Briar Farm
@briarfarm.bsky.social
Establishing an agroecological, mixed-use farm on a disused plant nursery in Cambridgeshire, UK
A wet and dreary one out here today. We made good headway clearing the glasshouse and hauling old equipment out of the way.
December 1, 2025 at 3:17 PM
A wet and dreary one out here today. We made good headway clearing the glasshouse and hauling old equipment out of the way.
Picked up an orange and buttercream cake topped with jam made from seabuckthorn grown on the farm.
This was made by our very talented local baker. Great to see some of our more unusual produce going to such good use!
This was made by our very talented local baker. Great to see some of our more unusual produce going to such good use!
November 29, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Picked up an orange and buttercream cake topped with jam made from seabuckthorn grown on the farm.
This was made by our very talented local baker. Great to see some of our more unusual produce going to such good use!
This was made by our very talented local baker. Great to see some of our more unusual produce going to such good use!
Prepping new ground ready for planting.
This area, which is inside our market garden fence, will be a basketry willow coppice.
This area, which is inside our market garden fence, will be a basketry willow coppice.
November 27, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Prepping new ground ready for planting.
This area, which is inside our market garden fence, will be a basketry willow coppice.
This area, which is inside our market garden fence, will be a basketry willow coppice.
A very exciting parcel has arrived! Peach and nectarine trees to plant in the glasshouse.
These will form the ‘canopy’ of our forest garden and will be underplanted with a wide variety of perennial edible plants.
We will also be adding apricot and persimmon trees to the mix
These will form the ‘canopy’ of our forest garden and will be underplanted with a wide variety of perennial edible plants.
We will also be adding apricot and persimmon trees to the mix
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
A very exciting parcel has arrived! Peach and nectarine trees to plant in the glasshouse.
These will form the ‘canopy’ of our forest garden and will be underplanted with a wide variety of perennial edible plants.
We will also be adding apricot and persimmon trees to the mix
These will form the ‘canopy’ of our forest garden and will be underplanted with a wide variety of perennial edible plants.
We will also be adding apricot and persimmon trees to the mix
Some very low-tech threshing and winnowing of our home grown population wheat.
A tiny harvest but incredibly satisfying. We hope to scale this up over the coming years and get more people involved at all steps of the process.
A tiny harvest but incredibly satisfying. We hope to scale this up over the coming years and get more people involved at all steps of the process.
November 25, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Some very low-tech threshing and winnowing of our home grown population wheat.
A tiny harvest but incredibly satisfying. We hope to scale this up over the coming years and get more people involved at all steps of the process.
A tiny harvest but incredibly satisfying. We hope to scale this up over the coming years and get more people involved at all steps of the process.
Getting asked lots of questions about how we deal with the bramble regrowth in the newly cleared glasshouse.
Simple answer is when we see fresh shoots we nip the root ball out with a mattock. Look at the size of some of them!
Seems to be working well so far.
Simple answer is when we see fresh shoots we nip the root ball out with a mattock. Look at the size of some of them!
Seems to be working well so far.
November 25, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Getting asked lots of questions about how we deal with the bramble regrowth in the newly cleared glasshouse.
Simple answer is when we see fresh shoots we nip the root ball out with a mattock. Look at the size of some of them!
Seems to be working well so far.
Simple answer is when we see fresh shoots we nip the root ball out with a mattock. Look at the size of some of them!
Seems to be working well so far.
We planted four cherry trees in the glasshouse today.
They will be fan trained in a line right down the centre of the growing area. This will provide a crop but also dappled light to shade the annual beds either side.
They will be fan trained in a line right down the centre of the growing area. This will provide a crop but also dappled light to shade the annual beds either side.
November 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
We planted four cherry trees in the glasshouse today.
They will be fan trained in a line right down the centre of the growing area. This will provide a crop but also dappled light to shade the annual beds either side.
They will be fan trained in a line right down the centre of the growing area. This will provide a crop but also dappled light to shade the annual beds either side.
Grapes and pomegranate planted in the glasshouse today. We aim to grow the grapes up in to the eaves and then train along the rafters. This will add dappled shade to plants below while also giving a harvest.
November 20, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Grapes and pomegranate planted in the glasshouse today. We aim to grow the grapes up in to the eaves and then train along the rafters. This will add dappled shade to plants below while also giving a harvest.
Hannah clearing bramble form the upper reaches of the glasshouse.
Hard work, but satisfying when it comes down in great big slabs!
Hard work, but satisfying when it comes down in great big slabs!
November 20, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Hannah clearing bramble form the upper reaches of the glasshouse.
