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Agrarian Renaissance @ Church Farm, Ardeley
Church Farm is a 175 acre ecological mixed farm in the village of Ardeley, Hertfordshire. In the past year we have restored countless habitats for a diverse variety of species, and returned to traditional farming methods, working with nature instead of against it to create a sustainable agricultural future. Please take a look around our farm.
Free Range Chickens at Vicar's Orchard.
People Of The Farm - Staff, family, friends, events, good times.
Glorious Mud
Here are our Berkshire and British Lop pigs and piglets enjoying the mud.
Victorian Pastured Sheep & Lambs
Our Black Welsh Mountain and Lleyn sheep are raised on a traditional Victorian-based pasture of clovers, herbs and mixed ley. These plants grow and mature at different times of the year, providing continual variety for the animals to eat. The legumes fix nitrogen, feeding the grass, and the whole system provides a higher protein and mineral content than the pure grass leys typically used in modern farming. Our sheep and lambs have plenty of space to run, play and sleep, eliminating stress from overcrowding and boredom. Feel free to come and see them.
In The Beginning
Agrarian Renaissance founder Tim Waygood talks a bit about the history of Church Farm.
Little Chickens
The yellow ones are 2-week-old French Sasso chickens, and the black ones are 1-day-old Rhode Rocks.
Beans In The Polytunnels
John "The Veg" Kellas talks us through the beans he's growing in the polytunnel.
Chickens In Vicars Orchard
Welcome to newly-planted Vicars Orchard, where we grow 130 different varieties of fruit including apples, pears, cherries, plums and peaches. The orchard contains over 700 trees and will reach full production in 2012. Our three varieties of free range layer hens also live here - the Black Rock, the Light Sussex and the Rhode Island Red. Feel free to visit them and see their quality of life for yourself.
Pesticides Vs Predators
At the farm meeting held for the residents of Ardeley and the surrounding areas on May 23rd 2009, Agrarian Renaissance founder Tim Waygood explains why we're trying to use natural predators rather than chemicals for our pest control. Big up the ladybird!
Spring/Summer 2008
Photographs from our first spring and summer.
Crops Around The Windbreak
John "The Veg" Kellas tells us about the crops he's growing in the area around the windbreak - courgettes, winter squashes, brussels sprouts - and the role the pigs are playing.
Bluebells And Birdsong
If you go down to the woods today.....this is what you'll see and hear. All of the birdsong is genuine! Peaceful, isn't it.
Sophie The Piglet: A Fearsome Beast
The infamous piglet going to town on a compost bag. (She doesn't eat it, but I took it away just in case.) Please excuse all instances of camera shake; it's remarkably difficult to keep a steady hand when lambs are chewing your trousers.
Farm Walk - 2nd June 09
A wander around the farm.
Winter 2008-2009
Scenes from around the farm over this past winter.
Tomatoes In The Polytunnels
An excerpt from a tour of the veg area given by our grower-wizard John "The Veg" Kellas. Here, he explains exactly what we're growing in our tomato-and-pepper polytunnel. It was a very windy, rainy day!
Sheep Shearing Day
Our Black Welsh Mountain and Lleyn sheep giving up their fleeces. A very sweaty day - less so for the sheep!
Red Poll Cattle
Red Poll cattle are a British breed, originating from East Anglia. The Red Poll was bred by crossing a Suffolk Dun dairy cow and a Norfolk Red beef cow in 1870. The result was a dual-purpose, hardy animal, perfect for traditional mixed farming systems like ours. We welcomed our herd of Red Polls to Church Farm in March last year, and theyve been thriving ever since.
Peas In The Polytunnels
More from John "The Veg" Kellas's tour of the polytunnels. In this episode: peas, beans and spinach!
Red Poll Cattle
Red Poll cattle are a British breed, originating from East Anglia. The Red Poll was bred by crossing a Suffolk Dun dairy cow and a Norfolk Red beef cow in 1870. The result was a dual-purpose, hardy animal, perfect for traditional mixed farming systems like ours. We welcomed our herd of Red Polls to Church Farm in March last year, and theyve been thriving ever since.
