Permaculture on Treflach Farm

Practical application of Permaculture on Treflach Farm

Who are Treflach Farm?

Treflach Farm is a collection of animals, family, friends, employees, suppliers and customers from near and far that make it what it is. With the input from all of these we create an environment that we all want to be a part of.

We endeavour to be ethical, sustainable and financially viable in our practices. However we are aware we are not perfect; we have, and do, make mistakes, so we always say we are still practising at Permaculture – still not perfect at it!

Here you can see a little of what we do and how we do it, but for more information please do get in touch.

Our vision:

‘Agriculture as a sustainable industry, rooted in the community, working in harmony with nature, providing for the needs of people on the farm and engaging & supporting others in an ethical & sustainable way through business activities.’

Our Mission:

Be an inspiring beacon of transition towards sustainable farming by demonstrating, teaching and practising permaculture excellence.

What We Do…

We operate in a number of different market sectors: • Running a free-range farm with a diverse set of nature friendly eco-systems (spring fed streams, ancient woodland, wetlands and permanent pasture). • A Community Interest Business providing horticultural therapy projects for a wide range of user groups • A food business making #tastypies right here on the farm • A distribution business supporting other high quality producers get their wonderful products to market

Here at Treflach Farm we use design principles grounded in Permaculture to help us plan the route forward for our farm in transition.

What is Permaculture?

• Permaculture
• ˈpəːməkʌltʃə/
• Noun: permaculture
• The development of agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient

Below is a diagram with the basic design principles laid out in a way that allows the land manager/designer approach the situation in an ordered way; interrogating the opportunities using a structured and iterative design led method.

How does Treflach Farm interpret these principles in a business environment specific to Treflach Farm?

Could this model be utilised by other farms ‘In Transition’?

Why We Do It… The 10 Point Plan

1) Sustainable service provision of farm based education to all within our community 2) Localisation: meeting more core needs through local & ethical food production 3) To use local and green suppliers first to plug the leaks in the local economy 4) Provide more local food 5) Reduce unsustainable inputs on the farm whilst maximising outputs 6) Increase biodiversity 7) Produce no waste 8) Build a stronger more resilient community 9) Become a centre for good practice with regard food production and sustainability 10) Be carbon zero/negative - reduce our impact upon the environment

How We Do It… The 3 businesses based on the farm

1) Treflach Farm - Land

Responsible for:

• Land management
• Wetland/grassland/arable
  • Management techniques (reduced use of chemicals/artificial additives)
  • Farming for increased biodiversity
• Woodlands
• Water Course
• Buildings
• Appropriate use of technology
  • Electricity
  • Diesel
• Animal interactions
  • Bugs
  • Bees
  • Birds
  • Cows/Pigs
• Waste
  • Recycling
  • Compost
  • Anaerobic Digestion

2) Treflach Farm (Treflach) - Food

We operate an onsite butchery & bakery able which allows us to add value to home reared & locally sourced animals & ingredients. The added value means we are sustainable even with a relatively small turnover & with restricted routes to market given our remote location.

3) Treflach Farm Community Interest Company (CIC) - People

We offer a range of opportunities on the farm centred around Horticultural Therapy. Take a look at the Community Page to learn more about our:

• Therapy projects
  • Adults with mental health issues
  • Young adults on the At Risk register (of being excluded from secondary school)
• School groups
  • Local primary schools
  • Tertiary colleges for young adults with learning difficulties & physical disabilites
• Short Courses
  • Permaclture
  • Sustainability
  • Energy efficiency