Hard work, but satisfying when it comes down in great big slabs!
Hard work, but satisfying when it comes down in great big slabs!
Windy old day to be tree planting.
Got nearly 100 in today, mostly field maple, holly and hazel.
Got nearly 100 in today, mostly field maple, holly and hazel.
November 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Windy old day to be tree planting.
Got nearly 100 in today, mostly field maple, holly and hazel.
Got nearly 100 in today, mostly field maple, holly and hazel.
90 trees replanted today to replace the ones that died in the drought. These are oak and hazel for our hedgerow, coppice, and scrub blocks.
Next planting session it’s field maple, holly and small leaved lime.
Next planting session it’s field maple, holly and small leaved lime.
November 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM
90 trees replanted today to replace the ones that died in the drought. These are oak and hazel for our hedgerow, coppice, and scrub blocks.
Next planting session it’s field maple, holly and small leaved lime.
Next planting session it’s field maple, holly and small leaved lime.
Nice hail of Jerusalem artichokes. We’ve struggled with growing these in the past, but this year they’ve done us proud.
That’s 5.5kg off just two plants; headed off for an event on Friday with some other goodies.
That’s 5.5kg off just two plants; headed off for an event on Friday with some other goodies.
November 12, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Nice hail of Jerusalem artichokes. We’ve struggled with growing these in the past, but this year they’ve done us proud.
That’s 5.5kg off just two plants; headed off for an event on Friday with some other goodies.
That’s 5.5kg off just two plants; headed off for an event on Friday with some other goodies.
Glasshouse clearance coming on well. What was once a solid wall of bramble is slowly becoming a structure.
Lots of glass has blown out from the side walls so it’s a slow job removing it to the skip
Lots of glass has blown out from the side walls so it’s a slow job removing it to the skip
November 12, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Glasshouse clearance coming on well. What was once a solid wall of bramble is slowly becoming a structure.
Lots of glass has blown out from the side walls so it’s a slow job removing it to the skip
Lots of glass has blown out from the side walls so it’s a slow job removing it to the skip
Some days on the farm it’s glorious afternoons planting out trees in the autumnal sunshine.
Other days it’s frustrating stop-start mornings fixing malfunctioning equipment in the drizzle! Today is one of those days; two seized hedge trimmers, a busted ignition and a stuck bolt.
Other days it’s frustrating stop-start mornings fixing malfunctioning equipment in the drizzle! Today is one of those days; two seized hedge trimmers, a busted ignition and a stuck bolt.
November 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Some days on the farm it’s glorious afternoons planting out trees in the autumnal sunshine.
Other days it’s frustrating stop-start mornings fixing malfunctioning equipment in the drizzle! Today is one of those days; two seized hedge trimmers, a busted ignition and a stuck bolt.
Other days it’s frustrating stop-start mornings fixing malfunctioning equipment in the drizzle! Today is one of those days; two seized hedge trimmers, a busted ignition and a stuck bolt.
Tree planting continues apace!
This season we’ll be planting around 300 native trees as well as 70 fruit trees.
This season we’ll be planting around 300 native trees as well as 70 fruit trees.
November 9, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Tree planting continues apace!
This season we’ll be planting around 300 native trees as well as 70 fruit trees.
This season we’ll be planting around 300 native trees as well as 70 fruit trees.
Headed out to RSPB Ouse Fen last night to catch up with friends and watch the starlings congregate for murmuration.
Saw bittern and marsh harriers. Such a beautiful spot.
Saw bittern and marsh harriers. Such a beautiful spot.
November 9, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Headed out to RSPB Ouse Fen last night to catch up with friends and watch the starlings congregate for murmuration.
Saw bittern and marsh harriers. Such a beautiful spot.
Saw bittern and marsh harriers. Such a beautiful spot.
Slug and snail grazing trails on the glasshouse panes.
November 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Slug and snail grazing trails on the glasshouse panes.
Agaric mushrooms, the first ones we’ve seen on the farm. Found on rabbit grazed pasture just off one of our tracks.
November 7, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Agaric mushrooms, the first ones we’ve seen on the farm. Found on rabbit grazed pasture just off one of our tracks.
Now the soil has regained enough moisture we have begun this seasons tree planting. Today we put in 40 goat willow.
We will be replanting 300 saplings to replace the ones that died in the drought this year, as well as 50 fruit trees to establish new areas of mixed orchard.
We will be replanting 300 saplings to replace the ones that died in the drought this year, as well as 50 fruit trees to establish new areas of mixed orchard.
