LINKS AND RESOURCES

The Glebelands-Unicorn model: an article about Glebelands from Unicorn website

Unicorn's own website

Growing

Vegetable growing information from Garden Organic (HDRA)Organic Vegetable Systems studies- case studies/weed control/machinery/varieties/etc

Technical information also on Soil Association site, including factsheets

The Rodale Institute in the US, the New Farm's inspiring site with a newletter and plenty of postitive info on organic farming in the US and worldwide

The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA), also from the US, has loads of downloadable technical information

The Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland has useful information about organic horticulture in their site

Horticultural commercial realities and up to date field news are available on the weekly newsletter from Riverford Farm

Joy Larkcom (books and articles): top reference books, especially Grow Your Own Vegetables (Frances Lincoln) - no glossy photos, just lots of invaluable advice on planning/sowing dates/harvesting/watering etc for a range of vegetables, all packed into one reasonably priced paperback.

Eliot Coleman (books, especially The New Organic Grower and website): theory on growing,freshness and eco-ness of it all.

Experienced UK growers Jenny Hall ( of Sow and Grow Organics) and Iain Tolhurst (of Tolhurst Organic Produce)- their new book Growing Green

It is important to keep referring back to the principles behind organic agriculture and horticulture - for example to forestall any attempts to "water down" standards or deal with potentially woolly ideas about substituting ill-defined words like "sustainable" for "organic". Albert Howard was one of the most important founders of the organic movement - more information about him here!

Eco Issues

See the End of Suburbia (DVD) for some scary realism about oil (we're running out of it fast).

Sustain - the Alliance for Better Food and Farming - website/reports/campaigns.
See particularly their seminal report on oil and food, Eating Oil

A positive documentary about a post oil future: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (DVD)

Jared Diamond (books).”Collapse” despite unfortunate title seminal work.

Colin Tudge (books/articles) on food and farming. Some articles from the New Statesman, The Guardian, and Can Organic Farming Feed the World? (Soil Association lecture)

The Food Programme (Radio 4): Sometimes very on track, bring on the new Derick Cooper!

Tim Lang (Books/articles): Up to the minute stuff from the food industry globally, including an interesting Schumacher lecture.

TimO’Riordan (books).Environmental matters and theory.

Economic issues

See Housepricecrash.co.uk - for a lively discussion around what's happening now and what's likely to happen next...

Horticultural Stuff

LBS(Mail order catalogue). Huge range of equipment.

Agralan(mail order). Fleece/mesh.

Travel

www.seat61.com (travel without planes)

wwoof - work on organic farms and smallholdings in exchange for food, accommodation and learning opportunities...

helpex - includes opportunities to volunteer on organic farms etc