So, who are we?
Through the following pages we will try to explain how and why we wound up growing organic vegetables on a North-facing slope in a field that used to be a quarry, with a direct line to every gust of wind that blows from Canada, why we ever thought this might be a good idea, and, most importantly, how successful will it be?
In the beginning...
Greenhill Farm started off as four small raised beds, intended for family supply. My father always grew potatoes, beans, beetroot and onions in a small garden behind our house, so I decided to try it myself.
Things were a bit different when I tried it though. My Dad’s garden is completely sheltered and has been in use for over 100 years, so the going was fairly easy. I, on the other hand was working with soil which was 50% stones, about 6 inches deep and sloping towards the North. To make things even more interesting, there isn’t as much as a tree between here and Canada!
We had some success the first year and word started to get around so a few people, mainly neighbours, called in for beans and peas. When we grew our first potatoes they disappeared so fast we almost didn’t get any ourselves!
The Quarry Field
When I say stones, I mean STONES! The house was built at the bottom of a field which belongs to my Dad and goes by the name "the quarry field" The name alone should have been an indication that there would be a few rocky places around...
Over the years we've taken out enough stone to build a city, and it just keeps on coming - when we plough in Spring, it's like more rocks have grown over the Winter!
This picture was taken in Spring 08, when we had just convinced the ploughman that there were none left!
Growing bigger
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Gradual expansion
Over the past six years, Greenhill Farm has grown to almost 2 acres of intensive veg production and aquired full certification with the Organic Trust in September 08.
We have added to the holding gradually over the years, buying equipment or structures only when we can afford them. Almost everything we make from the farm goes back in, so we won’t be millionaires for a long time to come! We now have three polytunnels, a small greenhouse and some propagation equipment. Most of the growing, however, is done in the field, and we have invested a lot in installing windbreaks and planting trees and hedges to improve the growing environment.
Into the future...
Demand for locally grown Organic produce far outstrips what we can produce. This is unfortunate, and mostly due to our geographical position. The growing season, although long, simply does not have enough warmth to grow sufficient quantities of the more exotic veg that people are used to nowadays.
I believe that the only way that we can produce enough food locally is to encourage more people to do what we do and then work together to make sure everyone gets their share.
We have since de-certified with the Organic Trust because it became quite simply too expensive for a small farm.
We still grow to the same standards, but do not have to increase cost of produce.