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About Abbey Farm Organics
 Abbey Farm
Organics grow over fifty different organic crops on 14 acres of
Abbey Farm, Flitcham (West Norfolk, UK). This produce is sold
through a box scheme, local market stalls and local wholesalers.
Organic vegetable growing started on Abbey Farm in August 2001
under the name Flitcham Organics. We changed the name in 2002
so it was clearer to the public that we are growers, not just
a business selling vegetables.
 The
first two years of growing was a period of intense learning. During
this time we improved the facilities on our field by fencing it
off from hares and rabbits, installing small-scale irrigation
and putting up two polytunnels. We learnt a lot about what pests
and diseases were a threat to which crops. This has led us to
start developing ways of reducing these threats, such as using
fleece for carrot fly and netting to keep butterflies off cabbages.
We have developed some of our own machinery, have purchased a second-hand
rotorvator and now have four polytunnels.
 We
also had to develop a market for our produce. This was very different
from marketing the farm's main crops such as sugar beet and barley.
So, there was more learning to do. We started our box scheme in
July 2002. It has grown gradually since then and had over 100
customers per week by February 2004. At about that time the business
was awarded a Rural Enterprise Scheme grant to help expand and
market this diversification project. This has helped us expand the box scheme and develop this website.
Abbey Farm Organics are organic growers and processors (packers)
certified by the Soil Assocoation (grower number G4724, packer
number P8461).
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