Compost to the Rescue for the Exmoor Pony Project!

When the Government announced a wide-ranging package of Coronavirus support, I breathed a sigh of relief that we would be able to navigate through. That was short-lived when it turned out that the Exmoor Pony Project and also me, as a self-employed author channelling my income into the project, fell through all the gaps. No furlough (I take no salary), no grants or bounce back loan (it's not a business)....nothing. Like many other animal conservation projects and self-employed not making large profits, we were left high and dry.

The Exmoor Pony Project was facing a very bleak situation. Our small group of loyal Patrons, who were battling with their own Coronavirus lockdown issues, have thankfully stayed with us. A smallish crowdfunding appeal has helped us eek along. But with continued lockdown and social distancing rules, it's very clear that I'm not going to be able to rely on our usual income streams with the ponies - and that is ongoing. 

However, there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel and we've had some welcome glimpses of it in these past few weeks -  Exmoor Compost.

Over the years, we have been composting the Exmoor pony manure and forage waste and it has matured into the most wonderful compost. Trying it out first of all in our kitchen garden, we're getting reassuringly good results. 

So we brought a big tractor bucket load of compost up to the farm, had a good rake through, bagged it up (buying  a job lot of unused but discarded sacks) and I put out a few social media posts to see if local gardeners would be interested in trying it out. 

Well, they are indeed! Within two days, We were off to Stogumber with  a truckload of bags and, after our client told her friends, we were back over there a few days later with over 50 bags! Since then, we've sold a steady stream of bags from the farm and we're off to places like Porlock, Minehead, Alcombe, Bossington, Morebath, Wootton Courtenay and as far as Challacombe with deliveries. A new client is coming over from the Blackdown Hills at the weekend for a car load of bags. The word is spreading well - as indeed is the compost.

Currently, we really are a little cottage industry 'start up' - preparing the compost, bagging it up, labelling and tying the bags (with baler twine from munched hay bales) - all by hand! It's hard work, but it's so rewarding to see this wonderful, natural resource being put to such good use in people's containers and gardens. And customers are coming back for more. 

We've got a plentiful supply of well-matured Exmoor Pony Manure Multi-Purpose Compost , which is available in (around) 50 ltr bags. And a  superb resource of quality Exmoor Pony Manure Potting Compost is in the pipeline. Both of which will be available in smaller quantities too. 

We're in the process of sourcing some machinery that can help us with the compost preparation, weighing and bagging - and also help us more efficiently sweep the pastures to collect manure for future compost.  My dream of a paddock sweeper has finally been realised - thank you ponies! 

We're getting excellent and encouraging feedback from the local gardeners who've started using our compost and I very much hope we can progress the Exmoor Compost project into a sustainable farm diversification to help safeguard the Exmoor Pony Project. 

"It's fantastic compost," said Jenny from Porlock.

 

Isn't it also wonderful that what they're producing is so good for home-grown vegetables, fruit and flowers? Eating local produce is of enormous benefit to our health - and helps to reduce food miles. 

I'm chuffed that, in looking for ways to support and safeguard the  Exmoor Pony Project, we've also found a way to help local food production, that has a positive impact on environment and climate change. And it's promoting both the endangered Exmoor pony breed and Exmoor National Park. 

Thank you to everyone who is supporting Exmoor Compost and the Exmoor Pony Project. Please help spread the word!