November 6, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Now the soil has regained enough moisture we have begun this seasons tree planting. Today we put in 40 goat willow.
We will be replanting 300 saplings to replace the ones that died in the drought this year, as well as 50 fruit trees to establish new areas of mixed orchard.
We will be replanting 300 saplings to replace the ones that died in the drought this year, as well as 50 fruit trees to establish new areas of mixed orchard.
Here we go again!
We’ve begun clearing the second half of the glasshouse. We’ve brushcut the perimeter and have cut transects through the centre of the thicket.
So far no nasty surprises.
We’ve begun clearing the second half of the glasshouse. We’ve brushcut the perimeter and have cut transects through the centre of the thicket.
So far no nasty surprises.
November 5, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Here we go again!
We’ve begun clearing the second half of the glasshouse. We’ve brushcut the perimeter and have cut transects through the centre of the thicket.
So far no nasty surprises.
We’ve begun clearing the second half of the glasshouse. We’ve brushcut the perimeter and have cut transects through the centre of the thicket.
So far no nasty surprises.
Harvested a patch of seabuckthorn.
We’ll freeze these down ready for juicing later. Apparently the freezing process makes the berries drop of the viciously thorned twigs; a much easier harvest than ‘milking’ the berries off the plant into a bucket with heavy duty gloves.
We’ll freeze these down ready for juicing later. Apparently the freezing process makes the berries drop of the viciously thorned twigs; a much easier harvest than ‘milking’ the berries off the plant into a bucket with heavy duty gloves.
November 5, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Harvested a patch of seabuckthorn.
We’ll freeze these down ready for juicing later. Apparently the freezing process makes the berries drop of the viciously thorned twigs; a much easier harvest than ‘milking’ the berries off the plant into a bucket with heavy duty gloves.
We’ll freeze these down ready for juicing later. Apparently the freezing process makes the berries drop of the viciously thorned twigs; a much easier harvest than ‘milking’ the berries off the plant into a bucket with heavy duty gloves.
Making the most of the momentum here, we’ve decided to clear out the remaining section of the glasshouse.
It’s a huge undertaking, but when we’re done we’ll have 900m2 of protected growing area. What a resource!
It’s a huge undertaking, but when we’re done we’ll have 900m2 of protected growing area. What a resource!
November 5, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Making the most of the momentum here, we’ve decided to clear out the remaining section of the glasshouse.
It’s a huge undertaking, but when we’re done we’ll have 900m2 of protected growing area. What a resource!
It’s a huge undertaking, but when we’re done we’ll have 900m2 of protected growing area. What a resource!
The soil in our newly reclaimed glasshouse is in very poor condition. We made the decision to shallow till to decompact the soil and integrate amendments before sowing a fertility building cover crop.
This mix of annual rye and hairy vetch seems to be establishing beautifully.
This mix of annual rye and hairy vetch seems to be establishing beautifully.
October 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
The soil in our newly reclaimed glasshouse is in very poor condition. We made the decision to shallow till to decompact the soil and integrate amendments before sowing a fertility building cover crop.
This mix of annual rye and hairy vetch seems to be establishing beautifully.
This mix of annual rye and hairy vetch seems to be establishing beautifully.
Exciting new harvest at the farm! After two years we’ve got our first crop of Sichuan pepper.
These seed casing provide a fragrant, numbing lemony note that typify Sichuan dishes. We use them to make dishes such as dan dan noodles and mapo tofu.
These seed casing provide a fragrant, numbing lemony note that typify Sichuan dishes. We use them to make dishes such as dan dan noodles and mapo tofu.
October 31, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Exciting new harvest at the farm! After two years we’ve got our first crop of Sichuan pepper.
These seed casing provide a fragrant, numbing lemony note that typify Sichuan dishes. We use them to make dishes such as dan dan noodles and mapo tofu.
These seed casing provide a fragrant, numbing lemony note that typify Sichuan dishes. We use them to make dishes such as dan dan noodles and mapo tofu.
Chilean guava have been planted in the glasshouse. These small shrubs crop a delicious fragrant fruit with a flavour just like guava.
We’ve been mulching the plants with sheep’s wool and leaves that have recently fallen from our poplars.
We’ve been mulching the plants with sheep’s wool and leaves that have recently fallen from our poplars.
October 29, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Chilean guava have been planted in the glasshouse. These small shrubs crop a delicious fragrant fruit with a flavour just like guava.
We’ve been mulching the plants with sheep’s wool and leaves that have recently fallen from our poplars.
We’ve been mulching the plants with sheep’s wool and leaves that have recently fallen from our poplars.