what else we can do to help them thrive more natural?

We believe they are doing well, but we would love to learn from your experience. Your thoughts are most welcome!

#GreenSchoolsWeek #sustainability #gardening #organicfarming #schoolgardens

The care, love, and hard work we have invested in our vegetable garden are beginning to show.

Here is a short video of the cabbage section. It has been 3 ½ weeks since we planted them together with the students of Jerome Academy.https://mas.to/@sustainable_schools/116834866866008089

Since day one, we have been using organic manure, along with mulching and regular watering.

Take a close look at the leaves. What do you notice? Do you have any suggestions on what else we can do to help them thrive more natural?

We believe they are doing well, but we would love to learn from your experience. Your thoughts are most welcome!

#GreenSchoolsWeek #sustainability #gardening #organicfarming #schoolgardens

The care, love, and hard work we have invested in our vegetable garden are beginning to show.

Here is a short video of the cabbage section. It has been 3 ½ weeks since we planted them together with the students of Jerome Academy.https://mas.to/@sustainable_schools/116834866866008089

Since day one, we have been using organic manure, along with mulching and regular watering.

Take a close look at the leaves. What do you notice? Do you have any suggestions on what else we can do to help them thrive more natural?

We believe they are doing well, but we would love to learn from your experience. Your thoughts are most welcome!

#GreenSchoolsWeek #sustainability #gardening #organicfarming #schoolgardens

The care, love, and hard work we have invested in our vegetable garden are beginning to show.

Here is a short video of the cabbage section. It has been 3 ½ weeks since we planted them together with the students of Jerome Academy.https://mas.to/@sustainable_schools/116834866866008089

Since day one, we have been using organic manure, along with mulching and regular watering.

Take a close look at the leaves. What do you notice? Do you have any suggestions on what else we can do to help them thrive more natural?

We believe they are doing well, but we would love to learn from your experience. Your thoughts are most welcome!

#GreenSchoolsWeek #sustainability #gardening #organicfarming #schoolgardens

Bee farming is more than honey production. Healthy bee populations support pollination, strengthen biodiversity, and help improve agricultural productivity.

Read more: https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/honey-bee-farming/

#BeeFarming #SustainableAgriculture #OrganicFarming

Can hydroponic farming truly be called organic? The answer depends on certification standards, growing methods, and how nutrients are supplied. Explore the facts behind this growing debate.

Read more: https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/hydroponic-farming-can-it-truly-be-organic/

#Hydroponics #OrganicFarming #SustainableAgriculture

A Gujarat farmer left the diamond business to embrace natural farming. His sustainable agriculture model now inspires thousands across Botad district. https://english.mathrubhumi.com/multimedia/videos/gujarat-farmer-leaves-diamond-business-for-natural-farming-hkk97vbj?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Gujarat #OrganicFarming #DiamondBusiness

A Gujarat farmer left the diamond business to embrace natural farming. His sustainable agriculture model now inspires thousands across Botad district. https://english.mathrubhumi.com/multimedia/videos/gujarat-farmer-leaves-diamond-business-for-natural-farming-hkk97vbj?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Gujarat #OrganicFarming #DiamondBusiness

A Gujarat farmer left the diamond business to embrace natural farming. His sustainable agriculture model now inspires thousands across Botad district. https://english.mathrubhumi.com/multimedia/videos/gujarat-farmer-leaves-diamond-business-for-natural-farming-hkk97vbj?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Gujarat #OrganicFarming #DiamondBusiness

A Gujarat farmer left the diamond business to embrace natural farming. His sustainable agriculture model now inspires thousands across Botad district. https://english.mathrubhumi.com/multimedia/videos/gujarat-farmer-leaves-diamond-business-for-natural-farming-hkk97vbj?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Gujarat #OrganicFarming #DiamondBusiness

Switching to organic farming isn't just good for the environment—it can also improve long-term farm profitability through healthier soils, lower input costs, and growing consumer demand.

