There has always been a vegetable plot in the beautiful walled garden at Blackmarsh Farm but by 2020 it had become rather neglected.
A lock-down project to tidy up the garden soon became a full-time venture and with the help of Lara Honnor and Jack Matthews, we transformed previously unproductive beds into a thriving vegetable garden using the no-dig method.
The concept of no-dig gardening is largely self-explanatory – instead of digging up your soil, a layer of mulch or organic matter is laid on top of your beds. This is great for both the soil and your back!
The goal is to leave the soil as undisturbed as possible, allowing the complex web of soil life to thrive.
Our friends the earthworms, as well as microscopic bacteria and fungi, break down the organic matter and incorporate it into the soil.
When we disturb the soil, these wonderful organisms working away below the soil decrease and the fertility of the soil diminishes over time.
No-dig gardening encourages a strong healthy soil structure, resulting in earlier and bigger harvests. It helps keep the weeds down too!
Now the vegetable garden provides a variety of fresh vegetables and herbs for our café and for sale in our shop.
freshly served
On your next visit, you will find our kitchen garden produce both in our shop and in our café, from edible flowers garnishing our fresh salads, to take home tomato plants. All of our produce is seasonal and subject to our wonderful British weather conditions, which means it can change daily. All part of the joys of home grown.
