Valehaead farm is 12 ha smallholding located near Stourbridge,  Staffordshire in the outskirts of large urbanised area of the so called Black County near Birmingham. It has been purchased by Glasshouse College part of Ruskin Mill Trust and gradually being converted from former equestrian centre into mixed smallholding serving the needs of the College as well adjacent community. Since 2006 the farms and its products are fully Demeter certified and in my times where distributed trough Ruskin Vale Organics. Nice short film about Valehead farm can be seen here…

The Glasshouse College is specialised Further Educational College focusing on young adults with learning, social and behavioural difficulties. It offers rich experiences in terms of skills development as well as social and therapeutic provision. 

In 2005 I came here as a Biodynamic apprentice and after completion of my training I have been involved in shaping and developing mainly the horticultural side of the project as well as teaching gardening curriculum to students. I used to work with volunteers coming from abroad as well as enthusiast from the area. 

Later after the garden operation got more complex I have opted for being work experience provider rather than tutor. I also become involved with BD apprenticeship learning program as a co-ordinator for the farm which become accredited learning centre. I held tutoring session and overseen the admin site of the program. Days been very full and busy with variety of tasks. From organisational, students and teaching issues up to practical and health and safety issues. It wasn't easy to balance so many balls but certainly I could say I have worked with all of my being to the fullest and best I could. As this project was relatively new lot of pioneering work was required. I have initiated and carried out project such as periphery rabbit fencing, watering infrastructure, root crop storage, processing of organic household waste trough wormery, seed propagations etc.

The Market Garden at Valehead can be described as consisting from two main parts. The vegetable field (pictured right and below), comprising of three blocks divided by rows of pear trees, with nine 80 m long beds  including two fallow beds. Since the soil here is very light (sandy loam) the use of various green-manures prove to be excellent soil conditioner and fertility improver. Each of these blocks have its own rotation. 

 One 40m long polytunnel is located at the west side of the vegetable field and had all year round crops growing in it with exception when it was oversown with green-manures such as mustard. 

Other two polythunnels (pictured below) belonged to the crop rotation and one part served as a propagation area. These polythunnnels are located in what we called the "Soft fruit garden".  I always felt that it is important for the students to see the whole process of plant growth from the seeds to its maturity. Gradually I have masters this very important part of the gardening cycle so I was able to grow healthy seedlings which than later been used in the garden. Altogether we have grown around thirty different types of vegetables and herbs. With this number of vegetables types timing prove to be very important. Hence I have every year produce for my own needs as wells for the apprentices and colleagues extensive Growing Schedule which had all the important info about what, when and where, what spacing to sow, or transplant, apply, compost, do cultivation work or how many trays one need for so and so many seedlings. This prove to be very essential in order to ensure that the plants have the best start possible and nothing is left out. The plan also served as a useful tool for calculating need amount of seeds and producing the seed order.
With directly sown root vegetables (carrots, beetroot, parsnips) I have applied with good result the pre mergence flaming method. Main weed control method been our Swiss hoes and at times our hands. Certain crops such as potatoes been grow on the ridges for easy of weed control and harvesting.

The Soft fruit Garden was intended as more sensory and aesthetic as well as productive area. It was originally divided into four parts and planted with  black currants, strawberries and other soft fruit including gooseberries, raspberries etc. Along the pathways the permanent flower border been established and maintained at times with great effort as the weed pressure on permanent beds increase with time. The results though was always great and walking trough was a real treat especially in late spring and summer. 

Propagation area in the small polytunnel with peppers and aubergines. Every little bit of space got used for growing. 

Transplanting tomatoes with students ….and after few months….

Herbaceous border in full bloom in the soft fruit garden…lot of work....I will do it differently today:) 

The garden team consisted most of the time from two tutors/gardeners who worked with up to three students at the time. Additional and very essential help provided apprentices and local volunteers. Here Jonas from Germany and Richard second year student caring crate with Hokkaido pumpkins. 

Ben in his first year of apprenticeship and me (behind the camera) burring the Biodynamic preparations. Most of them we have made ourselves from the scratch. Extra work but worth it. I enjoyed especially collecting the flowers heads from dandelions and yarrow which we have plenty of at the farm. The only BD prep plant which didn't natural grow at the farm was valerian. I have made attempts to introduced it to our wetland area. 

Running a garden a growing food for others doesn't work without sufficient support and willing hands, hearts and heads. I have tried to guide the apprentices trough what has found a form of accredited training in Biodynamics. Thought there were a lot of paper to fill in there was still plenty work to be done outside. Here (left) Ben and Iza are taking the fleece away from the bed.  Below Ben is practicing his driving skills when making compost. 

Without supporting each other it doesn't work. Here we harvesting fodder Swedes for the animals to eat at the winter. Farm team, apprentices and students all working together.

My door to Biodynamics was trough studying and researching about moon gardening and various lunar calendars and systems. It is continuing to be for me the most inspiring and controversial part of Biodynamics. I and one former apprentices have carried altogether three month long seed sowing trials using radishes. I have summoned various authorities (Mark Moodie, Malcolm Gardner, Nick Kollerstrom) to help me out with my sowing trials but non of them seams to be convincing enough to rejoice in one or other direction.  Thanks good the plants still grow regardless of the aspects…

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