Read more: https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/the-economic-benefits-of-organic-farming/

#OrganicFarming #SustainableAgriculture #Agriculture

Smart irrigation is helping organic farmers use water more efficiently while improving crop health and sustainability. Learn how modern irrigation is transforming agriculture.

Read more: https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/smart-irrigation-systems/

#OrganicFarming #SmartIrrigation

Fast & Skillful Paddy Seedling Bundling! 🌱 #shorts https://www.allforgardening.com/1885198/fast-skillful-paddy-seedling-bundling-%f0%9f%8c%b1-shorts/ #agriculture #farmer #farming #gardening #GardeningTrends #kheti #krishan #OrganicFarming #paddy #PaddySeedling #reels #shorts #trending #Vegetable #VillageLife #ViralVideo #YTSHORTS

Fast & Skillful Paddy Seedling Bundling! 🌱 #shorts https://www.allforgardening.com/1885198/fast-skillful-paddy-seedling-bundling-%f0%9f%8c%b1-shorts/ #agriculture #farmer #farming #gardening #GardeningTrends #kheti #krishan #OrganicFarming #paddy #PaddySeedling #reels #shorts #trending #Vegetable #VillageLife #ViralVideo #YTSHORTS

Coisas boas desta vida são como mangarás: inesperadamente podem acontecer.
(Bananeira, Musa x paradisiaca)

#AgriculturaUrbana #produzaseualimento
#AbelhasemFerrao #Abelhas #Meliponas
#Agroecologia #Agrofloresta #AgriculturaOrganica
#Cogumelos #Fungos #Gaia #PANC
#AgrotoxicoMata #TransgenicoMata #PoenoRotulo

#UrbanFarming #growyourfood
#StinglessBees #Bees
#Agroecology #Agroforestry #OrganicFarming
#Fungi #WoodWideWeb #GoOrganic
#AgropoisonKills #GMOkills #noGMO #LabelIt

Can precision agriculture and organic farming work together? Modern tools are helping farmers improve productivity while using resources more efficiently. Learn more.

🔗 https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/precision-agriculture-in-organic-farming/

#PrecisionAgriculture #OrganicFarming #AgriTech

https://gofund.me/8da0ff4a0
We need your help to secure more land for the Byerima communities. More land means more food for hungry families and space to create an Environmental & Food Production Training Centre, where people can learn sustainable farming and protect the environment. Every donation brings us closer. Please donate or share.
#foodsecurity #climatechange #climatecrisis #gardening #climatejustice #hunger #foodproduction #permaculture #organicfarming #economy #nutrition #environment

https://gofund.me/8da0ff4a0
We need your help to secure more land for the Byerima communities. More land means more food for hungry families and space to create an Environmental & Food Production Training Centre, where people can learn sustainable farming and protect the environment. Every donation brings us closer. Please donate or share.
#foodsecurity #climatechange #climatecrisis #gardening #climatejustice #hunger #foodproduction #permaculture #organicfarming #economy #nutrition #environment

https://gofund.me/8da0ff4a0
We need your help to secure more land for the Byerima communities. More land means more food for hungry families and space to create an Environmental & Food Production Training Centre, where people can learn sustainable farming and protect the environment. Every donation brings us closer. Please donate or share.
#foodsecurity #climatechange #climatecrisis #gardening #climatejustice #hunger #foodproduction #permaculture #organicfarming #economy #nutrition #environment

https://gofund.me/8da0ff4a0
We need your help to secure more land for the Byerima communities. More land means more food for hungry families and space to create an Environmental & Food Production Training Centre, where people can learn sustainable farming and protect the environment. Every donation brings us closer. Please donate or share.
#foodsecurity #climatechange #climatecrisis #gardening #climatejustice #hunger #foodproduction #permaculture #organicfarming #economy #nutrition #environment

https://gofund.me/8da0ff4a0
We need your help to secure more land for the Byerima communities. More land means more food for hungry families and space to create an Environmental & Food Production Training Centre, where people can learn sustainable farming and protect the environment. Every donation brings us closer. Please donate or share.
#foodsecurity #climatechange #climatecrisis #gardening #climatejustice #hunger #foodproduction #permaculture #organicfarming #economy #nutrition #environment

