Over the last twelve years we have planted 1000 apple and pear trees. We have selected old traditional varieties such as Ashmead Kernel, Taynton Codlin, Annie Elizabeth, Worcester Permain, Yellow Ingestrie, Lord Lambourne, Howgate Wonder and Egremont Russet. Others are more modern varieties suitable for organic orchards such as Saturn, Cevaal and Rajka.

Big Blossom orchard blossom comfrey tree

We aim for minimum intervention from tree to table. Most commercial orchards are managed in order to produce blemish free fruit for the table.

On our own orchards we use compost, and comfrey as a foliar spray for fertility. We are also trialling the use of Biofertilisers. Without chemical sprays, the ladybird population explodes and these naturally control greenfly and other bugs that spread viral disease in the orchard. You can read more about this in an article that Matt wrote for the Permaculture Magazine in June 2017

The trees are grown in permanent pasture. This helps to build carbon levels in the soil, and aids long term fertility. Apples are picked by hand.

Watch Matt Dunwell's short talk about how we manage our Orchards here at Ragmans Lane Farm (click here)

  • Spilling Out From Words

    Sunday 11th February 2018 at Ragmans Lane Farm

    ‘Eco linguistics and the spirit of words’

    One day workshop with Mandy Pullen and Jane Embleton

    We will be gathering words, spellings, language, dialects, meanings, diction and more than likely, a good deal of gibberish . . . all in the spirit of words.

    Much of our focus will be on the role of language in the life-sustaining interactions of humans and other species and the physical environment. This is a practice known as Eco Linguistics, the idea being that if we slowly change the way we speak about the Earth and nature as being separate from us then, like magic, we can soon start to make amazing connections to others, including the more than human world.

    Further details and to book a space CLICK HERE or contact Mandy direct tel: 01594 541850 mobile: 07805 800313 email: info@mandypullen.co.uk

    Cost: £50 includes soup and bread lunch and refreshments.

    Tutor Details:

    Mandy Pullen is an eco shamanic practitioner based in the Forest of Dean. She runs workshops and trainings on Eco Shamanism in Gloucestershire and further afield. Mandy lived at the farm over 20 years ago and set up and ran the organic garden and box scheme.

    Jane Embleton is an expert when working with the way spirit dances in our language, our dreams and our landscapes. She lives and works in Somerset where she also runs private art classes.   

     


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