Find out how Howbarrow Farm is working to provide a healthy, sustainable future
Howbarrow Farm is a 6 ha smallholding lying on the southern fells of Cumbria, a short distance from the attractive priory village of Cartmel. The holding has a range of organic enterprises including chicken, sheep, cows and suckler calves, and horticulture. Produce is sold direct to the consumer through the farm shop, box scheme and farmers’ markets.
Directions on how to get to us.
Howbarrow has an open farm policy to encourage people to visit and find out how their food is grown. A farm trail provides informal access to the land: leading to the rocky knowle, stone seat and vegetable gar- den. Walks can be made further afield to the viewpoint overlooking Morecombe Bay or to the priory and heritage centre at Cartmel. Why not call in at Howbarrow’s shop to buy fresh organic produce straight from the farm?
Farm shop and trail open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday a 10.00-17.00 – for group visits, working holidays and B&B; please contact us first.
Encourage biodiversity:
The land is in an environmentally sensitive area and is managed under a scheme to enhance the wildlife and landscape features. Traditional stone walls are being repaired, hedgerows restored and trees planted to provide new habitats and wildlife ‘corridors’. A new pond has been created to encourage frogs to spawn on the farm.
Buzzards nest in the neighbouring wood and can be seen soaring on thermals high above the surrounding countryside on warm sunny days.
Conserve natural resources:
As organic farmers do not use artificial fertiliser, soil fertility is maintained through a complex crop rotation. Clover adds nitrogen to the soil naturally and the application of farmyard manure recycles animal waste.
This balance of fertility building and cropping is also applied to the horticultural crops both in the garden and the polytunnels where composting helps to recycle green waste.