Field Notes: 1st - 15th July 2024

Jul 25, 2024

1st - 15th July
  
Welcome back to Field Notes. Each week we will be bringing you news from FarmED: from what’s happening in the fields and hedgerows, to updates from the farm to fork Cafe and the conference barn: a space where people from all walks of life meet to find out more about regenerative agriculture. Come with us on a one-of-a-kind journey as we ride the natural highs and lows of farming life.
  
Field Record: What's been happening on the 107 acres of Honeydale Farm?
 
“June in the branches sleeps its fill; // July and August are dead still…” ~ Mark Van Doren, "Hardhead," Spring Thunder and Other Poems, 1924
 

July is a relatively quiet month on the farm - the flurry of spring and early summer has passed, and the busy harvest is yet to come. We are in the in-between, and even the birds have fallen quiet, their eggs laid and hatched. Now, the work is in fetching and feeding and raising, not singing about it. Some flowers, cosmos, cornflowers and marigolds, are in full bloom, whereas others, like sweet peas and ox-eye daisies, are beginning to fade. 
 

Our chickens are roaming the farm, enjoying basking in the sun. Among the usual farm tasks of moving sheep, weeding, and filling troughs, our intern, Henry, has taken on an exciting new project over the past couple of weeks - dismantling, sanding, and putting back together our new egg-mobile. After a fresh coat of paint, it’s now ready to roll! Our plan is for the chickens to live on the agroforestry strips, where they’ll move up and down, grazing on chicory and other plants. We’re hopeful that fresh FarmED eggs will be on the menu very soon…
 

Events Recap: What’s on at FarmED?
 
Summer Foraging Farm Walk

Justine explaining all about the different plants on the farm.

We had the pleasure of welcoming back Justine from @ma.roemca for one of our treasured foraging farm walks. Justine is a trained herbalist and leads foraging courses, workshops, and guided tours across Oxfordshire. She led a group of 15 fledgling foragers around our farm, teaching them about the edible treasures found in hedgerows, trees, and grasses during the summer. From making tea from nettles to using yarrow as an antiseptic and adding ox-eye daisies to salads, the group learned a wealth of new knowledge, not letting the rain dampen their spirits!
 
Lunchtime Talk - How to grow your own wildflowers

The FarmED wildflowers
 
Ever wanted to grow your own wildflowers? Well, Paul Totterdell from Cotswold Seeds led a fascinating talk on just that. He covered everything you might need to know, starting with the basics before delving into the different methods of planting seeds and talking us through the highs and lows of growing. 
 
The room was full of both home gardeners and farmers alike looking to plant wildflowers, whether in their small garden patch or on a larger scale. Paul led the group through a step-by-step guide, sharing tips on choosing the right seeds, preparing the soil and keeping the plants healthy. He also answered plenty of questions, from which times of the year to plant to why things might not be establishing as you’d expect…
 
All in all, it was a brilliant session: everyone left feeling motivated and ready to start their wildflower planting journey.
 
Check out what other talks we have coming up by looking at our What’s On page.
 
Introduction to Agriculture

The group learnt all about farming practices throughout the year
 
Our agricultural lead, Kate, led another brilliant Introduction to Agriculture course. This course is perfect for anyone looking to start a career in farming or simply wanting to learn more about the countryside they live in. Kate covered topics like the farming year, the rich history of our farm, and the crops that thrive at different times of the year. 
 
Kate’s passion shone through and it was great for everyone to be able to connect with each other and exchange their stories over a delicious lunch. We’re already looking forward to the next course and the new faces it will bring!
 
Alex, our Public Engagement Coordinator, said: “It was brilliant to see so many people starting their journeys into agriculture. These are the people that will shape the future of farming.”
 
Garden Treasures: What’s been happening down in the kitchen garden?

Emma hoeing the field
 
In the garden, The Kitchen Garden People are now reaping the benefits of all their hard work in spring, with bountiful harvests and a whole host of new vegetables coming into season. This week, the team welcomed in an abundance of cucumbers, courgettes (and their flowers), aubergines, tomatoes, and garlic. It’s a joyous feeling being able to see the customers receive such generous shares after the lull period of late spring. 
 
Despite being in the height of summer, the weather certainly has some catching up to do. The rain may not be good for everyone's spirits but it’s certainly been good for the crops, which have been drinking it up and thriving. Last week, the team didn't even need to move our new irrigation system, letting nature take care of the watering for us. 
  
With the help of the wonderful volunteers, The Kitchen Garden People been busy digging potatoes and seeding and rolling the fertility-building lay beneath the squash and the cauliflower. This will help not only to nourish the soil, but also prevent weeds from stunting the growth of the crops. The team are now turning their attention to the leek beds, hoeing and weeding the ground before establishing a clover mix between the rows. 
 
Three of the potato varieties have also come into season: Nicola, Car, and Maris Bard. Each is perfect for different dishes, and we’re excited to see how FarmED’s cook, Gareth, will work his magic with them in the cafe…
 
Fancy volunteering with the Kitchen Garden People? Volunteer days are on Thursdays and Fridays from 9.30-1. Contact Emma on their website to sign up.