Relaxed Farming - our farm in your classroom

Sowing... Garlic, broad bean, cabbage... Not a lot is sown in January due to the cold weather and the short amount of daylight hours.

Harvesting... Parsnips, brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, purple sprouting broccoli) and leeks are about the only things left in the polytunnel at this time of year, and some of these are a bit tough, so the goats get regular treats. We still have some onions and potatoes left in store and the freezer is providing soup on a daily basis.

Jobs... Time to bring the well-rotted compost in from the heap and spread thickly over all the beds which are empty. We tend to pile the compost about 100cm above the sides of the bed knowing it will rot down even more to give us a nice thick layer which retains moisture and provides all the necessary nutrients for plant growth.

Comments... A cold and dreary month, but the promise of the new gardening year is just around the corner! We are really pleased with the onions (left top bed) which are all about 150cm high and it looks like most have sprouted.

January in the polytunnel
Relaxed Farming

Our compost heap is alive with worms!
Relaxed Farming

Leeks