The sun has been beating down on the growing project recently, writes Nicky Buley, our Community Growing Co-ordinator. Over the course of a few short days at the end of May, we went from worrying about overnight frost to plants baking to a crisp in the polytunnel! Food growing in a changing climate requires flexibility and innovation; it seems like every year there is a different challenge to contend with. Whether it be last year’s dry and warm spring or the unseasonably cold and wet one we experienced the year before, we are often dealing with different and unexpected conditions.

All of these climatic challenges could lead us to despair that we’ll never get a decent harvest. At the same time, growing and spending time in nature is arguably more important than ever. So, how do we make our growing spaces more resilient against the changing climate?

A great starting point is creating a diverse ecosystem. Modern agriculture relies on a monoculture; a large swathe of one type of crop. However, if conditions for that crop aren’t favourable, you stand to lose it all. By contrast, a polyculture involves growing several different crops together. This creates a more biodiverse ecosystem, and crucially, it means that if one crop fails, you still have something to eat. Plants that mutually benefit each other growing together can create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. For example, the ‘three sisters’ is a polyculture of beans, corn and squash that was developed by Indigenous farmers in North America. The beans fix atmospheric nitrogen, and help reduce damage caused by the corn earworm. Squash plants cover the ground, inhibiting weed growth, and maintaining soil humidity. Cucurbitacins washed from the leaf surface of the squash act as a mild herbicide and pesticide. The stalks of the corn provide support for the beans. The symbiotic relationships between these plants help to create a much more resilient growing system in the face of a changing climate.

A second key factor in creating a resilient growing space is soil health. The environmentalist Satish Kumar has commented that as humans, we owe our existence to “a six inch layer of topsoil” – a fact that brings in to focus just how important it is to look after it. At the growing project we use ‘no dig’ methods, which involve disturbing the complex underground network of bacteria, fungi, invertebrates and other microscopic life as little as possible, and feeding the beds with organic matter every year. It also means avoiding bare soil, keeping the ground mulched when there aren’t crops growing. Healthy soil retains water and nutrients for longer; this is crucial during the long, dry periods that we’re currently experiencing.

Traditionally, gardeners have pulled out ‘weeds’ believing them to be out-competing the plants they have bought. However, it’s worth considering that those weeds growing quickly and easily while our cultivated crops struggle might just be telling us something. Many weeds are what we call ‘indicator plants’; plants that tell us something about the environment they’re in. For example, dandelions can be a sign that soil is compacted and lacking in nutrients, wood sorrel is a sign of low soil calcium, and plantain can indicate an acidic soil with low fertility. As the climate continues to change, it is vital that we observe and adjust accordingly; and looking at what nature is doing can help us to do exactly that.

These are just a few ways in which we can make our growing spaces more resilient. We’re always learning at the growing project, and welcome anyone to come along and get involved; help us adapt our small space to the ever-changing climate!