Briar Farm
@briarfarm.bsky.social
Establishing an agroecological, mixed-use farm on a disused plant nursery in Cambridgeshire, UK
Some days on the farm it’s glorious afternoons planting out trees in the autumnal sunshine.
Other days it’s frustrating stop-start mornings fixing malfunctioning equipment in the drizzle! Today is one of those days; two seized hedge trimmers, a busted ignition and a stuck bolt.
Other days it’s frustrating stop-start mornings fixing malfunctioning equipment in the drizzle! Today is one of those days; two seized hedge trimmers, a busted ignition and a stuck bolt.
November 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Some days on the farm it’s glorious afternoons planting out trees in the autumnal sunshine.
Other days it’s frustrating stop-start mornings fixing malfunctioning equipment in the drizzle! Today is one of those days; two seized hedge trimmers, a busted ignition and a stuck bolt.
Other days it’s frustrating stop-start mornings fixing malfunctioning equipment in the drizzle! Today is one of those days; two seized hedge trimmers, a busted ignition and a stuck bolt.
Tree planting continues apace!
This season we’ll be planting around 300 native trees as well as 70 fruit trees.
This season we’ll be planting around 300 native trees as well as 70 fruit trees.
November 9, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Tree planting continues apace!
This season we’ll be planting around 300 native trees as well as 70 fruit trees.
This season we’ll be planting around 300 native trees as well as 70 fruit trees.
Headed out to RSPB Ouse Fen last night to catch up with friends and watch the starlings congregate for murmuration.
Saw bittern and marsh harriers. Such a beautiful spot.
Saw bittern and marsh harriers. Such a beautiful spot.
November 9, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Headed out to RSPB Ouse Fen last night to catch up with friends and watch the starlings congregate for murmuration.
Saw bittern and marsh harriers. Such a beautiful spot.
Saw bittern and marsh harriers. Such a beautiful spot.
Slug and snail grazing trails on the glasshouse panes.
November 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Slug and snail grazing trails on the glasshouse panes.
Agaric mushrooms, the first ones we’ve seen on the farm. Found on rabbit grazed pasture just off one of our tracks.
November 7, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Agaric mushrooms, the first ones we’ve seen on the farm. Found on rabbit grazed pasture just off one of our tracks.
Now the soil has regained enough moisture we have begun this seasons tree planting. Today we put in 40 goat willow.
We will be replanting 300 saplings to replace the ones that died in the drought this year, as well as 50 fruit trees to establish new areas of mixed orchard.
We will be replanting 300 saplings to replace the ones that died in the drought this year, as well as 50 fruit trees to establish new areas of mixed orchard.
November 6, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Now the soil has regained enough moisture we have begun this seasons tree planting. Today we put in 40 goat willow.
We will be replanting 300 saplings to replace the ones that died in the drought this year, as well as 50 fruit trees to establish new areas of mixed orchard.
We will be replanting 300 saplings to replace the ones that died in the drought this year, as well as 50 fruit trees to establish new areas of mixed orchard.
Here we go again!
We’ve begun clearing the second half of the glasshouse. We’ve brushcut the perimeter and have cut transects through the centre of the thicket.
So far no nasty surprises.
We’ve begun clearing the second half of the glasshouse. We’ve brushcut the perimeter and have cut transects through the centre of the thicket.
So far no nasty surprises.
November 5, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Here we go again!
We’ve begun clearing the second half of the glasshouse. We’ve brushcut the perimeter and have cut transects through the centre of the thicket.
So far no nasty surprises.
We’ve begun clearing the second half of the glasshouse. We’ve brushcut the perimeter and have cut transects through the centre of the thicket.
So far no nasty surprises.
Harvested a patch of seabuckthorn.
We’ll freeze these down ready for juicing later. Apparently the freezing process makes the berries drop of the viciously thorned twigs; a much easier harvest than ‘milking’ the berries off the plant into a bucket with heavy duty gloves.
We’ll freeze these down ready for juicing later. Apparently the freezing process makes the berries drop of the viciously thorned twigs; a much easier harvest than ‘milking’ the berries off the plant into a bucket with heavy duty gloves.
November 5, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Harvested a patch of seabuckthorn.
We’ll freeze these down ready for juicing later. Apparently the freezing process makes the berries drop of the viciously thorned twigs; a much easier harvest than ‘milking’ the berries off the plant into a bucket with heavy duty gloves.
We’ll freeze these down ready for juicing later. Apparently the freezing process makes the berries drop of the viciously thorned twigs; a much easier harvest than ‘milking’ the berries off the plant into a bucket with heavy duty gloves.
