The BBC’s Gardeners’ World visited the farm to talk to Josh about the innovative and sustainable methods he employs to grow high-quality food at The Collective
Horticultural maverick
We were flattered when Gardeners’ World presenter Frances Tophill came to visit our head gardener Josh Sparkes at Birch Farm. On the show she described him as a ‘horticultural maverick, pioneering all sorts of natural methods for sustainable food production.’
Frances explained how Josh, a former head gardener at some of the most famous gardens in the country, had left the UK to travel to Japan to study horticulture. Since he joined The Collective, four years ago, we’ve been lucky enough to reap the delicious rewards of his wisdom, care and knowledge.
On the show, Josh explained to Francis how the way he grows our plants at Birch Farm has two main influences: Japanese natural farming – building a complete ecosystem around vegetables; and agroforestry – the use of trees and forests in farming.
Frances was impressed with how lush the garden looked, especially when Josh explained we don’t use compost – at least not in the traditional sense. Josh demonstrated a Japanese composting method called bokashi which can be used for foods that traditionally can’t be composted, such as bread, cheese and meat. He also explained how, unlike traditional composting – where about 60 per cent of the mass is lost via greenhouse gases to the atmosphere – this method only loses about 1 per cent.
Eye-watering abundance
Mostly though, Frances enjoyed what she described as an ‘eye-watering abundance of food, and [that] it’s aesthetically pleasing.’
We are thrilled to get a coveted slot on this much-loved programme, giving us a chance to show the world just how innovative and imaginative Josh and his team are when it comes to providing homegrown delicious ingredients for The Farmers Arms and the breakfasts for guests who stay at The Collective.
Come and visit us and see for yourself what we’re doing here in the wilds of Devon. Visit our events area for the latest garden visits and workshops.
Watch the episode on BBC iPlayer (42 minutes in)
