Jain Spirit 2003 12 No 17

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 53

Every Seed Tells A Story
and sainfoin. Since 1999 we have been working on two other recent years. Our native breeds of farm animal are just as fields on the farm where changes to the management have much a part of our cultural heritage as Sutton Hoo or allowed species such as bird's-foot trefoil and yarrow to spread. Stonehenge, and yet the threat to them is not that the last Soon we hope to see species such as devil's bit scabious, yellow flock or herd is about to be sold, as in the past, but the rattle and cowslip return. None of this is a quick-fix solution - insidious pressure from the ever-increasing European and it may easily take a hundred years or more. The point I want to national legislation which often has a disproportionate get across is that if we wish to see the survival of such meadows affect on rare-breed keepers. we have to have continuity of management. Sudden changes When it comes to the kitchen garden, the Henry according to the latest fashion won't work when it comes to Doubleday Research Association - of which I have been operating in harmony with
patron for many years - Nature.
has been supplying me With older varieties of
with seeds from its wheat and barley we don't
Heritage Seed Library need fertilisers, which in turn
(which now contains 800 means that we do not get the
varieties). The varieties over-lush growth that
we have grown not only positively invites attacks by
have special taste and pests and disease. We don't
texture but extraordinary need to spray with chemicals
names too, like a beetroot either. For instance, we are
called Bull's Blood, a growing Maris Widgeon
climbing French bean wheat for my Duchy
called Blue Coco, a carrot Originals biscuits - a variety
called Afghan Purple ( it which was last grown on this
is believed that cultivated sort of scale some thirty to
carrots originated from forty years ago. Similarly,
Afghanistan) and a broad we are growing a malting
bean called Crimson barley, called Plumage
Flowered. Through my Archer, which was last
patronage of the NCCPG, grown about fifty or sixty
the garden at Highgrove years ago. We have also
is also home to the grown ancient varieties of
national beech collection, wheat to try to preserve the
which now holds ten strains as a gene bank for the
species of fifty-seven future: varieties with special
cultivars. I am also in the qualities and wonderful
process of building up names like Hedgehog Club,
part of the national Branched Rivet, Rampton
collection of hostas and Rivet and Grey Spelt.
ferns, thus helping to play As far as the rare breeds
a vital role in conserving of farm animal are Highgrove House across a wildflower meadow
the rich diversity of our concerned, four out of the
plant heritage. five species of farm animals
Surely "progress under the care of the Rare
ultimately depends on Breeds Survival Trust are to be found in the Duchy Home Farm balance. I am interested in creating an integral approach, in at Highgrove. This includes two Suffolk Punches, the other words blending the best of the traditional with the best magnificent chestnut heavy horses which are the most of the modern. At Highgrove I am merely trying to remind endangered of all rare breeds. I discovered that my farm people of some timeless principles and eternal truths when manager's wife was very keen on working horses, so we have it comes to caring for the land and all that "lives, moves and been able to use the horses for log extraction and for mowing has its being upon it." the meadow, thereby making much less mess and disturbance than heavy machinery. The farm is also home to Gloucester and Irish Moiled cattle, both critically endangered breeds, as well as Large Black pigs, Tamworth pigs and Hebridean sheep,
H.R.H. Prince Charles is committed to preserving which, thankfully, have shown signs of increasing in number in
spirituality and sacredness in human society.
PHOTO: ANDREW LAWSON
December 2003 - February 2004 • Jain Spirit
51