Wakelyns

An organic rotation agroforestry hub in Suffolk

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Martin’s last paper!

Just a month before his death, Martin Wolfe and his long-term colleague Salvatore Ceccarelli submitted what turned out to be the last of Martin’s peer-reviewed scientific papers. It was published just over a year later in July 2020 bringing to end a stream of contributions to learning about agriculture from Martin Wolfe (1937-2019).

Here are their conclusions:

“In about the middle of the nineteenth century, agriculture was unwittingly faced with a major dilemma: whether to follow Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection (which contained many examples derived from agriculture) or to follow the industrialization of agriculture, exemplified by the contemporary invention of superphosphate fertilizer. The choice made was to follow the industrialization route, probably in part because genetics, the root of evolution, was not understood at that time. Plants and animals survive over long time scales and large areas by generating novel genetic variation, which, if useful, will be selected. Interactions among such populations and with populations of microorganisms lead to high levels of both productivity and stability, without interventions, which should surely be a central goal for agriculture.

Indeed it is widely acknowledged that agrobiodiversity is a key to food security and human health. In our view, it is unfortunate that in relation to both crop plants and livestock, concentration and investment has been focused on specific varieties and breeds rather than on the potential value of genetic complexity both within and among farms. One argument for monoculture development is that such crops can provide a continuous supply of a uniform feedstock for convenient and simplified large-scale production of a processed foodstuff. However, conventional baking tests and artisanal bakers and pasta makers have shown that populations can compete well with monocultures. Considering the increasingly unpredictable climatic conditions of the future and the higher stability and resilience of diversified crop stands under varying conditions, it is highly likely that more reliable qualities will emerge from adaptable populations made from carefully selected parents.“

We support the Landworkers’ Alliance

It’s a privilege to feature as ‘December’ in the Landworkers’ Alliance 2021 Calendar.

Community Supported Agriculture comes to Wakelyns

Buy Wakelyns stuff

Tree Walk Days at Wakelyns

We are delighted to welcome Henrietta Inman to Wakelyns

Wakelyns Newsletters & Flyers

Permissive Paths Flyer November 2020

No 4 – November 2020

Hodmedods flyer November 2020

No 3 – July 2020

No 2 – February 2020

No 1 – December 2019

Ann & Martin June 2009

Ann’s newsletter 1998

 

 

Research at Wakelyns

Agroforestry

Population wheats

Collaborations

Tree Planting 2020

Bakers, chefs, growers, planters, makers and other doers all came together to plant trees at Wakelyns

Trees at Wakelyns

Martin Wolfe 1937 – 2019

Latest tweets

Twitter
Wakelyns
Wakelyns
@wakelyns

We would love to have some sheep here to feast on our #agroforestry #organic willow coppice. Sadly our land is too wet (and we don't have indoor space) for them to be here all year. But we'd welcome some us summer visitors. Ideas welcome! twitter.com/EnergyCr…

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8:33 am · 21 January 2021
Twitter
Wakelyns
Wakelyns
@wakelyns

@Hodmedods @CoppiceJT @OakesEnviron @HomeFarmNacton Let's talk!

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9:15 pm · 15 January 2021
Twitter
Wakelyns
Wakelyns
@wakelyns

Today's high value #agroforestry crop from the #wakelyns team: willow staves chosen to be ideal for traditional local hedge laying. #agroforestry #suffolk #suffolklife pic.twitter.com/r85D…

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7:41 pm · 13 January 2021
Twitter
Wakelyns
Wakelyns
@wakelyns

@hanslope @WoodlandTrust @chesshire_helen @Farm3Dwithtrees That's great to see! Another farm investing in the future and helping tackle climate change!

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8:13 am · 9 January 2021
Twitter
Wakelyns
Wakelyns
@wakelyns

Marking the end of 2020, a super Wakelyns video explainer from young film maker Freddie McNay - enjoy: youtu.be/HLU6tDHuXlM Now, looking forward to more Wakelyns adventures in 2021 #agroforestry #organic #organicfarming #regenerativeagriculture #suffolk #suffolklife #trees

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5:19 pm · 31 December 2020
Twitter
Organic Research Centre
Organic Research Centre
@OrgResCent

Managing Complexity. This @PlantTeams #intercropping video dedicated to the late Prof. Martin Wolfe @wakelyns explores the complexities plant teams introduce into the processes of growing food. If plant teams have benefits, why isn’t everyone using them? facebook.com/watch/?… pic.twitter.com/knCJ…

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1:59 pm · 27 December 2020 ·
Retweeted by Wakelyns
Twitter
Mark Avery
Mark Avery
@MarkAvery

10 words in the Brexit deal that herald environmental damage - why else are they there? markavery.info/2020/… @CarolineLucas @New_European @Keir_Starmer @VotePursglove @WCL_News @GreenAllianceUK @martinRSPB @BeccyRSPB @youngb48 @EdwardJDavey @natalieben @ChrisGPackham #brexit

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8:36 am · 27 December 2020 ·
Retweeted by Wakelyns
Twitter
Wakelyns
Wakelyns
@wakelyns

Spent a very satisfying morning in the xmas day sunshine clearing ditches and drains to relieve our flooded #wakelyns fields. Now for a beer. Simple pleasures. #Suffolk #farming #farminglife #climatechange #xmas2020 #XmasDay #XmasChallenge pic.twitter.com/VJcQ…

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3:00 pm · 25 December 2020
Twitter
Wakelyns
Wakelyns
@wakelyns

@hanslope @Footste58925780 @farmingGeorge @WoodlandTrust @Farm3Dwithtrees Let's plan!

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9:46 pm · 17 December 2020
Twitter
Wakelyns
Wakelyns
@wakelyns

@Footste58925780 @farmingGeorge @WoodlandTrust @Farm3Dwithtrees Or a trio with @MikeMallett4 ? A coordinated open day/weekend maybe?

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9:34 pm · 17 December 2020
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News and blog

  • “Cereal” episode 2 – Nature hates uniformity

News & blog archive

Contact

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If you’d like to get in touch direct, our email address is info@wakelyns.co.uk

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© Wakelyns 2020