Organic farming has its challenges, but the right knowledge and practices can help overcome them. Explore the key disadvantages and practical solutions.

https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/disadvantages-of-organic-farming/

#OrganicFarming #SustainableAgriculture #Farming

AI and robotics are transforming agriculture with smarter farming, better efficiency, and sustainable practices. Discover how technology is shaping the future of organic farming.

https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/ai-in-agriculture-revolutionizing-organic-farming/

#AI #Agriculture #OrganicFarming

AI and robotics are transforming agriculture with smarter farming, better efficiency, and sustainable practices. Discover how technology is shaping the future of organic farming.

https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/ai-in-agriculture-revolutionizing-organic-farming/

#AI #Agriculture #OrganicFarming

AI and robotics are transforming agriculture with smarter farming, better efficiency, and sustainable practices. Discover how technology is shaping the future of organic farming.

https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/ai-in-agriculture-revolutionizing-organic-farming/

#AI #Agriculture #OrganicFarming

AI and robotics are transforming agriculture with smarter farming, better efficiency, and sustainable practices. Discover how technology is shaping the future of organic farming.

https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/ai-in-agriculture-revolutionizing-organic-farming/

#AI #Agriculture #OrganicFarming

Organic farming or conventional farming? Learn the key differences, advantages, disadvantages, and which approach is best for sustainable agriculture. Read more

https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/organic-farming-vs-conventional-farming/

#OrganicFarming #SustainableAgriculture #Farming

Organic farming is evolving with smarter techniques, sustainable practices, and technology-driven solutions. Explore the top trends shaping the future of agriculture in 2025.

🔗 https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/top-trends-to-focus-in-organic-farming/

#OrganicFarming #SustainableAgriculture #AgriInnovation

Biopesticides are helping farmers reduce chemical use while supporting healthier crops, better soil, and more sustainable farming practices. Learn how they are shaping the future of agriculture.

🔗 https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/biopesticides/

#Biopesticides #OrganicFarming #SustainableAgriculture

Austrian Wine Makers: Five Vintners Crafting Excellence

The roots of wine-making in Austria run deep: records documenting the country’s first foray into production date back…
#Austria #AT #Europe #Europa #EU #austria #Austrianwine #biodynamic #Burgenland #christophneumeister #clemensstrobl #Europeanwine #fredloimer #grünerveltliner #JuttaAmbrositsch #LowerAustria #Nachrichten #organicfarming #Organicwine #Österreich #Styria #VIENNA #winemaking #WineTourism
https://www.europesays.com/3128313/

Austrian Wine Makers: Five Vintners Crafting Excellence https://www.byteseu.com/2192880/ #Austria #AustrianWine #biodynamic #Burgenland #ChristophNeumeister #ClemensStrobl #EuropeanWine #FredLoimer #GrünerVeltliner #JuttaAmbrositsch #LowerAustria #OrganicFarming #OrganicWine #Styria #Vienna #WineTourism #WineMaking

Portugal wine revival: Alentejo’s returning vintners

The space between port and cheap table wine is…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Portuguesewine #alentejo #annakristinajorgensen #danielniepoort #miguelbarroso #organicfarming #Organicwine #Portugal #portuguesecraftsmanship #portuguesewinemakers #returningtalent #viticulture #Wine #Wine(Industry) #WinefromPortugal #winemaking #WineofPortugal #winetourism
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2722513/portugal-wine-revival-alentejos-returning-vintners/

