Wow that was a Hot Week

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for all the great comments regarding the Gardener’s Box. We are delighted that our produce is being enjoyed by you all. Hexhamshire Organics is, literally, flourishing at the moment with Fresh, Local, Seasonal, Organic Produce for you all to enjoy. We thank you for your support of the Box Scheme which reaches capacity each and every week - take this as your early warning notice to order early!

A shade cooler on Friday after yet another very hot week which has meant that the watering of everything has been the number one priority task this last week. Even the water, coming from the sprinklers, was actually hot! Watering is essential and if nothing else get’s done it is a must as we can, literally, watch the leaves droop and lose all form.

Whilst harvesting in this heat it is really important that, which ever crop is picked, it is quickly brought to me in the packing area. Once it is delivered to me I prep the item by trimming, bunching and checking to make sure it passes my ‘eagle eye test’. Then I  take the ‘field heat’ from the vegetables by dunking them into our extra large sink of cold water. This delays the item from deteriorating by removing the heat within the vegetable. Wilting of the leaves is prevented and a longer life and freshness can be maintained. This is why I often suggest that, for instance the chard, which was in the boxes last week, can be placed in a jug of water to extend the shelf life. Once the vegetables are harvested and prepped they go into the big fridges to be ready and available for packing into your boxes very early on the day of delivery.

We had a new, young volunteer arrive at the farm on Tuesday. He is a very quiet, gentle young man, but my goodness, he can work! He has offered his help and he enjoyed the graft and being in the open air. We will take care of him while he is with us, especially if he continues with the enthusiasm he has started with.

All of our crops are growing with vigour. The whole farm changes as we watch the growth then disturb it by harvesting and packing it away for our lovely customers. This means that beds are being "flipped" - emptied and cleared ready for the next crop to be sown or planted out. The three garlic beds are now empty, the kohlrabi bed has become vacant and soon cabbage beds and turnip beds can be flipped to a new crop. Bob has been direct sowing more carrots, spring onions, radish, beetroot and turnips. I have been in my ‘office’, temperature permitting, as it can get up to 40 degrees in the greenhouses when it is as hot as last week. I have been sowing the next trays of lettuce, mesclun, cabbage, cauliflower, calabrese, kales, cavolo nero and leeks. These will all be out in the ground very soon. This time of the year seeds germinate within days so these vegetables for the next season will be out and in the ground within the month. That is how quickly we flip beds in the Summer.

Some of you have been asking about the recent news regarding the Freyja Restaurant and Hotel. As reported, in the press update last weekend, Alex and Ally advised that the project was not for them any more. However, the construction of the Hotel and Restaurant and Walled Garden, now known just as the project, is continuing, as are we, with our part within the project. The Walled Garden still needs to be completed and this team at Hexhamshire Organics are going to be the team who will see it completed. Graham and Bob still work on the grounds and the greenhouse. I help with the seeding and tending. 

Thank you again for the support of our Box Scheme.

Take care,

 Ann