Making the most of the momentum here, we’ve decided to clear out the remaining section of the glasshouse.
It’s a huge undertaking, but when we’re done we’ll have 900m2 of protected growing area. What a resource!
It’s a huge undertaking, but when we’re done we’ll have 900m2 of protected growing area. What a resource!
November 5, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Making the most of the momentum here, we’ve decided to clear out the remaining section of the glasshouse.
It’s a huge undertaking, but when we’re done we’ll have 900m2 of protected growing area. What a resource!
It’s a huge undertaking, but when we’re done we’ll have 900m2 of protected growing area. What a resource!
The soil in our newly reclaimed glasshouse is in very poor condition. We made the decision to shallow till to decompact the soil and integrate amendments before sowing a fertility building cover crop.
This mix of annual rye and hairy vetch seems to be establishing beautifully.
This mix of annual rye and hairy vetch seems to be establishing beautifully.
October 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
The soil in our newly reclaimed glasshouse is in very poor condition. We made the decision to shallow till to decompact the soil and integrate amendments before sowing a fertility building cover crop.
This mix of annual rye and hairy vetch seems to be establishing beautifully.
This mix of annual rye and hairy vetch seems to be establishing beautifully.
Exciting new harvest at the farm! After two years we’ve got our first crop of Sichuan pepper.
These seed casing provide a fragrant, numbing lemony note that typify Sichuan dishes. We use them to make dishes such as dan dan noodles and mapo tofu.
These seed casing provide a fragrant, numbing lemony note that typify Sichuan dishes. We use them to make dishes such as dan dan noodles and mapo tofu.
October 31, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Exciting new harvest at the farm! After two years we’ve got our first crop of Sichuan pepper.
These seed casing provide a fragrant, numbing lemony note that typify Sichuan dishes. We use them to make dishes such as dan dan noodles and mapo tofu.
These seed casing provide a fragrant, numbing lemony note that typify Sichuan dishes. We use them to make dishes such as dan dan noodles and mapo tofu.
Chilean guava have been planted in the glasshouse. These small shrubs crop a delicious fragrant fruit with a flavour just like guava.
We’ve been mulching the plants with sheep’s wool and leaves that have recently fallen from our poplars.
We’ve been mulching the plants with sheep’s wool and leaves that have recently fallen from our poplars.
October 29, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Chilean guava have been planted in the glasshouse. These small shrubs crop a delicious fragrant fruit with a flavour just like guava.
We’ve been mulching the plants with sheep’s wool and leaves that have recently fallen from our poplars.
We’ve been mulching the plants with sheep’s wool and leaves that have recently fallen from our poplars.
Today’s mood: harvesting sweet chestnuts in the woods
October 27, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Today’s mood: harvesting sweet chestnuts in the woods
Harvested some sea buckthorn. We juiced it down and mixed with some apple juice.
It’s a top tier fruit, imparting a sharp passion fruit type flavour and vibrant orange colour.
It’s a top tier fruit, imparting a sharp passion fruit type flavour and vibrant orange colour.
October 25, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Harvested some sea buckthorn. We juiced it down and mixed with some apple juice.
It’s a top tier fruit, imparting a sharp passion fruit type flavour and vibrant orange colour.
It’s a top tier fruit, imparting a sharp passion fruit type flavour and vibrant orange colour.
Bramble roots growing in the leaf litter on the roof of our glasshouse.
Beautiful, but it’s going to be a hell of a job to clear!
Beautiful, but it’s going to be a hell of a job to clear!
October 25, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Bramble roots growing in the leaf litter on the roof of our glasshouse.
Beautiful, but it’s going to be a hell of a job to clear!
Beautiful, but it’s going to be a hell of a job to clear!
Even though the glasshouse isn’t quite finished yet, we’re wasting no time getting roots in the ground.
90 strawberry plants went in today and we’ve been establishing a fertility building cover crop in the annual beds, a mixture of annul rye and hairy vetch.
90 strawberry plants went in today and we’ve been establishing a fertility building cover crop in the annual beds, a mixture of annul rye and hairy vetch.
October 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Even though the glasshouse isn’t quite finished yet, we’re wasting no time getting roots in the ground.
90 strawberry plants went in today and we’ve been establishing a fertility building cover crop in the annual beds, a mixture of annul rye and hairy vetch.
90 strawberry plants went in today and we’ve been establishing a fertility building cover crop in the annual beds, a mixture of annul rye and hairy vetch.
Hannah and Pete putting in a solid stint replacing glass panels today. This section of the glasshouse has 500 panels, with around 30 needing replacing in all.
It’s already starting to feel warmer in there!
