At Trick Champ Farm, our approach to organic farming is more than just avoiding synthetic chemicals—it's a comprehensive philosophy that nurtures the soil, protects biodiversity, and produces nutritious food. Since our founding in 1985, we've been committed to working with nature, not against it. In this article, we'll share the key practices that form the foundation of our organic farming system.
Soil Health: The Foundation of Everything
We believe that healthy soil creates healthy plants, which in turn nourish healthy humans. Unlike conventional farming that often treats soil merely as a growing medium, we see it as a complex ecosystem teeming with life. Our soil management practices include:
- Composting - We produce our own compost from farm waste, kitchen scraps, and animal manure. This black gold returns vital nutrients to the soil and improves its structure.
- Minimal Tillage - Excessive tilling damages soil structure and disrupts the soil food web. We use minimal tillage methods to preserve soil life and prevent erosion.
- Cover Cropping - Between main crops, we plant cover crops like clover, rye, and phacelia that prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and add organic matter to the soil when incorporated.
- Crop Rotation - By rotating crops from different plant families, we break pest and disease cycles, balance nutrient needs, and maintain soil health.
A single teaspoon of healthy soil contains more microorganisms than there are people on Earth. These organisms form complex relationships that help plants access nutrients and resist disease.
Natural Pest Management
Rather than eradicating all pests with chemicals, we strive to create balanced ecosystems where beneficial insects help control pest populations. Our approach includes:
- Biodiversity - We maintain hedgerows, wildflower strips, and ponds that provide habitat for beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife that help control pests naturally.
- Companion Planting - Certain plants naturally repel pests or attract beneficial insects. For example, we plant marigolds to deter nematodes and nasturtiums to attract aphids away from crops.
- Physical Barriers - We use methods like row covers, netting, and copper tape to physically prevent pests from reaching vulnerable crops.
- Timing - By carefully planning planting times, we can avoid peak pest activity for certain crops.
When intervention is necessary, we use only organically approved treatments such as neem oil, diatomaceous earth, or biological controls like beneficial nematodes—always as a last resort and with careful attention to minimizing impacts on non-target organisms.
Water Conservation and Management
Water is a precious resource, and our farming practices aim to use it wisely while protecting water quality:
- Drip Irrigation - This efficient system delivers water directly to plant roots, reducing evaporation and runoff.
- Rainwater Harvesting - We collect rainwater from farm building roofs in large tanks for use during dry periods.
- Mulching - Organic mulches like straw and wood chips help retain soil moisture and reduce watering needs.
- Buffer Zones - We maintain planted strips along waterways to prevent erosion and filter any runoff from fields.
Seed Saving and Heritage Varieties
Modern agriculture has seen a dramatic loss of crop diversity, with many traditional varieties disappearing in favor of a few commercial hybrids. At Trick Champ Farm, we're working to preserve agricultural biodiversity through:
- Seed Saving - We save seeds from our best plants each year, selecting for traits that perform well in our local conditions.
- Heritage Varieties - We grow many traditional varieties that offer unique flavors, colors, and nutrient profiles not found in modern hybrids.
- Seed Exchanges - We participate in local seed swaps and national seed preservation networks to maintain crop diversity.
One of our favorite heritage crops is the Yorkshire Blue Pea, a traditional variety once common in Northern England but now rare. These beautiful purple-podded peas have exceptional flavor and are part of our efforts to keep regional food traditions alive.
Renewable Energy and Reduced Fossil Fuel Use
Sustainable farming isn't just about what happens in the soil—it's also about reducing our overall environmental footprint:
- Solar Power - Our main barn and packing shed are powered by solar panels, reducing our reliance on grid electricity.
- Electric Equipment - Where possible, we use electric tools and equipment charged by our solar system.
- Efficient Field Planning - We carefully plan field layouts and work schedules to minimize tractor use and fuel consumption.
- Local Distribution - By focusing on local markets, we reduce the transportation footprint of our produce.
The Challenges of Organic Farming
While we're passionate about organic methods, we don't pretend they're without challenges. Organic farming often requires:
- More Labor - Hand weeding and other manual tasks require more human hours than chemical approaches.
- Greater Knowledge - Success depends on understanding complex ecological relationships and natural cycles.
- Acceptance of Some Loss - Without chemical interventions, we sometimes accept lower yields or cosmetic imperfections.
- Long-term Planning - Building soil health and natural systems takes time and patience.
Despite these challenges, we believe the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks—for the land, for wildlife, for our customers' health, and for the future of farming.
Certification and Transparency
Trick Champ Farm has been certified organic by the UK Soil Association since 2005. This certification ensures we meet strict standards regarding:
- Prohibition of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers
- No genetically modified organisms
- Livestock welfare
- Land management practices
- Processing and handling procedures
Beyond certification, we believe in transparency. We welcome visitors to the farm during our seasonal open days, where you can see our practices firsthand and ask questions about how your food is grown.
The Future of Farming
As we look to the future, we're continuing to evolve our practices. Current areas of focus include:
- Agroforestry - Integrating trees and shrubs with crop production to create more resilient, productive systems
- Carbon Sequestration - Implementing practices that draw down atmospheric carbon and store it in soil
- Further Reducing Plastic - Researching alternatives to the plastic materials still used in some aspects of our operation
- Education - Expanding our farmer training program to help new organic growers succeed
We believe that organic farming isn't just about producing food today—it's about ensuring that future generations can continue to farm this land and enjoy its bounty. By working with natural systems rather than dominating them, we aim to leave Trick Champ Farm better than we found it, setting the stage for centuries more of productive, sustainable agriculture.
If you're interested in learning more about our organic practices or would like to visit the farm during one of our open days, please contact us or sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about upcoming events.
