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Bee friendly pest control

Ben Raskin — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:58:37 GMT

The last couple of weeks have seen some good news for bees. First was the news that some garden centres were withdrawing bug killers that contained the neonciotinoid imidacloprid. And then came a proposal from the European Commission to completely suspend the use of three neonicotinoids – imidiacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin – that have been found to damage bees.

CSAs at the Oxford Real Farming Conference

Ben Raskin — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:06:45 GMT

The really successfuly CSAs are those with experienced and skilled growers and farmers at their hearts. Whether the initial idea comes from the producer or the community doesn't in the end matter, but farmer led CSAs can succeed more quickly as you can cut down on some of the heartache and painful learning that community initiatives sometimes go through as they take on a new piece of land and learn what to do with it.

Growing winter crops with summer sun

Ben Raskin — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:53:17 GMT

One perk of my job is getting to visit some of the most innovative growers in the UK. This was very evident on our recent Farmer and Grower Board away days in Cumbria from which I have just returned. Horticulture has historically tended to occupy the best land near to centres of population. In more recent decades new entrants into growing have been unable to compete with increasing demand for land (for instance from housing and pony paddocks). As a result growers often have to take advantage of more marginal land.

Where is the rain?

Ben Raskin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:03:44 GMT

The one thing you don't want after planting fruit trees is 2 months without rain. I had been putting off sorting out an irrigation system in the hope of the heavens delivering my water for me.I have finally accepted the inevitable (perhaps a little too late) and rigged up a makeshift system.

A couple of photos

Ben Raskin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:08:23 GMT

Here are a couple of photos of me tying in the trees after planting

The Great Planting

Ben Raskin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:28:09 GMT

The great planting happened at the weekend. Due to some wonderful friends (and Dad) coming to help we managed to plant almost all of the main planting. Over 200 trees went in and had rabbit guards put on.

Measuring the Ground

Ben Raskin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:19:34 GMT

with just a couple of weeks before the trees arrive I have been measuring the site. Having a stick at the end of each non existant row of trees really makes the whole project seem more real - not to mention slightly daunting. Is this really manageable on 1 day a week??

I should know better

Ben Raskin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:43:55 GMT

So - a day of scrounging old posts from around the site to create a fence around my plot. All going well till i stepped on a large nail, which would have been fine if i had been wearing my safety boots. however i had left them in the car and was sporting instead some very unsuitable thin soled shoes. Carried on for a couple of hours then a painful drive back and a trip to the doctors the next day for a tetanus jab.

Choosing the trees

Ben Raskin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:45:21 GMT

I spent a morning going up to see Nick Dunn at Frank Matthews tree nursery. I have not chosen to buy organic trees, partly because of price and the fact that the site is not certified (a discussion for another blog), but also because Nick grows a lot of Hugh Ermens varieties and has some interest in the "Own root" experiments I am starting.

Darn the snow

Ben Raskin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:42:59 GMT

I had taken some holiday just before Christmas and had hoped to spend a day or two on the site. However the snow and ice meant there was little point, so instead I had a lovely week with the family and looked at fruit catalogues

Clearing the site

Ben Raskin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:40:39 GMT

Wheatfields is a 45 acres site that had previously been a nursery producing pot plants, after the Dutch had killed that industry off, the site had been abandoned for a number of years before the current plan to develop a diverse site with lots of small growers and community groups.

Making the decision

Ben Raskin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:36:55 GMT

Managing a piece of land part time is not easy, just ask my poor neglected allotment. and although I have to some extent adhered to the mantra of "grow for the market" I have also had to limit my choice of crop and site because of the time i will be able to devote to the enterprise. On the plus side of course since i will still be earning on the other days of the week, if the whole enterprise sinks without a trace i won't be responsible for my family's destitution.

Why am I doing this?

Ben Raskin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:26:50 GMT

I have been a vegetable grower for 16 years in various parts of the country but have always worked for other people. Hotels, charities, colleges and wealthy landowners all bring both joys and challenges. However as soon as I had a basic grasp of growing and business something constantly nagged away at the back of my head that I wanted to be doing this for myself.