Establishing the Biggest Hazelnut Orchard in Ireland | How to Plant Bare Root Trees | Hell Week
Вставка
- Опубліковано 20 лют 2021
- Ever wondered what it is like to plant 1671 trees in a week with a spade? That is what we did and the end result is the biggest hazelnut orchard in Ireland / Northern Ireland. It was very tough work and unlike other Hell Weeks, there was no getting out of it by ringing a bell. The trees had to be planted now while they were dormant before spring kicks in.
We planted a variety of hazelnut trees, mainly Cosford, Nottingham, Webbs, Halls Giant, Red Zeller and EMOA 1. The ground was very wet after exceptionally high rainfall, but the Honda Foreman was able to work on the ground with minimal damage.
The video talks about how to plant bare-root trees based on lessons learnt the hard way. The approach is based on minimum soil disturbance with a core focus on anchoring the tree to stabilise it by training the roots in each direction.
The hazelnut tree planting is forms part of our regenerative agricultural strategy. We are hoping that the trees will dry out and improve the soil quality and in doing so reduce rushes. If the soil dries out, it should then increase the grazing timeframe for livestock, which in turn reduces wintering costs. We selected hazelnut trees, as they will be relatively small, therefore not blocking a lot of light when compared to larger varieties of trees, with the benefit of hopefully producing a cash crop, while sequestering carbon.
If you are interested in regenerative farming; soil biology; farming equipment; the highs and lows of trying to establish an organic hazelnut farm, on an island in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland - then hit that subscribe button.
Follow us on:
/ gubbfarm
/ gubbfarm
/ gubbfarm
Contact Details:
gubbfarm@gmail.com
55 Galloon Road, Gubb, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, BT92 8HS
Good luck!
- Music Credit --
Music Title: Another Happy Day • Another Happy Day - Fr...
Released by: Free Music / fm_freemusic
Music Title: Riviera
Released by: / riviera
Fair play to you guys working against the odds
Well done that Man !
Thank you!
Interesting. Thanks for the help.
You are welcome.
Fair play to you Dary, a massive job for anyone to face and you managed to film some of it too!
Hello Ciaran. It was a big job and the perfect way to kill productivity is to bring a camera!
Here in Romania (and in other european countries also) people use truffles as companion "crops" to hazelnut trees. It's a mycorrhizal fungi that creates symbiotic relations with the roots of hazenuts. Its fruit bodies are the truffles, which are quite expensive and south after. Just thought to mention it in case you maybe didnt know about it, seeing how you're looking into possible companion crops. Keep it up with the hard work, it will pay off thousand fold.
Hello Adi. That is actually something I looked into and really liked the idea of going out truffle hunting, but in the end, my soil type is not suited to it. If you are interested in this, you might find the following article interesting: www.fruitandnut.ie/truffles.html
Thank you for your best wishes and all the best.
@@GubbFarm Ah,thats a bummer. Mulching might help with that i think, over the years.Maybe,i dont know it for a fact,but im suspecting it might.
@@GubbFarm you could try inculcating the ground with Morel Mushrooms. Those for for $50 ish a pound in the US. The inoculation kits are relatively cheap so it wouldn't be too much of a loss if they don't take. They also for mycorrhizal relationships with plants. If your doing flowers in the spaces in between bees would be great. You could do flowering plants that could be used for hay if that has a market in Ireland, you could also do fairly extensive flower farming too. Probably want to pick something with a long shelf life though being on an island and all. Wine cap mushrooms and oysters might take. Vegetables, seed farming, ginseng, probably want to wait till the trees are bigger for cattle goats or sheep. Also once the trees get big enough to provide shade there are a host of log dwelling mushrooms that could work and might go well with your coppicing forest. berry bushes like blue berry or cranberry could do well if your PH is low enough. I don't know how to market it but rose hip has lots of uses. I'm basically throwing things at the wall here and seeing if they stick.
@@jordanwanberg753 that is very very interesting.
I was just researching Morel Mushrooms and there appear to be many sellers on Amazon UK, suggesting there is a demand for them. It also seems to add to the decomposition of the wood chip with it appearing to share saprophytic characteristics. Do you know if they form endo or ectomycorrhizal associations with roots? I did a quick search but did not see a definite response.
I like all of those ideas and trying to correlate them with what might grow locally. Currently, I am looking at Comfrey, Eleagnus, Siberian Pea shrub, Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Garlic, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Blackcurrants, Elderberry, Artichokes as possible plants based on anecdotal evidence of what local gardeners tell me grows well in Fermanagh (Northern Ireland).