Portugal wine revival: Alentejo’s returning vintners

The space between port and cheap table wine is…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Portuguesewine #alentejo #annakristinajorgensen #danielniepoort #miguelbarroso #organicfarming #Organicwine #Portugal #portuguesecraftsmanship #portuguesewinemakers #returningtalent #viticulture #Wine #Wine(Industry) #WinefromPortugal #winemaking #WineofPortugal #winetourism
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2722513/portugal-wine-revival-alentejos-returning-vintners/

Portugal wine revival: Alentejo’s returning vintners

The space between port and cheap table wine is…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Portuguesewine #alentejo #annakristinajorgensen #danielniepoort #miguelbarroso #organicfarming #Organicwine #Portugal #portuguesecraftsmanship #portuguesewinemakers #returningtalent #viticulture #Wine #Wine(Industry) #WinefromPortugal #winemaking #WineofPortugal #winetourism
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2722513/portugal-wine-revival-alentejos-returning-vintners/

Portugal wine revival: Alentejo’s returning vintners

The space between port and cheap table wine is…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Portuguesewine #alentejo #annakristinajorgensen #danielniepoort #miguelbarroso #organicfarming #Organicwine #Portugal #portuguesecraftsmanship #portuguesewinemakers #returningtalent #viticulture #Wine #Wine(Industry) #WinefromPortugal #winemaking #WineofPortugal #winetourism
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2722513/portugal-wine-revival-alentejos-returning-vintners/

Portugal wine revival: Alentejo’s returning vintners https://www.diningandcooking.com/2722513/portugal-wine-revival-alentejos-returning-vintners/ #alentejo #AnnaKristinaJorgensen #DanielNiepoort #MiguelBarroso #OrganicFarming #OrganicWine #Portugal #PortugueseCraftsmanship #PortugueseWine #PortugueseWinemakers #ReturningTalent #viticulture #Wine #Wine(Industry) #WineFromPortugal #WineMaking #WineOfPortugal #WineTourism #winemaking

Portugal wine revival: Alentejo’s returning vintners https://www.diningandcooking.com/2722513/portugal-wine-revival-alentejos-returning-vintners/ #alentejo #AnnaKristinaJorgensen #DanielNiepoort #MiguelBarroso #OrganicFarming #OrganicWine #Portugal #PortugueseCraftsmanship #PortugueseWine #PortugueseWinemakers #ReturningTalent #viticulture #Wine #Wine(Industry) #WineFromPortugal #WineMaking #WineOfPortugal #WineTourism #winemaking

Portugal wine revival: Alentejo’s returning vintners https://www.diningandcooking.com/2722513/portugal-wine-revival-alentejos-returning-vintners/ #alentejo #AnnaKristinaJorgensen #DanielNiepoort #MiguelBarroso #OrganicFarming #OrganicWine #Portugal #PortugueseCraftsmanship #PortugueseWine #PortugueseWinemakers #ReturningTalent #viticulture #Wine #Wine(Industry) #WineFromPortugal #WineMaking #WineOfPortugal #WineTourism #winemaking

‘Doves and food and fun’: the fight to save a farming pioneer

#Wakelyns needs £1.2m to save its diverse organic crops and ‘micro’ enterprises including a bakery and honeybee hives

"It’s almost a political project about land use – maximising the #sustainable productivity of the land." - David Wolfe

by Patrick Barkham
Tue 30 Jun 2026 06.00 EDT

"The aerial view of Wakelyns matches the experience of visiting it at ground level: in a region dominated by prairie fields of industrial agriculture, here lies a vivid green lung of land. Its sounds and sights in summer – the sleepy purr of the turtle dove, the vivid pink flash of a bullfinch – have vanished from most of the British countryside.

"But Wakelyns is not a nature reserve – it is a thriving farm, a 'living laboratory' for #agroforestry and a hub for innovation and business. It is also under threat, and its owners must raise £1.2m to turn it into a charitable community benefit society.

"The 56-acre former pig farm in Suffolk was bought by Martin and Ann Wolfe in 1992. Martin was a government plant pathologist who wanted to do more innovative research than his employers had allowed. Seeking to farm crops with fewer pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, he created one of the first agroforestry schemes in Europe.

