Cherry Garden Organic farm is a lush sprawling farm
extending over 33 acres of land. A wide variety of crops are grown here all year
round to keep our local farm shop well -stocked. We supply an impressive
range of organic
fruits and vegetables. We adopt rotation
of crops and we systematically grow cover crops like chicory, clovers and
grasses to infuse nutrient value and vigor to the soil and to sustain soil
fertility. Sustainable farming of organic vegetables is carried out successfully
in our organic farm. We encourage the growth of field margins, hedgerows and
develop rough areas to promote habitat diversity in order to support bird and
insect life as they are responsible for many ecological and environmental benefits.
We use on-farm resources plus non-renewable resources and we try and integrate
appropriately the biological cycles, as well as, controls.
Basic Objectives
Our primary goal is to enhance and boost natural resource
base and enrich environmental quality. Sustainable farming of organic fruits and vegetables in East Sussex aims firstly at environmental health and then, social
and economic equity and of course, economic profitability. These goals have
emerged from a number of guiding principles, policies, philosophies and
practices. We have considered the views and suggestions of people from
different walks of life, from consumers to farmers.
Sustainability implies that we should best utilize and
exploit available resources to derive optimum benefits but at the same time we
must take care that we do not deprive our future generations from meeting their
own needs. We must constantly strive toward enhancing and retaining our
resource base. Here at Cherry Garden Organic Farm, we achieve high yields in organic
vegetables as we utilize the resources available to us very
effectively by using modern technology. So our local farm shop in Kent is always able
to supply all vegetables and even fruits in season.
Techniques of
Sustainable agriculture
Crop rotation is the most important and effective technique
of sustainable agriculture. Cultivating different crops one after the other in
the same field should be your primary guiding principle. Crop rotation is an
effective way of controlling pest because some pests prefer certain crops, and
constant cultivation of the usual crop ensures constant and steady food supply,
therefore, pest population increase. Rotation of crops successfully cuts down pest
pressure by effectively breaking reproductive cycles of pests.
Cover Crops effectively prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds
and enhance soil fertility and quality. Use of proper cover crops help retain
and enhance soil fertility and effectively cut down on the use of chemical
inputs such as insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers.
Healthy and rich soil abounds with life that may include beneficial
insects and microbes. These are often destroyed by the thoughtless use of
pesticides. The richness and fertility of the soil can be retained and enhanced
by using animal manure or plant composts. One of the most effective and modern
pest-control methods is to encourage pest predators like insects, birds and
spiders that are predators of the harmful agricultural pests.