Springing Forward: Insights from the Warm, Wet, Windy Winter
Luke Boxall - March 2024
Dear Members of the Soil Nurture community,
As the festive season fades into memory, we find ourselves amid a bustling yet traditionally quiet period in the agricultural calendar. Despite this, the box room, which we call the office, has been abuzz with activity. We’ve spent these months meticulously planning, forging connections, and doing our best to learn as much as we can, all with the singular aim of supporting our farmers and growers on their 2024 journey. It’s been a challenging time for us as a business, as we try and expand our reach and generate greater interest in our products. While we’ve been knocking on doors tirelessly, we remain ever grateful for the unwavering support of our community.
Here are some of the highlights from our recent months:
Farming Insights: Cultivating Regenerative Practices and Continuous Learning
With the fields relatively quiet due to persistent rains, we’ve seized the opportunity to engage in insightful conversations with farmers. The focal discussions have revolved around two pivotal subjects: SFI and Carbon Credits. We’ve seen examples of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) generating success on larger farms, where the cultivation of trees on marginal land has increase revenue, however its application on smaller farms remains under scrutiny. Carbon Credits have sparked engaging dialogues, particularly regarding strategies to assist farmers in reducing chemical inputs through vermicast utilisation while simultaneously claiming credits for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction.
Luke recently participated in an enlightening event hosted by The Green Farmers collective, a dynamic group of regenerative farmers demonstrating the efficacy of their vision and practices. The workshop, featuring esteemed speakers Dan Kittredge of the Bionutrient Food Association and the Bionutrient Institute, and Patrick Holford of the Food for the Brain Foundation, emphasised the crucial link between nutrition, healthy soil, and nutrient-rich food production. Attendees were gained invaluable insights into optimising food quality and brain nutrition. The day concluded with a screening of the thought-provoking documentary “Six Inches of Soil,” underscoring the profound impact of soil health on our collective well-being.
Flooded fields in Shropshire
Vineyards: Tending to the Vineyard Vines
Amidst the winter lull, vineyards remain a hive of activity, with the focus shifting to wine sales and essential maintenance tasks. Hand-pruning, a labour-intensive yet vital practice, underscores the meticulous care that vineyards have on each vine. Excitingly, many vineyards have already committed to incorporating vermicast products, signalling a growing trend towards reducing chemical usage and enhancing biodiversity. Most discussions with new vineyards have focused on trials in areas with struggling vines. This offers promising prospects for revitalization, paving the way for healthier vineyard ecosystems. It’s also providing a great story to tell during vineyard tours.
Strawberries and Berries: Anticipating Spring Growth
As we await the arrival of spring, when strawberries are planted out, we look forward to the results of autumn vermicast trials on strawberry plants. Preliminary feedback from berry industry trials has been overwhelmingly positive, lauding the physical properties and ease of use of vermicast. Stay tuned as we unveil the outcomes in the coming months.
Landscapers: Building Resilient Landscapes
Against the backdrop of widespread tree planting efforts, vermicast emerges as a pivotal ally in enhancing tree establishment and resilience. We have been working with DOS Landscapes in Gloucestershire exemplifying the transformative potential of integrating vermicast into landscape designs, fortifying soil health to withstand climatic challenges.
Scientific Insights: Unveiling the Power of Vermicast
A recent study published by Ahmad et al. (2024) sheds light on the drought-resistant properties of wheat crops nurtured with vermicast. With forecasts predicting a hotter 2024, the study’s findings underscore the critical role of vermicast in bolstering crop resilience and productivity. Link here.
Soil Nurture Updates: Empowering Through Partnership and E-commerce
We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Mycolife, offering soil microbial analysis to empower farmers in optimising soil health.
Additionally, our newly launched e-commerce platform allows convenient access to our products, ensuring seamless delivery straight to your doorstep.
Meet Carlos A. Postlethwaite
My love of nature and philosophy has been the biggest driving force in my professional quests, ever since I was a teenager. My name is Carlos Alejandro Postlethwaite and I was born in Mexicali, Mexico, on the border with the US, where I completed most of my education. My studies include two undergraduate degrees, one in Agribusiness and one in Philosophy; two postgraduate degrees in Philosophy (one in Social Philosophy which remains uncompleted); and one Visiting Scholarship in the Philosophy department at the CUNY-Graduate Center. After receiving my degree in Agribusiness in California, I spent a couple of years working for one of my entrepreneurial family’s businesses, after which I joined the Jesuit religious order to work and live in underprivileged farming communities, where I got acquainted with sustainable farming practices. After six years as a social and agricultural promoter of sorts, I left the religious order and started a family with my wife, Emma. She and my two children are the centre of my life.
Between 2002 and 2021, I was very fortunate to contribute towards the growth of my family’s businesses, which were founded and lead by my father for the first 40 years and have recently been directed by my younger brother. During this time, I also taught Biology and Humanity courses at secondary, high school and university level. I always kept my eyes open for viable business opportunities that could lead agricultural production towards healthier practices while maximising quality and quantity of crop production. Which is why I decided to start Soil Nurture. I have always had a special love for the UK and have considered it part of my heritage, as it is part of my ancestry. So I am especially happy to have found that growers and farmers share Soil Nurture’s vision and enthusiasm.
As we embark on the journey ahead, let us continue to sow the seeds of sustainability, resilience, and growth. Together, we cultivate a future where thriving ecosystems and flourishing agriculture coexist harmoniously.
Worm regards,
The Soil Nurture Team
