THE FARM & OUR PRACTICES
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REGNERATIVE AGRICULTURE
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What is regenerative agriculture? – When we say we farm regeneratively, we simply mean that all our farming practices are working towards one aim – to regenerate the soil and the ecosystems that rely on that soil. At Salakee Farm, this means that we treat the farm and all the animals, trees, plants and humans as one whole system – all parts of the farm must complement one another, and share benefits and purpose. When all parts of the system are working in such a way, we are less reliant on external inputs, more resilient as a farm, and produce healthier, more nutrient-sense food.”
AROUND THE FARM
The Farm – maybe just list them until we get the map sorted?
Interactive map with dots or little pictures of areas, you can then go and click on it which takes you to more information. So areas are – Market garden, cattle, meat ducks, ducks for eggs, chickens for eggs, silvo-pasture (trees), bees, forest garden, Nancy.
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Market garden – “In our quarter-acre, no-dig market garden we grow seasonal vegetables, which we sell from May – October at the Taste of Scilly Market, from our honesty stall, and to local restaurants. “
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Cattle – “We mob graze our cattle. This means that, as they do in nature, our herd is moved to fresh grass every day, giving the soil a chance to rest, sequester carbon and build organic matter.”
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Meat ducks – “Ducks are messy little wagglers. Our meat ducks are moved every day to fresh grass, where get access to fresh bugs and grubs every day. Oh, it’s a ducks life!
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Laying ducks – “Our laying ducks are moved twice a week. They get a very large area as they are more adventurous and like to range farther for their bugs and grubs.”
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Chickens – “Our chickens are doing a very important job on the farm. They follow three days behind our cows -- where the land allows – and eat all the fly larvae that would otherwise hatch, and pester our herd during the summer months.”
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Silvopasture – “Newly planted at Salakee this year is a series of tree systems that have been planted in our fields in ‘lanes’ so as to not affect our ability to graze our pasture. Over time, these tree lanes will provide shade, wind protection, extra forage for our animals and delicious nuts and stone fruit for us. As the trees mature, we will slowly re-introduce our grazing animals, who’s manure will fertilise the trees and continue to improve the pasture in between the lanes.”
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Food forest – “A dense planting of a diverse mix native and exotic shrubs, trees and ground covers in one of our more degraded fields. As it matures, we will re-introduce our poultry to forage in the understory, and harvest both timber and food for ourselves.”