Jan 12, 2021
What do you get when you combine solutions for both environmental and social issues?
Organic farming, of course!
Joining us today is Matthew Hayes of Zsamboki Biokert located in Zsámbok, Hungary. The mission
at Zsamboki is to involve as many people as possible in the
mysteries of organic farming. Matthew and the Zsamboki team pride
themselves in growing quality goods with the least possible damage
to the environment, keeping CO2 emissions low. They also focus on
the diverse members of their environment, striving to operate a
self-sustaining farm using their own nutrients. Check out this fascinating episode
and learn all about organic farming
in Hungary!
You’ll hear:
An overview of Zsamboki Biokert 2:03
About the availability of horse-drawn equipment in Hungary 5:26
What sheep are used for on Zsamboki 8:47
How Matthew set up the CSA 9:51
Matthew’s background with farming in Europe 12:55
How Matthew keeps everything organized on the farm 17:45
About the soil fertility on Zsamboki Biokert 24:30
What’s unusual about the tunnel design on the farm 31:30
The hardest thing Matthew has done on his farming journey 35:39
What systems Matthew would put in place sooner given the opportunity to go back in time 40:10
How Matthew set up his team on Zsamboki Biokert 45:09
What advice Matthew would give to new farmers 53:14
What advice Matthew would give to himself as a new farmer 56:31
Matthew's favorite farming tool 59:17
Where you can find out more about Matthew and Zsamboki Biokert 1.02:15
About the
Guest:
Matthew
grew up in a large, wild garden and developed a deep love of the
outdoors. As he started to see more of the world, Matthew was
always interested in both environmental and social issues and
eventually put 2+2 together to realize that a life in organic
farming combined outdoor physical work with a positive contribution
to the planet. That led him to become an apprentice on Tablehurst
Farm, UK in 1987. After working on many farms in many countries in
many positions, Matthew ended up in Hungary in 1995. With
colleagues, they set up the Open Garden Foundation (Matthew is the
director) which was an organic training farm for Szent István
University, Gödöllő, Hungary.
The Open Garden (Nyitott Kert) became the first CSA in Hungary, starting in 1998, and continued through various transformations for many years. Matthew has worked as a grower and practical educator in Hungary for over 25 years and in 2010 together with friends set up Zsámboki Biokert. This is a small, commercial market garden running a webshop-based box scheme with a weekly stand also at the Budapest Organic Market. The bustling small farm also works to run programs which link the countryside with the city, and works in close cooperation with Cargonomia, the Budapest-based cargo-bike degrowth movement.
Between 2016-2018 Matthew returned to England to work for Ruskin Mill Trust and set up a rooftop bio-intensive garden in the middle of Birmingham - providing food and education to young people with learning challenges. Social farming, composting, and soil health are enduring interests which offer endless opportunities to learn!
Resources:
Website - https://en.zsambokibiokert.hu/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/zsamboki.biokert