michael knights

Area: 6 acres

Certification: Soil Association

Crops: Mixed vegetables

Outlets: Box Scheme, farm gate, wholesale

Telephone: 01379 668060

Michael Knights came to organic growing after a career in banking. After studying organic horticulture at Otley College in Suffolk, he found a 2 acre holding in his former home village of Hoxne and immediately put it into organic conversion. He has been producing organic vegetables from his immaculate plot since 1998. In 2000 he began renting and converting a further 4 acres in Wickham Skeith, this has been supplying the co-op with bulk crops since 2002. He works closely with his brother, Kevin (also a producer member of Eostre), who has a further 6 acres a few miles away.

Michael works with a rotation system of 5 cycles every 4 years giving a wide range of crops and excellent yields from his relatively small area. The rotation separates vegetables according to family, so in each cycle there is a separate bed for brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts), legumes (beans and peas), the onion family (onions, garlic, leeks), roots such as parsnips, and cucurbits such as squashes and pumpkins. Each rotation area is further divided into beds to allow a variety of species and varieties within each family.

The outdoor rotation is supplemented by two large polytunnels, whose richer soil and protected conditions allow further crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, peppers and early beans to be grown. The polytunnels are also used to bring on seedlings in modules, giving them a headstart over the weeds when they're planted out.

When Eostre was founded Michael intended growing purely to supply with substantial orders, preferring not to get involved with selling from the gate. Such was the demand from neighbours, though, that he was coaxed into it and found it a valuable outlet for small amounts of produce. He now offers farm gate sales from 9am - 7pm (6pm in winter) and sells through his brother Kevin's stalls at Alder Carr and Lopham farmers' markets. Michael has also established a unique box scheme serving Hoxne and surrounding villages. Using his own produce and the full Eostre range Michael will pack a box of fruit and vegetables to any value and in any combination. He asks customers to collect from the farm thereby cutting out delivery and packing charges.

Michael and Kevin are the subject of a film called the Organic Brothers, produced and filmed by a local man documenting life in his corner of East Anglia. The film follows Kevin, Michael and their land through the year and will be available to view once we manage to convert the DVD and upload it somewhere..