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Why are we converting to organic?

Pencuke Farm is not just our livelihood it’s our home as well, and we want to raise our family in an environment that will be sufficiently productive, yet in balance with its surroundings for generations to come. We feel the only way to achieve this, is by farming organically.

We have shopped organically for several years. This originally grew out of a concern for the impact that ingesting chemical residues would have on our long-term health, not just through food, but also skincare and household cleaning products. However over the last few years, we have learned more about intensive farming practices and now choose organic for more reasons. Environmental concerns for the long-term fertility of our soil, consideration for the survival of our essential wildlife such as the honeybee, and real concerns for the welfare of animals raised to satisfy our diet.

We’re completely new to farming and are learning as we go along (we haven’t yet decided if this is the fun way or the hard way) but the principals of organic farming seem logical and common sense.

Soil fertility

Soil fertility is key to a successful organic system. There are several million organisms that live in the soil, all performing a complex array of fertility maintenance tasks. Sustainable, ecological soil management should maintain and replenish soil fertility by providing the best conditions for these organisms in a balanced, biologically active soil. The application of pesticides and herbicides can affect how these organisms operate. In particular, over time, soils surrounding treated plants can become low in nitrogen compounds and require more and more artificial fertilizers to boost nitrogen. By conducting soil management organically, we use techniques such as crop rotation to encourage our soil to improve its own fertility and build natural defences against pests and weeds. We are currently having the soil fertility tested across the farm. This will allow us to understand the current condition of our soil and see what nutrients and trace elements are missing. Depending on the results, we will then plant a fertility-building crop in the form of a grass/clover ley. Good rotational design and the use of green manures, livestock manures and composts will all continue to build long-term soil fertility on Pencuke Farm.

Wildlife

Over the last 50 years the UK has witnessed a steep decline in wildlife. Organic farming depends on encouraging a diverse ecosystem to maintain soil fertility and to keep pests under control naturally. We achieve this by encouraging nature’s own predators through maintaining hedgerows and creating ‘wild’ spaces at the side of fields, and by changing the crops planted each season to keep soil fertile and avoid the need for chemicals. Organic farms are havens for wildlife and provide homes for bees, birds and butterflies. In fact, the UK Government’s own advisors found that plant, insect and bird life is up to 50% greater on organic farms.

Animal welfare

Organic standards insist that animals are given plenty of space and fresh air to thrive and grow, guaranteeing a truly free-range life. Farming livestock plays a vital role in managing our countryside however it doesn’t need to be at the detriment of animal welfare. Under organic rules, all aspects of animal welfare are tightly controlled, including rearing, shelter, feeding, transportation and slaughter. Ensuring good health is better than relying on drugs to treat disease, which is why the Soil Association put so much emphasis on practices that encourage healthy farm animals. We do this in many practical ways, such as keeping numbers down to reduce stress, providing appropriate nutritious feed and ensuring easy access to the outdoors. Organic animals cannot be given growth promoting hormones, regular doses of antibiotics or genetically modified (GM) feed.