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Knowledge
Bio Dynamics from the Greek, Life Energy
Alex Podolinsky has had a profound influence on the way we farm and our approach to farming. His outspoken ideas have often raised eyebrows. However the Bio-dynamic methods that he has developed and progressed in Australia have transformed a vast area of agricultural land both in Australia and now around Europe. Land that had been lost to salination in Australia has been regained to farming with this method. Alex's method enlivens the soil and strengthens plants in their true form to guard against disease and improve quality. What particulary appeals in this approach is that it is about the farmers and getting farmers to see or indeed to perceive bio-dynamics working, for if they cannot then why do it.
Alex is shown in a field of Demeter malting barley used to make Demeter whiskey, a sample of the distillate in his hand.
Organic Pioneers
"You have to take the view that it is going to rain for a fortnight starting tomorrow even if you are in the middle of a drought." David Wilson's wise words have stuck in my head long after visiting Duchy Home Farm, together with taking the Long View and making the most of older varieties of crops which may have facets which have been lost from modern varieties.
Diverse Ley Mixtures
Alex has been using extremely diverse mixtures for decades in Australia and encouraged farmers, horticulturalists and viticulturists all over Europe to do the same. We have been doing so since around 2000 to great effect.
Alex has many publications, take a look at the link above.
Newman Turner
Turner's excellent books on Fertility Pastures (Farming), Cure Your Own Cattle and Herdmanship written in the 1950s are just as relevant today and set out the principle of strength in diversity.
Our diverse pasture mixtures are similar to those expounded by Turner.
And confirmed by the science: Legume Link
Using legume-based mixtures to enhance the nitrogen use efficiency and economic viability of cropping systems. Doring et al. (2013)
Biodiversity
At the heart of our wildlife and biodiversity is the principle of land sharing, that we welcome in nature to our agroecological farming system. A healthy soil is alive and is at the start of nature's food chain.
We are working with the Woodland Trust and recently planted 2200 trees and developing a 568 tree orchard agroforestry project also with Shumei. We have planted and restored over 15km of hedges since 2000, We are incorporating all the woodland into the farm organism. We remove plastic waste and plastic tree and hedge guards. Weeds in our crops allow food for wildlife and feed the soil.
Our work to improve the wildlife habitats and diversity of wild species is supported by Natural England's Higher Level Stewardship. This is a ten year scheme grant aiding various projects and management activities on the farm including:
planting a new orchard, protecting ancient monuments, planting wild flower margins, providing winter food for tree sparrows and other bird species,
repairing stone walls, providing pollen and nectar sources for wild bees and honey bees and reversion of arable land to grassland next to Avebury World Heritage Site.
The natural balance on our farm supports our crop and animal production for example by balancing slugs and beetles or aphids and ladybirds, the whole farm functions as one infinitely and instantly connected organism.
