Situated right on the Blackwater Estuary, just outside Goldhanger in Essex, Lauriston Farm’s 210 acres are managed using Biodynamic techniques and philosophy inspired by Rudolph Steiner’s Agriculture Lectures from 1924. The farm is home to rare breed Shetland cattle and North Ronaldsay sheep, bee hives, laying hens, vegetables, woodland and a strong social farming impulse.
Eighty-five percent of the farm is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Within this, there are also two listed ancient monuments. They produce Demeter certified beef, lamb, vegetables, fruits and meadow hay and organically certified knitting yarn, sheepskin rugs and throws.
The farm’s May newsletter reported an unpredictable spring this year and that they have come and gone from what feels like winter straight into summer a few times already. Much of these sudden leaps have given a fresh impulse for their work such as the cold snap in March which allowed interior building work to be completed and then the balmy heights of mid-April which saw a sudden rush of lambs, with half their lambs born in three days.
In between these extremes, the farm was also extremely wet. It has been wetter, but this year it came later than usual and meant the cattle spent an extra two weeks in the barn. This ran down their hay supply to the last few bales, always a nerve wracking experience, but they got through and, due to a national shortage, were able to sell all their excess hay from last year and previous years.
The weather also caused a delay in the development of the new vegetable enterprise, but they are very happy to report the new poly tunnel is now up, one acre of beds is now formed with the wicked little Tracmaster 740 two-wheel tractor and the potatoes and onion seedlings are all in with direct sowing of beans, peas, parsnips and carrots. They have recently started a vegetable box scheme in the local area. The veg looked and smelt beautiful!
In addition to this, since Christmas they have had twenty young laying hens arrive in early April to kickstart the egg production, various members’ events, four Primary School visits, the commencement of a new term long engagement with a local SEN college, further work experience and creative days with CoCoCare from Colchester and they have run five biodynamic workshops.
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