Comments on: Rhetoric or Reality? (part 1) - ‘HLS’ higher level stewardship http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/ Stories from a small organic farm in Devon Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:05:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: old farm, new farm « Locks Park Farm http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-1784 old farm, new farm « Locks Park Farm Mon, 12 May 2008 07:29:34 +0000 http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-1784 [...] and farm such a piece of land. But I’m also made to feel culpable. When completing the infamous Higher Level Stewardship application I was brought to task over keeping sheep and ‘lost points’ as this is considered [...] [...] and farm such a piece of land. But I’m also made to feel culpable. When completing the infamous Higher Level Stewardship application I was brought to task over keeping sheep and ‘lost points’ as this is considered [...]

]]> By: farm economies « Locks Park Farm http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-1118 farm economies « Locks Park Farm Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:12:06 +0000 http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-1118 [...] realised very early on that to make the farm pay we would have to do the same. We also signed up to green farming schemes which initially made the difference between profit and loss. In the mid-nineties I began to develop [...] [...] realised very early on that to make the farm pay we would have to do the same. We also signed up to green farming schemes which initially made the difference between profit and loss. In the mid-nineties I began to develop [...]

]]> By: blooming marvellous « Locks Park Farm http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-867 blooming marvellous « Locks Park Farm Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:39:34 +0000 http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-867 [...] This organic farm is heaving with breeding barn owls, dormice, bats, rare butterflies and moths, oh yes, and badgers, [...] [...] This organic farm is heaving with breeding barn owls, dormice, bats, rare butterflies and moths, oh yes, and badgers, [...]

]]> By: paula http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-52 paula Sun, 01 Jul 2007 21:37:32 +0000 http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-52 I certainly plan to try! I certainly plan to try!

]]> By: jeanette http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-47 jeanette Sun, 01 Jul 2007 02:55:27 +0000 http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-47 the catch phrase in austrialia for thirty years has been (to the farmers detriment) GET BIG OR GET OUT resist if possible . the catch phrase in austrialia for thirty years has been (to the farmers detriment) GET BIG OR GET OUT resist if possible .

]]> By: paula http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-25 paula Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:54:56 +0000 http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-25 We’ve been away in Scotland for a week and come back to a farm devoid of any outside communication…now we wait patiently for BT to fix it! So apologies for the delay in replying. I'm glad you've found my site Liz and thank you for your supportive comments. I'll certainly have a look at the sites you mentioned. We’ve been away in Scotland for a week and come back to a farm devoid of any outside communication…now we wait patiently for BT to fix it! So apologies for the delay in replying.

I’m glad you’ve found my site Liz and thank you for your supportive comments. I’ll certainly have a look at the sites you mentioned.

]]> By: Liz Kent http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-18 Liz Kent Sat, 02 Jun 2007 19:32:04 +0000 http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-18 I've just found your blog, having followed links from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, of which I am a member, through the BTO, and CPRE. I am so grateful for all the organic farmers like you who continue to farm in harmony with nature despite the EU and DEFRA, as without you, as well as the conservation organisations, we would be at serious risk of not having any wildlife or pollinating insects left. I hope that you can soon qualify for HLS, as the fact that you allow wild flowers to grow is what is enabling commercial crops to be pollinated, no thanks to the farmers of monocultures! Do have a look at the bumblebee website, to be found at www.bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk, also at www.plantlife.org.uk, which sites species decline in wildflowers to be due largely to modern farming practices and chemicals. Farms with species diversity should be rewarded. If you can encourage wildflowers which are rich in nectar, especially at times of year when nectar is scarce, you are doing a great thing to help our bees! I don't know if you are aware that the nectar of the invasive rhododendron ponticum contains low levels of toxins that can become concentrated in honey if there is too much of it in the area, and is best avoided. This plant needs to be controlled. I’ve just found your blog, having followed links from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, of which I am a member, through the BTO, and CPRE. I am so grateful for all the organic farmers like you who continue to farm in harmony with nature despite the EU and DEFRA, as without you, as well as the conservation organisations, we would be at serious risk of not having any wildlife or pollinating insects left. I hope that you can soon qualify for HLS, as the fact that you allow wild flowers to grow is what is enabling commercial crops to be pollinated, no thanks to the farmers of monocultures! Do have a look at the bumblebee website, to be found at http://www.bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk, also at http://www.plantlife.org.uk, which sites species decline in wildflowers to be due largely to modern farming practices and chemicals. Farms with species diversity should be rewarded. If you can encourage wildflowers which are rich in nectar, especially at times of year when nectar is scarce, you are doing a great thing to help our bees! I don’t know if you are aware that the nectar of the invasive rhododendron ponticum contains low levels of toxins that can become concentrated in honey if there is too much of it in the area, and is best avoided. This plant needs to be controlled.

]]> By: paula http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-16 paula Fri, 01 Jun 2007 22:20:40 +0000 http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-16 Thank you so much, Erin! One of the main things I try to achieve with both my cattle and sheep are contented, unstressed animals. This means allowing them to behave as naturally as possible. They then develop a good natural immunity within the flock or herd. By allowing them access to herb rich pastures and hedge/tree browsing you find that they will often self medicate. In fact watching what they graze can give you insight to possible problems, such as mineral deficiencies, worms etc. There are of course certain problems that do need addressing. For these I would obtain a derogation from the Soil Association and monitor the situation. I also have a closed flock and herd; this helps considerably towards animal health and wellbeing Thank you so much, Erin!
One of the main things I try to achieve with both my cattle and sheep are contented, unstressed animals. This means allowing them to behave as naturally as possible. They then develop a good natural immunity within the flock or herd. By allowing them access to herb rich pastures and hedge/tree browsing you find that they will often self medicate. In fact watching what they graze can give you insight to possible problems, such as mineral deficiencies, worms etc. There are of course certain problems that do need addressing. For these I would obtain a derogation from the Soil Association and monitor the situation. I also have a closed flock and herd; this helps considerably towards animal health and wellbeing

]]> By: Erin Gill http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-14 Erin Gill Thu, 31 May 2007 21:27:34 +0000 http://locksparkfarm.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/rhetoric-or-reality-part-1-hls-higher-level-stewardship/#comment-14 Paula, I love your blog! It's wonderfully written and your entries are helping me chip away at my agricultural ignorance. I've always wondered what fly strike was! In fact, your entry about the impact of persistent rain on sheep gave me a clue as to the purpose of all those tubs of veterinary medicines with worrying brand names that occupy a vast amount of space at our local farmers co-op in west Wales. As an organic farmer, you presumably don't use these medicines very often. How do you cope? It seems to me that all the sheep farmers around us - not to mention the remaining dairy farmers - couldn't farm without them. Paula, I love your blog! It’s wonderfully written and your entries are helping me chip away at my agricultural ignorance. I’ve always wondered what fly strike was! In fact, your entry about the impact of persistent rain on sheep gave me a clue as to the purpose of all those tubs of veterinary medicines with worrying brand names that occupy a vast amount of space at our local farmers co-op in west Wales. As an organic farmer, you presumably don’t use these medicines very often. How do you cope? It seems to me that all the sheep farmers around us - not to mention the remaining dairy farmers - couldn’t farm without them.

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