GROW Observatory

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We write monthly articles in English about growing practices, science and policy making.

Top Weather Tips for the Great GROW Experiment

by Dr. Naomi van Der Velden Pics by Janna from Sweden who is participating in the GROW Experiment We’ve been hearin... Read more

GROW Observatory
GROW Observatory

So How Did we Design the Great GROW Experiment?

Dr Naomi van der Velden, Permaculture Association (Britain) Finding a three sisters for Europe — a polyculture that grow... Read more

GROW Observatory
GROW Observatory

The Great #GROWExperiment — IT’S ON!

What involves thousands of crops, hundreds of veg beds and almost 200 people? Why it’s the great GROW experiment! We’re rea... Read more

GROW Observatory
GROW Observatory

Part 2 | What Makes a Healthy Diet? How to be a Soil Doctor

Part Two of a two parter by Stephanie Reiter ( Global Soil Partnership Secretariat) and Lucrezia Caon ( UN Food a... Read more

GROW Observatory
GROW Observatory

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Another radish recipe for all that #GROWHarvest our experimenters are reaping the benefits of! This one seems like a collaboration between Janna, a grower and blogger, and Ionut, one of our #GROWersofInstagram - an experimenter you’ve surely seen reposted on our feed. Enjoy! http://bit.ly/GROWradishrecipe Image © Janna
Another radish recipe for all that #GROWHarvest our experimenters are reaping the benefits of! This one see...
Wow! It seems for some the polycultures have performed excellently while others are getting a larger harvest from monoculture plots... watch this space and in the meantime let the experimentation continue! #Repost @caroliono with @get_repost ・・・ #Polyculture Cobra beans have such a heavy yield they needed additional propping. 3 days after last harvest and I have another 604g beans. Beginning to wonder if I need a bigger freezer? 🤔 #growpolycultures #growexperiment #growobservatory @growobservatory
Wow! It seems for some the polycultures have performed excellently while others are getting a larger harves...
Although you may be disappointed with the #soilhealth it's very reassuring to see how plants can still produce food in depleted conditions! As this is a serious scenario we may be facing in the near future in a way we've never had to before! This is why this work is so crucial 🌱 Repost @tonjemeyer with @get_repost ・・・ Day 67: Finally time to analyze the pH and nutrients of the experiment soil - and oh, what a sad sad result. For one moment I thought I did something wrong but after reassuring and reading the instructions all over again thrice I had to accept that this soil is the poorest and sadest ever. As a matter of fact I can't understand that there are green plants on these plots at all. As the plots are situated on a neighbours land I plan to test our own land which has been nuitered with goat manure the last three years. #GROWExperiment #polyculturevmonoculture
Although you may be disappointed with the #soilhealth it's very reassuring to see how plants can still prod...
It's been quite quiet on Instagram with the #GROWExperiment posts, how has the extreme weather been impacting experiments in the last few weeks? It may not have been as extreme for those of you further away from Ireland and the U.K. but there's been a 3 week heat wave! #Repost @lorilew123 with @get_repost ・・・ Radishes and spinach all grew great, but my beans have not. This bean is as tall as it’s plant, I will harvest my 5 beans for tea tomorrow. Next year I will start in pots instead did straight into the ground. #growexperiment #growpolycultures
It's been quite quiet on Instagram with the #GROWExperiment posts, how has the extreme weather been impacti...
#Repost @caroliono with @get_repost ・・・ A week away on holiday and I've come back to splitting radishes and going-to-seed spinach. Spinach was tasty in a risotto with a few broad beans, mange tout and a bit of sorrel. The Austrians have also taught me that radishes can be quite tasty in a slaw with a bit of grated celeriac. Yum 😋. #growpolycultures #growexperiment #polyculturevmonoculture #growobservatory @growobservatory
#Repost @caroliono with @get_repost ・・・ A week away on holiday and I've come back to splitting radishes and...
To any other experimenters out there looking to make use of all the radishes from your #GROWHarvest - here’s a helpful post from experienced growers! #Repost @andes.farm with @get_repost ・・・ Preserve radishes. Just add organic Himalayan salt and mush then let it marinate for 1-2hours, then squeeze the juice from the radish, add chilli 🌶 flakes and garlic. Then 👐🏻important thing 👉🏻is to add the organic cider vinegar for fermentation. My little 🤫secret I add a little bit of mirin around four tbsp. You can buy this from the Japanese or Asian store. Hope you can follow. Please give me feedback if you’ve done ✅ it or share a picture here. . . . #farmlife #radish #radishes #happyhouse #organic #organicfood #sidedish #gardening #growharvest #growyourown #groworganic #growobservatory #fromfarmtotable #veggies #vegetables #vegetarian #vegrecipes #simplelife #simplefood #simplerecipes #backyardplants #backyardgarden #backyardfarming #happylife #cookyourown
To any other experimenters out there looking to make use of all the radishes from your #GROWHarvest - here’...

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