Tools and Techniques
As far as possible we mimic natural systems and processes, whilst achieving a healthy crop. For this purpose we are developing a range of “tools” which fit the UK climate. Although listed below as different tools, they are all part of a holistic approach. They are tweaks and adjustments for individual situations.
It is important to get a base of skills and understanding of these tools so the farmer and grower has autonomy and understanding to make their own preparations, empowering the farmer and reaching a broader scale. We are not selling products off the shelf, we are happier to run courses to explain the principles.
For instance biofertiliser, an anaerobic ferment is good for chelating minerals so they are more available to plants. However aerobic tea, made by bubbling air through microbes in solution, is great for building more biology into the system. Native microbes can be propagated aerobically like this, or through the Native Microbe preparation outlined below. Lastly, we can measure the integration of these techniques and their effect on soil structure using Chromatography.
Our Approach to Soil Fertility and System Health ~ by Matt Dunwell
Added: February 15th 2017, Ragmans Farm
Ragmans Farm is a 60 acre organic farm in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. We use farming practices that regenerate the land, using permaculture as a guiding design principle. Between the three main enterprises at the farm – Ragmans Lane Farm, the Willow Bank and Ragmans Market Garden, we provide emplo... read more
TweetAdded: May 13th 2016, Ragmans Farm
Aerobic or Anaerobic? By Juanfran Lopez Microbes - Drawn by Miriam, age 4 I would like to introduce this thought with a simple and easy question comparing two different well known similar tools, but with different final purposes, just to put this article in context... it would be something like th... read more
TweetAn interview with Jairo Restrepo
Added: June 23rd 2015, Ragmans Farm
Columbian champion of Organic Farming and for the rights of small holder farmers. "my dream is to construct a being, an ideal state of a being, so that I shall not be the ideal being of the State". Jairo Restrepo is a passionate educator and activist in the field of sustainable agriculture and food s... read more
TweetAdded: March 23rd 2015, Ragmans Farm
A Wonderful Time at Ragmans by Yanthe Oosthoek - Student Summer 2014 Being back in Holland made me realise how amazing my time at Ragmans had been. While cycling through the Dutch landscape (which is not very impressive compared to the beautiful Wye Valley Ragmans is surrounded by) I notice myself pointing out diff... read more
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