"Turning productive cereal-growing fields into 56 narrow 'alleys' of farmed land between rows of planted trees had been 'widely regarded as mad', said their son, #DavidWolfe, an environmental lawyer who now runs Wakelyns with his wife, Amanda Illing. 'The farmer who sold the land to them said: ‘You’ve ruined a perfectly good wheat field’.'

"Today, Wakelyns is an inspirational example of agroforestry, which has become official government policy. The government’s carbon delivery plan wants to turn 10% of arable land into agroforestry by 2050, with financial incentives to encourage more farmers to transition into something like Wakelyns.

"The lush trees that divide the alleys are all crops. After more than 30 years, some are tall trees for timber, while others provide #apples, #cherries and #plums. The most lucrative tree crop is #hazel, which is coppiced on a seven-year cycle to produce high-quality hazel stakes for traditional hedgelayers. Each stake is sold for £1.40 and Wakelyns cannot grow enough.

The farm’s motto is '#ResilienceThroughDiversity'. It pioneered the first commercial #lentil growing in the UK, and is still the country’s only commercial #BlackLentil grower. 'If Britain is serious about wanting to feed itself, we should stop growing oilseed rape for biodiesel and grow #pulses,' said Wolfe.

"Wakelyns’ diversity encompasses a uniquely genetically diverse population of wheat and multiple varieties of apple tree. When big orchards, which typically grow a narrow range of apple varieties, complain of a terrible harvest, a mixed orchard such as Wakelyns’ is fine, because every year some varieties thrive. #Monocultural farmers, says Wolfe, 'put it all on red or black'.

"Wolfe and Illing took over the farm in 2020 after Wolfe’s parents died. To the innovative farming principles, they added 'enterprise stacking', bringing people back to the land via a series of symbiotic relationships."

Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/30/suffolk-agroforestry-farm-wakelyns-community-ownership-survive

#SolarPunkSunday #Trees #UK #MutualAid #HempTextiles #FoodSecurity #FoodForests #CropRotation #CropDiversity #OrganicFarming #SupportUKFarms #SupportLocalFarmers
#Polyculture not #Monoculture

‘Doves and food and fun’: the fight to save a farming pioneer

#Wakelyns needs £1.2m to save its diverse organic crops and ‘micro’ enterprises including a bakery and honeybee hives

"It’s almost a political project about land use – maximising the #sustainable productivity of the land." - David Wolfe

by Patrick Barkham
Tue 30 Jun 2026 06.00 EDT

"The aerial view of Wakelyns matches the experience of visiting it at ground level: in a region dominated by prairie fields of industrial agriculture, here lies a vivid green lung of land. Its sounds and sights in summer – the sleepy purr of the turtle dove, the vivid pink flash of a bullfinch – have vanished from most of the British countryside.

"But Wakelyns is not a nature reserve – it is a thriving farm, a 'living laboratory' for #agroforestry and a hub for innovation and business. It is also under threat, and its owners must raise £1.2m to turn it into a charitable community benefit society.

"The 56-acre former pig farm in Suffolk was bought by Martin and Ann Wolfe in 1992. Martin was a government plant pathologist who wanted to do more innovative research than his employers had allowed. Seeking to farm crops with fewer pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, he created one of the first agroforestry schemes in Europe.

"Turning productive cereal-growing fields into 56 narrow 'alleys' of farmed land between rows of planted trees had been 'widely regarded as mad', said their son, #DavidWolfe, an environmental lawyer who now runs Wakelyns with his wife, Amanda Illing. 'The farmer who sold the land to them said: ‘You’ve ruined a perfectly good wheat field’.'

"Today, Wakelyns is an inspirational example of agroforestry, which has become official government policy. The government’s carbon delivery plan wants to turn 10% of arable land into agroforestry by 2050, with financial incentives to encourage more farmers to transition into something like Wakelyns.

