Companion cropping
Farmerama podcast
Resource explained
This podcast extract features Jake Freestone of Overbury Farms talking about his experiences of trialling companion cropping; growing buckwheat and vetches with oilseed rape. He describes how much he planted of each crop and some of the benefits that became evident in relation to pest control, soil quality, and reducing external inputs. He outlines the importance of getting the ratios of each crop variety right and of adapting your crop management according to your soil type, rotation and time of year.
Findings & recommendations
- This is an extract from the Farmerama podcast ‘Episode 12 – Sandhill Farms Mountain Garlic, Growing Communities & Neo Peasant Politics.’ Farmerama Radio describes itself as a community sourced radio that produces a monthly podcast “sharing the voices of smaller scale farmers in the UK and beyond.”
- Interested in finding out more about Jake’s farming approach and practices? See:
Access the podcast here or via the ‘View the resource’ button.
(Header image: Companion crop of vetch and berseem clover in winter oilseed rape (All Rights Reserved). Courtesy of Andrew Howard)