New Leaf Urban Farmers

24/07/2025

Nice... Our produce is really flourishing with this weather. It is really nice mix of sun and rain over the last few weeks. Although courgettes are getting some powdery mildew in spots and the leeks have some rust. So we will have you attend to those areas soon.
It's expected in some ways as we are still learning the nuances of crops planted in different areas.

22/07/2025

Some squashes and aubergines beginning to take form. Autumn is almost upon us. Where did summer go?
All veg is very healthy at the moment with bumper harvests.

14/07/2025

Enjoyed this podcast from the Unoversory of Linerick and their EU programme . This is about their commitment to trialling the use of NPK fertilisers manufactured through common waste materials. It's an excellent initiative, and I'm glad to be a part of it.
The podcast covers what we have been doing over the last 6 years. Natural farming methods through the KNF and JADAM methodologies.
We do not claim that it is the perfect system, but it sure does come close.
Coupled with fertilisers made from sustainable and natural sources, farmers now have a toolbox to combat a wide variety of issues, from infertility to pests and diseases. Moreover, farmers can decreasing their dependence on the middlemen of the industry.

12/07/2025

So this will be our mobile honesty box. Here you can buy our produce. The horse box was kindly loaned to us by Matthew & Eliza, our landlords. It's a beautiful horse box built sometime in the 1960s or so. English engineering quality when things were built to last.
We painted it and added a raised floor with shelving units and, later, some lights. The cost was zero so far (Temu solar lights are cheap 😁). We will be looking for local florists, hopefully bee keepers in the limerick area as well as milk and bread suppliers. I'm not sure who would like to supply us yet, but anybody who reads this and knows of anybody, please contact us.
We will have the same veg as the veg boxes.
More to follow...

05/07/2025

A beautiful display of out mixed leaves and hakurei turnips. Made by

Fit for any restaurant.

05/07/2025

Jadam Microbial Pesticide. Made from soil biology cultured at 31c for about 21 hours or so.
It's like JMS except Decyl Glucoside is added
This kills the biology, and they release toxins that kill pests but is safe for human consumption.
The Decyl Glucoside is a plant based product used in cosmetics and baby shampoo.
It breaks down easily in the soil and is non-toxic to humans.
This will last for about a year if stored correctly.
Foliar application directly. You can add JS for added fungicidal effects and JWA as well to increase the adhesion properties.

Microbial pesticide products are on the market and are available, but they are expensive and are a cost to the farmer. By taking control of inputs such as making your own natural fertilisers and pesticides, the farmer increases their independence. Creating farm and food sovereignty for local communities. This is the future of farming.

We will be trialling it out on cabbages and hardier plants first. Another tool for small-scale farmers to be independent and use materials mainly secured from local land or farm.

03/07/2025

13/06/2025

Just pulled a plant go see what it looks like
There still about three weeks away. But these are some baby spuds. The flavour is subtle, sweet and slightly earthy (but in a good way).
These are purple rain.
Can't wait to try our Queens' potatoes.

06/06/2025

Cleaning up the 12m tunnel and the other 12m tunnel that was flattened by the winter weather.
We decided not to repair that tunnel and instead grow outdoor crops like leeks and scallions.
The peas are doing well. We left them grow too high and never toed them, so they are flopping a bit. But they are beginning to pod now, so they should be ready in three weeks or so.

Good day's work has gone into it, but it's another job ticked off.