"The lush trees that divide the alleys are all crops. After more than 30 years, some are tall trees for timber, while others provide #apples, #cherries and #plums. The most lucrative tree crop is #hazel, which is coppiced on a seven-year cycle to produce high-quality hazel stakes for traditional hedgelayers. Each stake is sold for £1.40 and Wakelyns cannot grow enough.

The farm’s motto is '#ResilienceThroughDiversity'. It pioneered the first commercial #lentil growing in the UK, and is still the country’s only commercial #BlackLentil grower. 'If Britain is serious about wanting to feed itself, we should stop growing oilseed rape for biodiesel and grow #pulses,' said Wolfe.

"Wakelyns’ diversity encompasses a uniquely genetically diverse population of wheat and multiple varieties of apple tree. When big orchards, which typically grow a narrow range of apple varieties, complain of a terrible harvest, a mixed orchard such as Wakelyns’ is fine, because every year some varieties thrive. #Monocultural farmers, says Wolfe, 'put it all on red or black'.

"Wolfe and Illing took over the farm in 2020 after Wolfe’s parents died. To the innovative farming principles, they added 'enterprise stacking', bringing people back to the land via a series of symbiotic relationships."

Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/30/suffolk-agroforestry-farm-wakelyns-community-ownership-survive

#SolarPunkSunday #Trees #UK #MutualAid #HempTextiles #FoodSecurity #FoodForests #CropRotation #CropDiversity #OrganicFarming #SupportUKFarms #SupportLocalFarmers
#Polyculture not #Monoculture

‘Doves and food and fun’: the fight to save a farming pioneer

#Wakelyns needs £1.2m to save its diverse organic crops and ‘micro’ enterprises including a bakery and honeybee hives

"It’s almost a political project about land use – maximising the #sustainable productivity of the land." - David Wolfe

by Patrick Barkham
Tue 30 Jun 2026 06.00 EDT

"The aerial view of Wakelyns matches the experience of visiting it at ground level: in a region dominated by prairie fields of industrial agriculture, here lies a vivid green lung of land. Its sounds and sights in summer – the sleepy purr of the turtle dove, the vivid pink flash of a bullfinch – have vanished from most of the British countryside.

"But Wakelyns is not a nature reserve – it is a thriving farm, a 'living laboratory' for #agroforestry and a hub for innovation and business. It is also under threat, and its owners must raise £1.2m to turn it into a charitable community benefit society.

"The 56-acre former pig farm in Suffolk was bought by Martin and Ann Wolfe in 1992. Martin was a government plant pathologist who wanted to do more innovative research than his employers had allowed. Seeking to farm crops with fewer pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, he created one of the first agroforestry schemes in Europe.

"Turning productive cereal-growing fields into 56 narrow 'alleys' of farmed land between rows of planted trees had been 'widely regarded as mad', said their son, #DavidWolfe, an environmental lawyer who now runs Wakelyns with his wife, Amanda Illing. 'The farmer who sold the land to them said: ‘You’ve ruined a perfectly good wheat field’.'

"Today, Wakelyns is an inspirational example of agroforestry, which has become official government policy. The government’s carbon delivery plan wants to turn 10% of arable land into agroforestry by 2050, with financial incentives to encourage more farmers to transition into something like Wakelyns.

"The lush trees that divide the alleys are all crops. After more than 30 years, some are tall trees for timber, while others provide #apples, #cherries and #plums. The most lucrative tree crop is #hazel, which is coppiced on a seven-year cycle to produce high-quality hazel stakes for traditional hedgelayers. Each stake is sold for £1.40 and Wakelyns cannot grow enough.

The farm’s motto is '#ResilienceThroughDiversity'. It pioneered the first commercial #lentil growing in the UK, and is still the country’s only commercial #BlackLentil grower. 'If Britain is serious about wanting to feed itself, we should stop growing oilseed rape for biodiesel and grow #pulses,' said Wolfe.

