The Farm

History
The land at Sunnyfields farm was converted to organic status 1986. Initially the farm supplied supermarkets until 1989 when Ian and Louise Nelson took over the tenancy of the farm. Since 1989 the business has developed into a multi-faceted business which has established itself as one of the best in the business. Sunnyfields now farms on 3 separate sites with the largest one in West Wellow near Romsey being owned by Ian and Louise. The aim of the business has always been to have a broad brief and to supply as directly as possible to the end user as possible. This we have done through the Saturday Market at the farm, the other markets we attend, the farm shop and delivery service. The aim is to get the produce from the field to the plate as fast as possible with as fewer people in the chain.

The Land
The farm is 55ha (130 acres) and is of mixed grades. Sunnyfields Farm is grade two and three clay soil over a solid clay base which is a challenging soil for growing vegetables in. There are seven rather irregularly shaped fields with good hedgerows which is wonderful for wildlife but means that there is only about 7 ha of land available for growing. In 2001 an additional 5 ha certified organic field of grade one silt over gravel was taken on allowing a considerable increase in the amount of crops grown. In 2004 Ian and Louise purchased 35ha (80acres) near Romsey, this ground is excellent and has the River Blackwater running through it. A lake has since been constructed to provide extensive irrigation capacity during dry summers. The land at Kings Farm was converted to organic status.

How we farm

Rotation

Rotation
We have a seven year flexible rotation. For two years the land is down to a grass clover sward which is occasionally mown. In future we plan to have organic chickens for eggs and meat which will graze the pasture. For the other five years we grow a range of vegetables making sure that the same crop family are not grown on the same ground more than once every four years. Some crops that are particularly vulnerable to soil bourne pests and diseases, such as brassicas we prefer to grown even less frequently on the same piece of land. We regularly apply composted farm yard manure or certified organic municipal compost to maintain soil health and supply nutrients.

Cultivation

Cultivation
We use a six foot 'bed system' where the tractor tyres always travel in the same place creating a wheeling thus keeping the soil in-between free of compaction. The main form of cultivation is to loosen the soil between the wheelings with ridged leg tines then follow that with a bedformer to create a tilth and level seed bed.

Planting

Planting
Nearly all our crops are transplanted with the exception of root vegetables and sweet corn. Using transplants makes better use of our limited land area and gives the crops a head start over the weeds. All the plants are planted by hand with four rows always fourteen inches apart to a bed. We vary the spacing of the plants along the row to get the right crop densities.

Pests and Disease
We have very few problems with invertebrate pests and diseases due to the wide number of crops we grow, our diverse rotations and the biodiversity on our farm. Vertebrate pests are a much bigger problem, particularly rabbits which we fence off, and birds against which we use enviromesh covers over the crop.

Weed Control

Weed Control
Our main methods for weed control are our diverse rotation, non-soil inverting cultivation techniques, false seed beds for transplants and stale seed beds utilising a flame weeder for drilled crops. After planting we use a customised brush hoe with mini ridgers for most of the weeding and then hand weed when necessary.

Irrigation

Irrigation
We irrigate to get optimal yields from the crops and to ensure recently planted crops survive until they get their roots down. For newly planted crops we use a custom made water bowser fitted to a tractor that puts a good measure of water down the crop row. For bigger crops we use hand moved sprinklers or reel irrigators.

Harvesting

Harvesting
Most crops are harvested by hand to order. The main exception is potatoes which can not be overwintered in the ground in the UK. The produce is normally harvested into field crates and then taken to the packhouse to be sorted and packed.