Briar Farm
@briarfarm.bsky.social
Establishing an agroecological, mixed-use farm on a disused plant nursery in Cambridgeshire, UK
Four in the ground. Plan def to supply. From experience, the standard suppliers often have shortages, problematic allergen claims, and the quality just nowhere near what you can get straight off the tree. Also most suppliers are selling £100+/kg. Seems worth a punt
October 31, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Four in the ground. Plan def to supply. From experience, the standard suppliers often have shortages, problematic allergen claims, and the quality just nowhere near what you can get straight off the tree. Also most suppliers are selling £100+/kg. Seems worth a punt
That seems like a good plan defo. One to try out on one of the beds sometime.
Got a lot of inspiration from Groundswell this year, hitting up the arable seed suppliers for their takes on cover for out context.
Surprisingly hard to get info, so good to trial
Got a lot of inspiration from Groundswell this year, hitting up the arable seed suppliers for their takes on cover for out context.
Surprisingly hard to get info, so good to trial
October 31, 2025 at 8:32 PM
That seems like a good plan defo. One to try out on one of the beds sometime.
Got a lot of inspiration from Groundswell this year, hitting up the arable seed suppliers for their takes on cover for out context.
Surprisingly hard to get info, so good to trial
Got a lot of inspiration from Groundswell this year, hitting up the arable seed suppliers for their takes on cover for out context.
Surprisingly hard to get info, so good to trial
Want to see if we can terminate this with crimping or a tight brushcut in early spring. Otherwise we’ll have to sheet over for a bit.
Other option is permanent clover understory but this comes with challenges. Lots to experiment with, and we’ll inevitably bring in plenty of mulch material as well
Other option is permanent clover understory but this comes with challenges. Lots to experiment with, and we’ll inevitably bring in plenty of mulch material as well
October 31, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Want to see if we can terminate this with crimping or a tight brushcut in early spring. Otherwise we’ll have to sheet over for a bit.
Other option is permanent clover understory but this comes with challenges. Lots to experiment with, and we’ll inevitably bring in plenty of mulch material as well
Other option is permanent clover understory but this comes with challenges. Lots to experiment with, and we’ll inevitably bring in plenty of mulch material as well
Big question; lots of variables here. Main thing is being able to terminate without spraying off (obvs) or ploughing in. Also a mix that can establish late as we don’t get crops out often until later.
The rye-vetch mix seems to fit the bill, but also looking at legume crops (beans, fenugreek)
The rye-vetch mix seems to fit the bill, but also looking at legume crops (beans, fenugreek)
October 31, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Big question; lots of variables here. Main thing is being able to terminate without spraying off (obvs) or ploughing in. Also a mix that can establish late as we don’t get crops out often until later.
The rye-vetch mix seems to fit the bill, but also looking at legume crops (beans, fenugreek)
The rye-vetch mix seems to fit the bill, but also looking at legume crops (beans, fenugreek)
Ah yes of course. We’ve grown ground cherry for a few years now and the kids love it. We grow it in strategic areas to keep them occupied when we’re harvesting!
I’d heard gape gooseberry was more marginal climate wise? Are they decent sized berries and plants? Definitely making some space for this
I’d heard gape gooseberry was more marginal climate wise? Are they decent sized berries and plants? Definitely making some space for this
October 30, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Ah yes of course. We’ve grown ground cherry for a few years now and the kids love it. We grow it in strategic areas to keep them occupied when we’re harvesting!
I’d heard gape gooseberry was more marginal climate wise? Are they decent sized berries and plants? Definitely making some space for this
I’d heard gape gooseberry was more marginal climate wise? Are they decent sized berries and plants? Definitely making some space for this
I’m sure it was! Have you got any stand out favs in the berry bush / fruit genre? We’re planning on having a play in the new glasshouse. Chilean guava, pineapple guava, fuchsia, grapes, figs, cherry, apricot, nectarine, peach, pomegranate.
October 29, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I’m sure it was! Have you got any stand out favs in the berry bush / fruit genre? We’re planning on having a play in the new glasshouse. Chilean guava, pineapple guava, fuchsia, grapes, figs, cherry, apricot, nectarine, peach, pomegranate.
There was a few berries on the plant when it came in so we got to try it: really very good. Do you have one?
We’ve also got a couple of pineapple guava arriving soon
We’ve also got a couple of pineapple guava arriving soon
October 29, 2025 at 6:09 PM
There was a few berries on the plant when it came in so we got to try it: really very good. Do you have one?
We’ve also got a couple of pineapple guava arriving soon
We’ve also got a couple of pineapple guava arriving soon
Yes us too. The bramble has def popped out a few sheets but mostly acted as a protective blanket. Saved us a tonne of work really
October 26, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Yes us too. The bramble has def popped out a few sheets but mostly acted as a protective blanket. Saved us a tonne of work really
Yeah we’re quite impressed. Early in the season the berries were quite shrivelled but they filled out. Variety Leikora. 5 female and two male plants. They seem to be thriving
October 26, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Yeah we’re quite impressed. Early in the season the berries were quite shrivelled but they filled out. Variety Leikora. 5 female and two male plants. They seem to be thriving