By Ward
On Friday the 27th of September, we gathered for the first “Sowing the Future” event on Ériu Farm. Around 50 people, young and old, gathered for sowing half an acre of winter wheat by hand.
The land was tilled the day before and was in perfect condition to be sown. We were likewise blessed with the weather on the day with the sun coming out just after noon.
First we had a shared lunch of deliciously made pumpkin soup and home-made bread. After a brief introduction and a sowing demonstration, everyone got a hat or bowl of grain and aligned themselves along the edge of the field. Then all of us simultaneously sowed the wheat! It was a wonderful feeling to do the sowing as a group and one could image how people used to sow their crop before the mechanisation of agriculture.
The grain was then harrowed in by tractor. A group of children had a go at pulling a small wooden harrow, experiencing the force of soil cultivation.
A special thanks to Michael Miklis for supporting us with the seed. Michael works together with Wilhelm Rost, who has been developing this variety of wheat to Irish growing conditions.
More information on Sowing the Future here.
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