Thank you, Jordan. I'm going to add Morels to the list and do some more research on berry bushes.
I cant figure out how to send the link to this PDF the root relationships start on page 38 and continue to 39. Its a pdf on www.fs.fed.us the pdf is titles "pnw_gtr710" hope that helps.
your orchard is looking really good. We would be happy to help you with he harvest and the process of your hazelnuts.
Amazing! Looking forward to seeing updates
Thank you Irish Fruit and Berries.
well done, what a massive job that was! must feel great now you you have them all in the ground, bet the ol muscles still recovering a bit
It took me days getting over that. It is satisfying that they are in the ground, but I am very aware that I need to get some companion planting going asap to prevent pest and disease mono culture issues... but there is always more to do...
good work
Thank you.
Superb, I hope the Harvest will be Rich.
Thank you John. Fingers crossed it works out. All the best.
That was a really interesting video mate. You must be absolutely stuffed after all that work. I am also really grateful that you have put me off being a farmer myself. I don’t think I have the perseverance and strength that you do.
Hello Giri. Let's just say, it is almost midday and I still haven't done any physical work today! I wouldn't let that video put you off because although that week was painful, it was very rewarding and if the trees produce a crop, then I will be able to look after my daughter and her family long after I'm in the grave.
The hardest part is taking the first step or in my case, planting the first tree every day. I know you have been thinking about starting farming for a while now and having left the land to do similar work to what you do now, I can strongly recommend going back to it. Take that first step, and go and look around you to see what land is available.
Had to subscribe to follow this journey 👍🏻🍀
Thank you. It could end up a shambles yet!
Nah... You got this!
💪🏻👌🏻
Awesome work your doing!
I am also unfortunately very familiar with the rushes... they are thriving at every low grounds on my fields and pastures here in Sweden.
Have to tell the contractors who come in with the bale press to put the bales with lot of rushes in them aside. Sheep’s won’t eat them.
If it gets dry enough it makes excellent bedding for the animals and mulch for the garden... not even plowing gets rid of them properly.. Hell of a weed..
Thank you Juglans. That is interesting to hear that there are rushes in Sweden and didn't expect that. I have a neighbour who has gone to great lengths to kill off rushes through draining, re-seeding and weed wipe, but he tells me they just keep coming back. That being said, he has fewer rushes than I have.
When I bought Gubb Farm, the fields were thick with rushes and keeping them cut back has helped. Hopefully, the trees will help, but only time will tell.
@@GubbFarm yes we do, especially in the southern Inlands where lots of the farm land are drained out peat bogs.. if it’s not that it’s just like farming in gravel 😅
I think you are on to something with the trees. I mean there are no rushes in my forest even though it has the same soil type.
I guess they shade out or take the water from the rushes, guess we will find out in your case 😃
@@GubbFarm I have horses and I find they eat the young rushes and rush seeds well. I also have tussock sedge in places they eat that too.
Bet that feels like getting the turf home for the winter!
Or pulling an all nighter to get the hay in.
Garda at a traffic check point a life time ago: "Why are you sitting on top of that hay on the trailer holding a plastic bag?"
Me: "To lift the electric cables over the top of the hay on the trailer as we drive down the road."
Garda: "Good idea. On you go"
Yeah exactly.
No health and safety back then.
Shocking experience I’d say!
@@anthonywestofireland2503 electrifying.
Dary, that's a mind-boggling amount of work. You don't have to do that again next year, do you?
Hello Bob. I had a lot of time this week to think about how I could make the process more efficient for the next phase of planting. I am thinking about fabricating an attachment for a tractor or mini digger that will form the 'Hub and Spoke' pattern in the soil for planting. The big issue is that the ground around me is so very wet this time of the year and machines will heavily mark it. That being said a mini digger might not be too bad, or maybe I could put a set of wide turf tyres on the Kubota.
Fantastic channel Dary, really great content! I am currently looking at the idea of starting a small orchard on our family farm but not sure where to start. Are you aware of any books you could recommend on agroforestry/silvopasture, tree planting etc to get started?
Hello Paul and thank you. Mostly I searched the web for information. I bought some books specifically on Hazelnut tree planting, such as "How to grow your own Nuts" by Martin Crawford plus a book produced by Andi Wilson (fruitandnut.ie/) in Ireland, but he has now passed away and I'm not sure how you would get a copy.
