"Stroll through the Mill Barton Farm" or "A leisurely walk at Mill Barton's farm"
Published on March 21, 2023
In North Devon, the scenic Mill Barton Farm recently hosted an event organised by Pasture for Life's southwest team, where farm members gathered to discuss transitioning from a high-input to a low-input farm system. The event, held on Tuesday, 14th March, was marked by a positive atmosphere and extended duration, despite running over its scheduled time.
Bella and Toby, the farm's owners, welcomed the attendees and presented their land restoration efforts, which included leaky dams, newly dug ponds, culm grassland restoration, woodland planting, and management. The day's takeaway messages included the hope that degraded soil can be restored, water can be cleaned by simple interventions, and the complexity found in nature-based farming is powerful.
The food served during the event was prepared by Toby and included their own beef and locally farmed potatoes. The group also scattered culm land restoration seeds during the event. The weather was warm and sunny, making it pleasant for the participants.
One of the highlights of the event was the algae-filled pond on the farm, which takes the runoff from a field that had been over-fertilized with turkey slurry for years but has not received any inputs for 5 years. This pond serves as a testament to the power of natural processes in cleaning water.
Bella and Toby also run Digg and Co, a landscape architect consultancy, from their new studio/office at the farm. Their species-rich fields, different from the historically overly fertilized land, are a testament to their successful transition efforts.
The event concluded with the announcement of a larger summer gathering to be hosted at Mill Barton Farm. For those interested in learning more about Mill Barton Farm's transition journey, local agricultural advisory services or universities in Devon might have documented case studies. Farming reports or conservation trusts specialising in sustainable agriculture transitions in the UK could also provide valuable insights.
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