Ownership/Management: Dorothy Thompson
Back to the Future: From Sheep to Lazy Beds
Dorothy’s farm (Glenbield Farm) in Peebles, Scottish Borders, UK produces 7 varieties of lettuce, some of which grow through the winter, as well as mizuna, spinach, kale, rocket, and a wide variety of herbs and edible flowers including thyme, camomile, calendula, and marigold. She currently sells large and small bags of mixed salad leaves and herbs. She also grows and sells peas and tomatoes and plans to expand into winter vegetables.
Dorothy is confident she will be able to produce year round switching to winter salad veg such as pak choi, lambs lettuce, and perennial rocket as the seasons change using techniques that don’t require heat in the polytunnel, and also expanding into winter vegetable production: “the varieties will change in the winter, but it will be just as tasty and fresh”.
Quickly she realised just how much fresh, organic vegetables and herbs were appreciated, being able to sell all she produces 1-mile away, The key selling point with her customers: Her produce is stockfree organic; no animal manures or slaughterhouse by-products are used in her enterprise.
With the NAVCS grant I can upscale my enterprise by moving production up to the farm. I am also expanding the range of crops I grow to include cash crops such as courgettes, flowers (wild and cultivated), pumpkins, berries, and tree crops including fruit and nuts.
Contact Info: djtn1@hotmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/BalanceofNatureBotanicals/
