This massive job was done by a heroic posse in the absence of our much-missed regular volunteers. The covers were removed in March whereby an impressive alp of dark, rich, green-waste compost was barrowed and spread over the garden beds to create a deep mulch. These covers, in place for around 3 months, had the important job of killing off as many annual and perennial weeds as possible. If you happened to visit us prior to lockdown you would have spotted an area, just beyond the Veg Shed, tucked under a swathe of black plastic covers. This new area at The Farm has taken careful planning and preparation. What’s more, “biologically intensive” market gardening is light on the use of machines and fossil fuels so it’s cheaper and cleaner all round! As such, pioneers of this form of farming have demonstrated that they can grow both intensively and sustainably, as well as more efficiently, at a smaller scale. Minimal till growing is carried out on small-scale plots, allowing for liberal use of composts which, at field-scale, would risk the creation of damaging run-off into water courses. Digging also brings dormant annual weed seeds to the surface, increasing the need for some unwelcome hoeing just when the grower should and would rather be harvesting their hard-earned crops. The theory behind this practice is that digging disturbs the natural biology of the soil and, in particular, the subtle and complex interaction between plant roots and soil. Indeed, many keen home gardeners and allotmenteers already grow successfully in this way. “The pioneers of minimal (or no) dig market gardening have been developing techniques and making the case for this style of farming for years. Here, long-term volunteer, Will Warin delves a little into the science behind this way of growing and how our market garden was created:> It currently features 30 beds and, if it is a success, a further 30 will be added next year. This new area will complement the existing fields and polytunnel growing operations. The Community Farm Field Team are a hard-working and dedicated bunch who, with the help of our volunteers, community farmers and other groups, get great results and grow the tastiest veg! This year, after careful planning, they have embarked on a major new project: a minimal dig, market garden area.

Market garden planner