Mark Lea
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greenacresfarm.bsky.social
Mark Lea
@greenacresfarm.bsky.social
Shropshire Organic farmer growing nutritious food, supporting nature and capturing carbon 🌳🍀🐝🍞
The remarkably early harvest of ‘25 is over here with one of its better crops. Organic hulless naked barley, bred by @edwarddickin.bsky.social and combination crop carlin peas, both grown for Hodmedods amongst the new agroforestry - a field full of wildlife and trailers full of nutritious food!
August 11, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Long planned barn taking shape at last - I love this sort of construction
June 11, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Crimson clover, charlock and a passing butterfly #organic
May 12, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Delighted with our two new Shropshire ewes - settling into their new Shropshire home amongst the trees
April 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Undersowing April Bearded spring heritage wheat with next years herbal ley, and now it’s raining at last! Thank you spring ‘25
April 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM
13 months on from laying, this hedge is absolutely flying!
April 13, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Props in position for 2nd of 4 school visits this week. Agroecology for 8yr olds - organic food, nature, planet and anything else that crops up!
April 8, 2025 at 8:35 AM
The dreamy (if a little too dry) spring continues with organic spring oats receiving a gentle first harrow pass - chemical free weed control
April 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Three vintage classics doing a fine job #agroforestry
March 27, 2025 at 5:28 PM
One of the most satisfying sights in the farming year - rolling herbal leys
March 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Throughout our agroforestry planning I’ve had a dream that the old Kuhn Primor silage feeder would mulch our trees - the dream has come true! 🌳
March 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM
10 months after suffering a seized engine on a tractor run the little MF35 is finally back in one piece and at work - it’s been quite a marathon!
February 27, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The next phase of Agroforestry begins on our wetter land - alders supplied with their guards by Woodland Trust who helped us out when Defra suspended Capital Grants - thank you!
February 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM
It’s all #agroforestry here atm. Another hard day marking out hawthorn, crab apple, alder and rowan lines ready for a planting push tomorrow - landscape change! 🌳🌳🌳
February 12, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Reposted by Mark Lea
This month we are focusing on #livingmulches using legumes to provide protection for the soil as a permanent semi-permanent ground cover
☘️ We kick off by revisiting this blog by Dominic Amos - with key practical considerations for farmers
ow.ly/cGuK50UUQKA
Living mulches for sustainable cropping systems: A step towards 'Regenerative Organic' Agriculture in the UK? - Agricology
Reducing tillage and chemical inputs can be beneficial for soil and the environment, so could a permanent clover understorey acting as a 'living mulch', moving towards a perennial soil cover, offer a ...
ow.ly
February 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
An absolutely stunning day from start to finish. 13% of our #agroforestry trees in on day 1 - aching limbs but few days are as satisfying as this!
February 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
1 tree in, 3147 to go - #agroforestry is underway! 🌳🌳🌳
February 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Reposted by Mark Lea
Grain Supply Chain Collaboration Through On-Farm Research. #ORFC25 Thurs 9th Jan 11.00 – 12.30 GMT (In person). Oxford Real Farming Conference. Chaired by Andrew Trump with Rufus Pawsey, @greenacresfarm.bsky.social Steven McAllister, and Catherine Howarth speaking agricology.co.uk/blog/agricol...
January 6, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Mark Lea
Join us at #ORFC25 Oxford Real Farming Conference
for a session on 'Living with #livingmulches' Friday, 10th January, 13.00 – 13.45 GMT (In person). Chaired by our own Matt Smee and featuring @greenacresfarm.bsky.social agricology.co.uk/blog/agricol...
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January 2, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Two new recruits today - we’re assured they’re top mousers! 🐭
December 4, 2024 at 6:26 PM
Half the flock of linnets just flew out of this oak tree - sound up to hear what was left!
December 1, 2024 at 3:53 PM
As the latest deluge drains away 11 way organic milling wheat mixture Coppice Blend is enjoying the sunshine as much as me!
November 26, 2024 at 2:33 PM
Our newly assembled mini-flock of Shetland conservation grazers moved into their life long home today and met the 14yr old only survivor of the last group to do this job - managing species rich lowland acid grassland for flowers, invertebrates, grass snakes and green woodpeckers
November 25, 2024 at 7:51 PM
Reposted by Mark Lea
A new mug design coming soon! I like to add a few favourite species together for something different. This time some autumnal migrants to look out for!
Fieldfare, Waxwing and Redwing.
November 9, 2024 at 10:34 PM
The new Shetland conservation grazing squad were feeling at home this morning
November 19, 2024 at 6:16 PM