Corner Plot,
an Organic smallholding in Thurmaston, Leicestershire
& willows
Corner Plot smallholding is situated next to the river Soar just off the Mill Lane entrance to Watermead Country Park. It is 3/4 acre with annual veg strip beds, polytunnel and cloches, fruit and nut trees, willow and hazel beds, comfrey fertility patches, hens, ducks and bees.
The annual veg beds are 4' wide allowing all work to be done from the path without walking on and compacting the soil. The beds are thoroughly mulched protecting the soil from leaching, keeping it moist and building up humus . It creates a fertile soil of high biological activity and provides crops with a balanced supply of nutrients.Comfrey is a fantastic nutrient accumulator and is grown within the chicken enclosures. The
leaves are harvested before flowering and used as a very nutrient rich mulch or steeped to
make liquid plant food.
Pest and Disease control.
The best way to control pests and disease is by careful designing and managing of the whole smallholding system to achieve health, diversity and vitality in the soils and crops, encouraging natural growth and a balanced ecosystem.
The hedge and field edge are left uncultivated and only trimmed back in the dormant winter months providing plenty of habitat for birds and other natural predators.
