Our Second Field Anniversary

Year 2 and our field is starting to take shape; it’s our first year growing crops from March to October here (last year we concentrated on infrastructure and trialling a few later things, thanks to covid and homeschooling earlier in the year!) and it’s very different to our allotments where we previously grew intensively.

It’s lovely to have lots of space, totally overwhelming at times and the weeding is never-ending. The pests are different, it’s a lot wilder and more exposed. In time our hedges, foliage beds and windbreaks will grow to create more sheltered areas which will really help. Indeed the thing about ‘flower farming’ is that it takes experience, hands-on doing and knowledge (often about the place, alongside the academic horticultural stuff), as well as time for the plants to actually grow big enough, to make a success of it.

Sure boundless enthusiasm is great, but that won’t make your plants flower if the timing/conditions aren’t right… I’m happy to take a slowly-slowly approach, but pleased to see lots of beds of flowers and things starting to look like ‘in my head’!!

Love Harriet x