It’s incredibly hard for young first-generation farmers to enter the Agricultural Industry – in this episode, I talk to 20 somethings Mike and Lauren Layfield whose story about entering farming will inspire you and provide you with some tips and tricks for growing your own food at home. It also gives you an idea of options for young people who do want to be the future of farming. This interview was recorded in early spring 2019, just as the temperatures were warming up and the busy season was upon us. Mike and Lauren have had a fantastic season, despite the wind and cool temperatures, and are now regular stallholders at Launceston’s Saturday morning farmers’ market.
1.25 – What prompted the move from successful careers as chefs in London to farmers in Tasmania
7.00 – Mike explains how their farm started
8.05 – Mike and Lauren explain the set up of their market garden
8.30 – We discuss and delight in the magnificence of endangered species and delight in biodiversity
10.05 – Recently moved sites – and explanation why
11.03 – How do you farm? What’s the set-up of the beds, and why?
12.10 – Discussion about turning over beds vs aerating with broad fork
12.50 – Why shouldn’t you use tilling/digging in your veggie garden, mimicking nature, building topsoil
13.45 – How to harvest your crops
14.30 – How green manure works
14.50 – Do you add anything to soil?
15.30 – Other benefits of no dig gardening
15.50 – Lauren talks about crop rotation
16.45 – Why do you grow you plants so closely together, and what is the reasoning behind bio-intensive farming?
17.30 – How to increase yield in the same amount of space
18.00 – Other benefits of biointensive cropping
18.50 – How do you plan ahead with regard to crop rotation – how far do you have to plan ahead?
19.20 – Tips to planning your crops
20.30 –Books and other media that have informed your journey so farm
21.25 – Who are the people that have inspired you
22.25 – What’s your favourite bit of produce that you grow and eat, and how do you best like to prepare it?
25.40 – Where can we access Felds Farm produce?
26.15 – Farming is hard work, but rewarding, and Lauren explains why.
27.00 – Mike asks us as consumers to better support local farmers
27.30 – How to find Felds Farm on social media.