So Much is Growing

Hello Everyone, 

Firstly. A huge thank you for all the many messages we have received over the last few weeks. You all seem to be really enjoying our Fresh Local Organic Produce. We are enjoying seeing your meals made from our veggies and feeling quite smug reading your emails.

It would seem that even the little ones are enjoying emptying your boxes of goodies. It’s great to start them young…our grandchildren are very lucky to be able to walk around the farm, particularly the tunnels and help themselves to Beans, Tomatoes, Salad Leaves and Cucumbers. Outside they would thoroughly enjoy a pudding of fresh Strawberries. I wonder if visiting the farm has more to do with the grazing and the tractor rides than actually seeing the grandparents!?! Ah well! As long as they visit. 

Here on the farm the work continues. The beds are now full of our Summer and soon to be Autumn/Winter produce. The outside beds of Peas, early Summer Brassicas, Carrots, Kohlrabi are now all harvested, being used or stored. This has made space for The Crew to finish planting out the rest of the Brassicas…Kales, Cavolo Nero, Romanesque, Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Ccabbages…for the next growing season. So along with all the Onions (red, white, spring, salad still in the ground and Shallots in storage along side the Garlic), Leeks, Courgettes, Brassicas, Carrots, Kohlrabi, Artichokes (Globe and Jerusalem), Scorzonera, Beetroot, Kales, Cavolo Nero, Parsnips (for the Winter), Squash, Cauliflowers, Celery and Potatoes, our outside beds are looking pretty busy.

Inside the tunnels are all busy too. Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Aubergines, Peppers, Courgettes, Leaves, Lettuces, and Mesclun are all blooming. The only inside beds which are available are the soon to be cleared Broad Bean beds. No more Broad Beans. However, as those who bought a seasonal box found out last week, French Beans from the tunnels are back and they maybe in the seasonal boxes again this week and hopefully some Kale too. 

On a Saturday morning, Bob and I check what will be available for you all in the coming week. We make judgment calls on the availability of each crop. We mainly get it right however, that lovely lady…Mother Nature…does play a part. We often assume that a certain crop will never grow sufficiently to be available by the end of the week. Or that a crop will be ready but, it turns out, it needs another week to be good to crop. We do try, but as they say…it is not an exact science.

Once again, our Herbs are proving to be popular. We have three outside Herb gardens and more in Polytunnel one (above photo) and two. We began our venture with two beds in Polytunnel one, but oh how we have grown! It also shows how adventurous your cooking is becoming. Many of our fresh Herbs are unavailable in Supermarkets, for instance Lovage, Peppermint, Oxalis and Sorrel. Many of our Herbs are available to buy in the shops, for instance Basil, Thyme, Oregano, Mint, Parsley. I would like to think that our Herbs have a much better taste, an intensity which can’t be bought elsewhere. I feel I am bragging…but the Herb gardens are my favourite places so I feel I am allowed. 

This week’s picture is of Polytunnel one. The Basil is to the left, an assortment in the middle and, to the left is the Asparagus which we have left to go to seed. We allow the Asparagus to grow naturally which enables the crown to take in nourishment for the following year. Each year should be a better crop than the last. Fingers crossed. 

Thank you for all your orders and continued support. Have a fab week,

Take care,

 Ann👩‍🌾