Peter and Collette Haynes took on Ashurst Farm from the White brothers (Alec & Horace) in February 1994. They were able to obtain instant organic status from the Soil Association as the brothers had never used chemicals or "any such nonsense" since 1945 (they had also been hand milking cows right up until 1993). This meant a healthy, vital and fertile soil but also a weed-seed bank from the time of the Ark.
The box scheme grew successfully almost entirely by word of mouth and has since thrived because of the support of its scheme members who feel as much a part of the land as those who have helped farm it.
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