There is an upcoming NOTS online Agroforestry Conference, which might help get you on your way: nots.ie/courses/agroforestry-conference-2021-ireland/
Lastly, we set up an Irish Hazelnut Growers group on WhatApps and we have some very knowledgable people on there now covering everything from hazelnuts through to apple and cherry trees. It is probably your best resource to get ideas and you (or anyone else interested in growing fruit and nuts trees in Ireland) can join using the following link: chat.whatsapp.com/HPBWNKxlK4VEbE1Dli4Fas
If you do start an orchard, I would love to follow that journey.
Hello@Sarah Quinn - I don't have any research on the environmental impact of hazelnut trees, however you might find the following article and research interesting:
www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/02/only-humans-can-create-climate-altering-methane-burns-new-studies-suggest
www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-1991-8
All the best
Dary
What spacing have you between the rows?
Hello Phelim. The tree rows are 5 metres apart and the trees are 3.5m apart within the rows. For this phase of planting I made the end rows about 8m deep. I previously used 6m end rows, but it is tight for machine access.
Looks like you had one intensive week!
May I ask where you sourced the trees?
Hello Seamus. I bought the trees from Andi Wilson at Fruit and Nut, but he passed away last year. If you are thinking about planting Hazelnut trees in Ireland, you should consider joining that Irish Nut Growers WhatsApp group (bit.ly/irish-nut-growers-chat) and the group will put you in touch with suppliers who currently have stock.
@@GubbFarm thanks for that✌️
What's in the root dip and sachets, is it rooting hormone?
Hello April. The sachets contain endo and ecto mycorrhizal fungi to help the roots establish the fungi relationships they need to get the nutrients they need. I hope all is well.
Best of luck for your venture
What has a Hazel nut in every bite -
Lol
Hello Johnny and thank you. Ha - whole nut chocolate bars, here I come. Hazelnuts and chocolate seem to work well together!
Lol a topic
I some how think the squirrel population will increased have you plans in place for pest control or is it Connor with a catapult 🤣🤣🤣
@@Dengieflyer I'll dust off the old Black Widow for him.
I wanted to do the same when i go back to ireland love the idea of having a hazel orchard. The tree of our irish mythology. Do you mind if I ask how much it cost and the cost breakdown. If you dont mind.
Hello Sean. I bought a mix of 2 and 3 year old trees, which I think cost an average of around £5 or £6 per tree. It will cost another £2 or £3 pound to put a wire cage around each tree, which is not necessary unless you have deer or livestock. If you make it back to Ireland, get in touch and I will introduce you to other nut growers in Ireland. Good luck.
@@GubbFarm I sure will thanks very much
May I ask what the use of the heavy wood posts would be. I grow hazels in Canada and have never seen that done.
Hello Bill.
I got a Government agricultural grant towards the establishment of the orchard and they had a requirement that each tree should have a 1.5m fence post and wire cage or plastic tube around the tree. Their reasoning is to protect the tree from livestock.
I have very mixed views on this approach. On one hand it has reduced tree damage from deer fraying, however on the the other, it is damaging the formation of the scaffolding branches; adds a lot of work in terms to setting it up and managing grass growth inside the cage. I won't recommend using wire cages for hazelnut trees.
All the best
Dary
@@GubbFarm That's government for you! Best of luck with your orchard. I'm envious. I love my hazels but unfortunately so do the squirrels where I live in Canada.
@@billastell3753 we have Pine Martins (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_pine_marten) on the island, who have driven out all grey squirrels. I have seen one red squirrel locally, but I don't mind sharing a few nuts with them. All the best.
@@GubbFarm I could use some pine martins. They are few and far between where I am. I did get a new pup (vizsla) last year and she's hunt crazy. Hopefully we'll save a few nuts this year. Down south in the USA some of the good old boys eat squirrel. I may have to consider that practice. Seems a shame to waste hazel fattened squirrel.
@@billastell3753 :-) Squirrel Pot Pie it is.
How old are the trees you were planting?
Hello Martin. The trees where a mix of two and three year olds. All the best.
Very interesting. What's the market prospects for the nuts
Hello Alan. I am aiming to develop a direct to consumer sales model and from what I've read hazelnut demand is out stripping supply. Time will tell, but first I have to get them to grow!
@@GubbFarm well I certainly love them and grow a small few for personal use and wishing you every success in your venture
Thank you Alan, that is very kind. All the best.
Hi how are the trees going
Hello Maida. So far so good but it will take a few years to see if it will be a commercial success. Fingers crossed. I hope all is well.
You need free roaming pigs
Possibly at a future a date. The ground is very wet around here, so the farm would quickly turn into a mud bath, which the pigs would no doubt love! I am currently preparing to add some chickens and scratching my head on how to prevent mink from killing them (a neighbour lost 20 chickens to a mink a couple of weeks ago). All the best.