"Wakelyns’ diversity encompasses a uniquely genetically diverse population of wheat and multiple varieties of apple tree. When big orchards, which typically grow a narrow range of apple varieties, complain of a terrible harvest, a mixed orchard such as Wakelyns’ is fine, because every year some varieties thrive. #Monocultural farmers, says Wolfe, 'put it all on red or black'.

"Wolfe and Illing took over the farm in 2020 after Wolfe’s parents died. To the innovative farming principles, they added 'enterprise stacking', bringing people back to the land via a series of symbiotic relationships."

Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/30/suffolk-agroforestry-farm-wakelyns-community-ownership-survive

#SolarPunkSunday #Trees #UK #MutualAid #HempTextiles #FoodSecurity #FoodForests #CropRotation #CropDiversity #OrganicFarming #SupportUKFarms #SupportLocalFarmers
#Polyculture not #Monoculture

‘Doves and food and fun’: the fight to save a farming pioneer

#Wakelyns needs £1.2m to save its diverse organic crops and ‘micro’ enterprises including a bakery and honeybee hives

"It’s almost a political project about land use – maximising the #sustainable productivity of the land." - David Wolfe

by Patrick Barkham
Tue 30 Jun 2026 06.00 EDT

"The aerial view of Wakelyns matches the experience of visiting it at ground level: in a region dominated by prairie fields of industrial agriculture, here lies a vivid green lung of land. Its sounds and sights in summer – the sleepy purr of the turtle dove, the vivid pink flash of a bullfinch – have vanished from most of the British countryside.

"But Wakelyns is not a nature reserve – it is a thriving farm, a 'living laboratory' for #agroforestry and a hub for innovation and business. It is also under threat, and its owners must raise £1.2m to turn it into a charitable community benefit society.

"The 56-acre former pig farm in Suffolk was bought by Martin and Ann Wolfe in 1992. Martin was a government plant pathologist who wanted to do more innovative research than his employers had allowed. Seeking to farm crops with fewer pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, he created one of the first agroforestry schemes in Europe.

"Turning productive cereal-growing fields into 56 narrow 'alleys' of farmed land between rows of planted trees had been 'widely regarded as mad', said their son, #DavidWolfe, an environmental lawyer who now runs Wakelyns with his wife, Amanda Illing. 'The farmer who sold the land to them said: ‘You’ve ruined a perfectly good wheat field’.'

"Today, Wakelyns is an inspirational example of agroforestry, which has become official government policy. The government’s carbon delivery plan wants to turn 10% of arable land into agroforestry by 2050, with financial incentives to encourage more farmers to transition into something like Wakelyns.

"The lush trees that divide the alleys are all crops. After more than 30 years, some are tall trees for timber, while others provide #apples, #cherries and #plums. The most lucrative tree crop is #hazel, which is coppiced on a seven-year cycle to produce high-quality hazel stakes for traditional hedgelayers. Each stake is sold for £1.40 and Wakelyns cannot grow enough.

The farm’s motto is '#ResilienceThroughDiversity'. It pioneered the first commercial #lentil growing in the UK, and is still the country’s only commercial #BlackLentil grower. 'If Britain is serious about wanting to feed itself, we should stop growing oilseed rape for biodiesel and grow #pulses,' said Wolfe.

"Wakelyns’ diversity encompasses a uniquely genetically diverse population of wheat and multiple varieties of apple tree. When big orchards, which typically grow a narrow range of apple varieties, complain of a terrible harvest, a mixed orchard such as Wakelyns’ is fine, because every year some varieties thrive. #Monocultural farmers, says Wolfe, 'put it all on red or black'.

"Wolfe and Illing took over the farm in 2020 after Wolfe’s parents died. To the innovative farming principles, they added 'enterprise stacking', bringing people back to the land via a series of symbiotic relationships."

Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/30/suffolk-agroforestry-farm-wakelyns-community-ownership-survive

#SolarPunkSunday #Trees #UK #MutualAid #HempTextiles #FoodSecurity #FoodForests #CropRotation #CropDiversity #OrganicFarming #SupportUKFarms #SupportLocalFarmers
#Polyculture not #Monoculture

‘Doves and food and fun’: the fight to save a farming pioneer

#Wakelyns needs £1.2m to save its diverse organic crops and ‘micro’ enterprises including a bakery and honeybee hives

"It’s almost a political project about land use – maximising the #sustainable productivity of the land." - David Wolfe

by Patrick Barkham
Tue 30 Jun 2026 06.00 EDT

"The aerial view of Wakelyns matches the experience of visiting it at ground level: in a region dominated by prairie fields of industrial agriculture, here lies a vivid green lung of land. Its sounds and sights in summer – the sleepy purr of the turtle dove, the vivid pink flash of a bullfinch – have vanished from most of the British countryside.

"But Wakelyns is not a nature reserve – it is a thriving farm, a 'living laboratory' for #agroforestry and a hub for innovation and business. It is also under threat, and its owners must raise £1.2m to turn it into a charitable community benefit society.

"The 56-acre former pig farm in Suffolk was bought by Martin and Ann Wolfe in 1992. Martin was a government plant pathologist who wanted to do more innovative research than his employers had allowed. Seeking to farm crops with fewer pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, he created one of the first agroforestry schemes in Europe.

"Turning productive cereal-growing fields into 56 narrow 'alleys' of farmed land between rows of planted trees had been 'widely regarded as mad', said their son, #DavidWolfe, an environmental lawyer who now runs Wakelyns with his wife, Amanda Illing. 'The farmer who sold the land to them said: ‘You’ve ruined a perfectly good wheat field’.'

"Today, Wakelyns is an inspirational example of agroforestry, which has become official government policy. The government’s carbon delivery plan wants to turn 10% of arable land into agroforestry by 2050, with financial incentives to encourage more farmers to transition into something like Wakelyns.

"The lush trees that divide the alleys are all crops. After more than 30 years, some are tall trees for timber, while others provide #apples, #cherries and #plums. The most lucrative tree crop is #hazel, which is coppiced on a seven-year cycle to produce high-quality hazel stakes for traditional hedgelayers. Each stake is sold for £1.40 and Wakelyns cannot grow enough.

The farm’s motto is '#ResilienceThroughDiversity'. It pioneered the first commercial #lentil growing in the UK, and is still the country’s only commercial #BlackLentil grower. 'If Britain is serious about wanting to feed itself, we should stop growing oilseed rape for biodiesel and grow #pulses,' said Wolfe.

"Wakelyns’ diversity encompasses a uniquely genetically diverse population of wheat and multiple varieties of apple tree. When big orchards, which typically grow a narrow range of apple varieties, complain of a terrible harvest, a mixed orchard such as Wakelyns’ is fine, because every year some varieties thrive. #Monocultural farmers, says Wolfe, 'put it all on red or black'.

"Wolfe and Illing took over the farm in 2020 after Wolfe’s parents died. To the innovative farming principles, they added 'enterprise stacking', bringing people back to the land via a series of symbiotic relationships."

Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/30/suffolk-agroforestry-farm-wakelyns-community-ownership-survive

#SolarPunkSunday #Trees #UK #MutualAid #HempTextiles #FoodSecurity #FoodForests #CropRotation #CropDiversity #OrganicFarming #SupportUKFarms #SupportLocalFarmers
#Polyculture not #Monoculture

Why hasn't biodynamic farming gained widespread acceptance in India? Explore the key challenges, benefits, and future potential of this unique farming approach.

🔗 https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/biodynamic-farming-in-india/

#BiodynamicFarming #OrganicFarming #Agriculture

How did Sikkim become India's first fully organic state? Discover the policies, practices, and lessons that continue to inspire sustainable farming across the country.

🔗 https://harisharandevgan.com/blogs/indias-first-fully-organic-state/

#OrganicFarming #Sikkim #SustainableAgriculture