Mark Lea
@greenacresfarm.bsky.social
Shropshire Organic farmer growing nutritious food, supporting nature and capturing carbon 🌳🍀🐝🍞
Pea field inc quite a complicated trial drilled beautifully today. Three different Carlin pea/naked barley combination rates and 100% controls of both crops - searching for pea growing resilience!
April 2, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Pea field inc quite a complicated trial drilled beautifully today. Three different Carlin pea/naked barley combination rates and 100% controls of both crops - searching for pea growing resilience!
Blue sky and even a bit of dust, spring drilling off to a perfect start with the LiveOat variety trial - 4 varieties and a blend of them all in this block
March 20, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Blue sky and even a bit of dust, spring drilling off to a perfect start with the LiveOat variety trial - 4 varieties and a blend of them all in this block
Reposted by Mark Lea
"We were incredibly lacking in diversity before organic conversion." @greenacresfarm.bsky.social
#ResilientFarmRoadshow #organicfarming
"Our most important crop is our #herballeys, as it gives us fertility to produce the crops that come after it. Our farm system wouldn't work without diversity."
#ResilientFarmRoadshow #organicfarming
"Our most important crop is our #herballeys, as it gives us fertility to produce the crops that come after it. Our farm system wouldn't work without diversity."
February 11, 2026 at 2:13 PM
"We were incredibly lacking in diversity before organic conversion." @greenacresfarm.bsky.social
#ResilientFarmRoadshow #organicfarming
"Our most important crop is our #herballeys, as it gives us fertility to produce the crops that come after it. Our farm system wouldn't work without diversity."
#ResilientFarmRoadshow #organicfarming
"Our most important crop is our #herballeys, as it gives us fertility to produce the crops that come after it. Our farm system wouldn't work without diversity."
Reposted by Mark Lea
In our early years of growing YQ wheat it gave us great resilience - we realised it was modern wheats that weren't working for us. We then started growing older and older wheats and engaging with a whole new supply chain of artisan bakers. @greenacresfarm.bsky.social
#ResilientFarmRoadshow
#ResilientFarmRoadshow
February 11, 2026 at 2:16 PM
In our early years of growing YQ wheat it gave us great resilience - we realised it was modern wheats that weren't working for us. We then started growing older and older wheats and engaging with a whole new supply chain of artisan bakers. @greenacresfarm.bsky.social
#ResilientFarmRoadshow
#ResilientFarmRoadshow
Reposted by Mark Lea
Agroforestry systems have gone in over 51ha of the farm. Our crop is nature and in particular the Corn Bunting, they are a real love of ours on the farm and we’re seeing more and more of them. @greenacresfarm.bsky.social
#ResilientFarmRoadshow
#ResilientFarmRoadshow
February 11, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Agroforestry systems have gone in over 51ha of the farm. Our crop is nature and in particular the Corn Bunting, they are a real love of ours on the farm and we’re seeing more and more of them. @greenacresfarm.bsky.social
#ResilientFarmRoadshow
#ResilientFarmRoadshow
The remarkably early harvest of ‘25 is over here with one of its better crops. Organic hulless naked barley, bred by @edwarddickin.bsky.social and combination crop carlin peas, both grown for Hodmedods amongst the new agroforestry - a field full of wildlife and trailers full of nutritious food!
August 11, 2025 at 5:25 AM
The remarkably early harvest of ‘25 is over here with one of its better crops. Organic hulless naked barley, bred by @edwarddickin.bsky.social and combination crop carlin peas, both grown for Hodmedods amongst the new agroforestry - a field full of wildlife and trailers full of nutritious food!
Long planned barn taking shape at last - I love this sort of construction
June 11, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Long planned barn taking shape at last - I love this sort of construction
Delighted with our two new Shropshire ewes - settling into their new Shropshire home amongst the trees
April 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Delighted with our two new Shropshire ewes - settling into their new Shropshire home amongst the trees
Undersowing April Bearded spring heritage wheat with next years herbal ley, and now it’s raining at last! Thank you spring ‘25
April 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Undersowing April Bearded spring heritage wheat with next years herbal ley, and now it’s raining at last! Thank you spring ‘25
13 months on from laying, this hedge is absolutely flying!
April 13, 2025 at 9:35 PM
13 months on from laying, this hedge is absolutely flying!
Props in position for 2nd of 4 school visits this week. Agroecology for 8yr olds - organic food, nature, planet and anything else that crops up!
April 8, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Props in position for 2nd of 4 school visits this week. Agroecology for 8yr olds - organic food, nature, planet and anything else that crops up!