It’s already starting to feel warmer in there!
October 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Hannah and Pete putting in a solid stint replacing glass panels today. This section of the glasshouse has 500 panels, with around 30 needing replacing in all.
It’s already starting to feel warmer in there!
It’s already starting to feel warmer in there!
We’ve been marking the location for our new trees. A third of the glasshouse will be planted as a perennial forest garden
This season we’ll be planting the canopy, shrub and climbing layer. Think apricots, peaches, nectarines, cherries, figs, pomegranates, grapes & berry bushes!
This season we’ll be planting the canopy, shrub and climbing layer. Think apricots, peaches, nectarines, cherries, figs, pomegranates, grapes & berry bushes!
October 22, 2025 at 5:16 AM
We’ve been marking the location for our new trees. A third of the glasshouse will be planted as a perennial forest garden
This season we’ll be planting the canopy, shrub and climbing layer. Think apricots, peaches, nectarines, cherries, figs, pomegranates, grapes & berry bushes!
This season we’ll be planting the canopy, shrub and climbing layer. Think apricots, peaches, nectarines, cherries, figs, pomegranates, grapes & berry bushes!
Continuing with the glasshouse renovation today. We’ve installed the manifold for the new irrigation lines, cleared out the roof guttering and are replacing broken panels of glass.
It’s all coming together quite nicely
It’s all coming together quite nicely
October 21, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Continuing with the glasshouse renovation today. We’ve installed the manifold for the new irrigation lines, cleared out the roof guttering and are replacing broken panels of glass.
It’s all coming together quite nicely
It’s all coming together quite nicely
Early start getting our heads around the irrigation system for the glasshouse, which we’ll begin installing today.
It’s worth getting it right from the beginning as it’ll make our lives so much easier during the growing season.
It’s worth getting it right from the beginning as it’ll make our lives so much easier during the growing season.
October 21, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Early start getting our heads around the irrigation system for the glasshouse, which we’ll begin installing today.
It’s worth getting it right from the beginning as it’ll make our lives so much easier during the growing season.
It’s worth getting it right from the beginning as it’ll make our lives so much easier during the growing season.
Here’s what we found in the glasshouse.
Plenty of bramble, but few obstacles to have to work around. We cut a transect along the edge to link up with the area we have been working on.
Feels good to be breaking new ground!
Plenty of bramble, but few obstacles to have to work around. We cut a transect along the edge to link up with the area we have been working on.
Feels good to be breaking new ground!
October 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Here’s what we found in the glasshouse.
Plenty of bramble, but few obstacles to have to work around. We cut a transect along the edge to link up with the area we have been working on.
Feels good to be breaking new ground!
Plenty of bramble, but few obstacles to have to work around. We cut a transect along the edge to link up with the area we have been working on.
Feels good to be breaking new ground!
Who wants to come exploring?!
We’ve been slogging through the bramble to gain access to the other entrance of the glasshouse.
No one has been in here for over 20 years. Let’s see what we can find!
We’ve been slogging through the bramble to gain access to the other entrance of the glasshouse.
No one has been in here for over 20 years. Let’s see what we can find!
October 20, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Who wants to come exploring?!
We’ve been slogging through the bramble to gain access to the other entrance of the glasshouse.
No one has been in here for over 20 years. Let’s see what we can find!
We’ve been slogging through the bramble to gain access to the other entrance of the glasshouse.
No one has been in here for over 20 years. Let’s see what we can find!
Morning all. A damp, dreary one today. We’re continuing to clear the overhanging branches on the old glasshouse and will be brushcutting the south perimeter.
Let’s get to it!
Let’s get to it!
October 20, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Morning all. A damp, dreary one today. We’re continuing to clear the overhanging branches on the old glasshouse and will be brushcutting the south perimeter.
Let’s get to it!
Let’s get to it!
Getting some serious research in at the Cambridge Botanic Gardens apple day today!
We’ll be planting around 60 fruit trees this winter, including 25 apples. We’ve chosen most of the varieties but still have some more to pick.
We also had help identifying our veteran apple trees
We’ll be planting around 60 fruit trees this winter, including 25 apples. We’ve chosen most of the varieties but still have some more to pick.
We also had help identifying our veteran apple trees
October 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Getting some serious research in at the Cambridge Botanic Gardens apple day today!
We’ll be planting around 60 fruit trees this winter, including 25 apples. We’ve chosen most of the varieties but still have some more to pick.
We also had help identifying our veteran apple trees
We’ll be planting around 60 fruit trees this winter, including 25 apples. We’ve chosen most of the varieties but still have some more to pick.
We also had help identifying our veteran apple trees