|
|
|
|
|
About
Us |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Isles of Scilly
are the last outcrop of a line of granite running from Dartmoor, through
Bodmin Moor and Land’s End. The islands are about 30 miles
off the mainland of Cornwall, open to the full effects of the weather from
the Atlantic. Winds can be very strong, particularly in winter,
but being in the south-westerly Gulf Stream does mean the islands are always
mild and often damp; yet they receive a lot of sunshine, hence the nickname
of ‘the Fortunate Isles’. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Soils on the islands
are primarily very sandy, free draining and nutrient poor. Fresh water is
never in abundance, and gales from the Atlantic can cover the islands in
salt. Difficult growing conditions then? Yes and no. The very mild climate
means long growing seasons, and the abundance of seaweed, storm-washed in
winter, makes a wonderful fertiliser costing nothing! Hardy windbreaks protect
the small fields, and water conservation measures make growing in the, often
warm and dry, summers possible. |
|
|
|
|
|
The islands have been
renowned for cut flowers, predominantly Narcissi, for around 100 years,
turning fields bright yellow or white - a welcome sight in winter. However
the industry is in decline at present due to high transport costs and less
expensive imports – like the fields we use at Middle Town, many fields
were used for cut flowers at one stage. There are still some cut flower
growers operating on the islands– see Links for details. It
is sad to see so many fields disused; the resurgence of interest
in local food production on the islands could help to turn this around.
We hope this may be a model to follow. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The market garden is
in conversion to organic, and will be fully organic in the spring of 2004.
It is the first holding on the islands to convert to certified organic management.
We believe in the strength of organic management, and as such are licensed
with the Soil Association. The Soil Association
is the UK’s best-known certifier of organic farms and food; they also
campaign adamantly for organic food and farming and sustainable forestry.
See here for more information on organic
growing. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We grow a wide
range of crops, from Raspberries to Lettuce, Apples to Squash and
Mizuna to Kale (for full product details see here).
Freshness and vitality is so important in what we eat - after all, we are
what we eat. Sadly this freshness and vitality is all but lost in most food
bought in supermarkets. Here on St. Martin’s the food travels hundreds
of yards rather than hundreds of miles, from fork to fork. We believe this
gives us an unrivalled position of providing fresh, healthy and tasty food
that people can trust for quality and integrity. Combined with the chance
to walk around the market garden in one of our regular walks (see events
for details) - to see how the food is produced - we believe there
is no better way to buy fruit and vegetables on the islands. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We also use the principles
of Permaculture, enabling us work in an integrated system that is designed
to maximise output and minimise input. This includes the use of raised beds,
planting of polycultures, gravity-fed watering systems, natural cold storage,
and agroforestry. We experiment with innovative crops – watch this
space for some weird and wonderful new crops for sale! Our system
of raised beds is very uncommon in this country; much used abroad,
they are a great way of increasing productivity and really caring for the
soil. Come and see why we think they should be used more. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We urge you to come and visit us on St. Martin’s
to see how exciting food production can really be, and all the benefits
derived from producing food in a sustainable way. And we hope you enjoy
our fruit and veg too! |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|