The dreamy (if a little too dry) spring continues with organic spring oats receiving a gentle first harrow pass - chemical free weed control
April 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The dreamy (if a little too dry) spring continues with organic spring oats receiving a gentle first harrow pass - chemical free weed control
Three vintage classics doing a fine job #agroforestry
March 27, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Three vintage classics doing a fine job #agroforestry
One of the most satisfying sights in the farming year - rolling herbal leys
March 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
One of the most satisfying sights in the farming year - rolling herbal leys
Throughout our agroforestry planning I’ve had a dream that the old Kuhn Primor silage feeder would mulch our trees - the dream has come true! 🌳
March 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Throughout our agroforestry planning I’ve had a dream that the old Kuhn Primor silage feeder would mulch our trees - the dream has come true! 🌳
10 months after suffering a seized engine on a tractor run the little MF35 is finally back in one piece and at work - it’s been quite a marathon!
February 27, 2025 at 7:24 PM
10 months after suffering a seized engine on a tractor run the little MF35 is finally back in one piece and at work - it’s been quite a marathon!
The next phase of Agroforestry begins on our wetter land - alders supplied with their guards by Woodland Trust who helped us out when Defra suspended Capital Grants - thank you!
February 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM
The next phase of Agroforestry begins on our wetter land - alders supplied with their guards by Woodland Trust who helped us out when Defra suspended Capital Grants - thank you!
It’s all #agroforestry here atm. Another hard day marking out hawthorn, crab apple, alder and rowan lines ready for a planting push tomorrow - landscape change! 🌳🌳🌳
February 12, 2025 at 8:52 PM
It’s all #agroforestry here atm. Another hard day marking out hawthorn, crab apple, alder and rowan lines ready for a planting push tomorrow - landscape change! 🌳🌳🌳
Reposted by Mark Lea
This month we are focusing on #livingmulches using legumes to provide protection for the soil as a permanent semi-permanent ground cover
☘️ We kick off by revisiting this blog by Dominic Amos - with key practical considerations for farmers
ow.ly/cGuK50UUQKA
☘️ We kick off by revisiting this blog by Dominic Amos - with key practical considerations for farmers
ow.ly/cGuK50UUQKA
Living mulches for sustainable cropping systems: A step towards 'Regenerative Organic' Agriculture in the UK? - Agricology
Reducing tillage and chemical inputs can be beneficial for soil and the environment, so could a permanent clover understorey acting as a 'living mulch', moving towards a perennial soil cover, offer a ...
ow.ly
February 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
This month we are focusing on #livingmulches using legumes to provide protection for the soil as a permanent semi-permanent ground cover
☘️ We kick off by revisiting this blog by Dominic Amos - with key practical considerations for farmers
ow.ly/cGuK50UUQKA
☘️ We kick off by revisiting this blog by Dominic Amos - with key practical considerations for farmers
ow.ly/cGuK50UUQKA
An absolutely stunning day from start to finish. 13% of our #agroforestry trees in on day 1 - aching limbs but few days are as satisfying as this!
February 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
An absolutely stunning day from start to finish. 13% of our #agroforestry trees in on day 1 - aching limbs but few days are as satisfying as this!
1 tree in, 3147 to go - #agroforestry is underway! 🌳🌳🌳
February 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
1 tree in, 3147 to go - #agroforestry is underway! 🌳🌳🌳
Reposted by Mark Lea
Grain Supply Chain Collaboration Through On-Farm Research. #ORFC25 Thurs 9th Jan 11.00 – 12.30 GMT (In person). Oxford Real Farming Conference. Chaired by Andrew Trump with Rufus Pawsey, @greenacresfarm.bsky.social Steven McAllister, and Catherine Howarth speaking agricology.co.uk/blog/agricol...
January 6, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Grain Supply Chain Collaboration Through On-Farm Research. #ORFC25 Thurs 9th Jan 11.00 – 12.30 GMT (In person). Oxford Real Farming Conference. Chaired by Andrew Trump with Rufus Pawsey, @greenacresfarm.bsky.social Steven McAllister, and Catherine Howarth speaking agricology.co.uk/blog/agricol...
Reposted by Mark Lea
Join us at #ORFC25 Oxford Real Farming Conference
for a session on 'Living with #livingmulches' Friday, 10th January, 13.00 – 13.45 GMT (In person). Chaired by our own Matt Smee and featuring @greenacresfarm.bsky.social agricology.co.uk/blog/agricol...
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for a session on 'Living with #livingmulches' Friday, 10th January, 13.00 – 13.45 GMT (In person). Chaired by our own Matt Smee and featuring @greenacresfarm.bsky.social agricology.co.uk/blog/agricol...
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January 2, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Join us at #ORFC25 Oxford Real Farming Conference
for a session on 'Living with #livingmulches' Friday, 10th January, 13.00 – 13.45 GMT (In person). Chaired by our own Matt Smee and featuring @greenacresfarm.bsky.social agricology.co.uk/blog/agricol...
.
for a session on 'Living with #livingmulches' Friday, 10th January, 13.00 – 13.45 GMT (In person). Chaired by our own Matt Smee and featuring @greenacresfarm.bsky.social agricology.co.uk/blog/agricol...
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Two new recruits today - we’re assured they’re top mousers! 🐭
December 4, 2024 at 6:26 PM
Two new recruits today - we’re assured they’re top mousers! 🐭