Last years Christmas orders all went to pot during the Christmas week, as people had to rapidly change their Christmas meal plans. Customers were ringing to cancel orders as families weren't coming down, or they were ringing for orders because they couldn't go and see family. This year even, though there was uncertainty of how 'cautious' should we be, most people seemed to be planning a family/friends Christmas meal. I love the atmosphere of everyone getting prepared for a get-together. All orders were handed over to Phil and his mysterious spread sheet. Andrew is definitely not computer lite ..read more

Jacques Cousteau, not a name associated with the Organic movement but on the radio they did a spiel about him, and as these thing do it brought back memories. My dad made us watch the programmes and along with Gerald Durrell they influenced me aged 9 to want live with my best fiend in the lakes, be self-sufficient and only use horse power. Then aged 11 I was going to be head of a 'Duck-billed Platypus Programme' which then moved on to being a vet at a zoo which metamorphized into being a livestock farmer and now organic grower. These pioneers of the conservation movement, pointed out how much ..read more

Last years Christmas orders all went to pot during the Christmas week, as people had to rapidly change their Christmas meal plans. Customers were ringing to cancel orders as families weren't coming down, or they were ringing for orders because they couldn't go and see family. This year even, though there was uncertainty of how 'cautious' should we be, most people seemed to be planning a family/friends Christmas meal. I love the atmosphere of everyone getting prepared for a get-together. All orders were handed over to Phil and his mysterious spread sheet. Andrew is definitely not computer lite ..read more

Jacques Cousteau, not a name associated with the Organic movement but on the radio they did a spiel about him, and as these thing do it brought back memories. My dad made us watch the programmes and along with Gerald Durrell they influenced me aged 9 to want live with my best fiend in the lakes, be self-sufficient and only use horse power. Then aged 11 I was going to be head of a 'Duck-billed Platypus Programme' which then moved on to being a vet at a zoo which metamorphized into being a livestock farmer and now organic grower. These pioneers of the conservation movement, pointed out how much ..read more

My eldest son Simon has lived in Sweden for 12yrs and like most people I haven't managed to see him during this covid pandemic. I tried to go over in May, then August but Sweden had UK citizens on their top hit list of people who couldn't enter Sweden. Then on 18 Oct I found out I could go and I had a ticket booked and ready for the off on 24 Oct to 3 Nov. My son protested he would be at work. BUT give me a bicycle and I know how to amuse myself during the day. It was so good to see him and his girlfriend of 2yrs, who he is now living with and I had never met before. In fact I got spoilt by h ..read more

Many thanks to the five volunteers who are helping to rescue our apple trees. It has galvanized me into action. It is so easy to let jobs like that slide by when there seem to be other pressing jobs to do at this time of year in dwiderling daylight hours. I hear walkers are good at having a quick chat and encouraging our helpers. Some may think I am being rather brutal taking down the bramble and blackthorn which is always a good habitat for various animals large and very, very small. But I am getting advice from FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) on how to make more use and manage the ..read more

It's the first time since the apples were planted that anyone has questioned why or when they were planted. Year 5 St Nicholas School children planted them on a very wintery Feb with the help of Warden Giles. My son was 9yrs old. (attatchment) The field has quite a bit of history. The legend is a plane crashed in that field during the 2nd world war. When I first came to the farm in 1989 David Cross had leased the land for 3yrs to someone cutting turf. Andrew as part of regenerating the fertility put in a green manures full of vetches, peas and many different grasses/herbs. I remember my two el ..read more

After watching Extinction The Facts, it made me pause before I ran the mower over a persistent patch of nettles that I've had in the corner of my front garden behind the hedge. Until my clearing frenzy in my isolation, the patch had thrived there quite happily as a habit space, I left it. I should practice what I preach. When we have school parties and I take them down to the woods, I point out it doesn't matter how small your garden is, you can always be a custodian of wildlife. Leaving a patch of nettles/long grass, stones/rumble or upside down earth pots for insects and amphibians to hide/l ..read more

How to look friendly behind a face mask? I touched on the subject in the last issue. But one month on and more experience my thoughts on the subject have changed. It is lovely to see all the brightly coloured and sometimes humorous masks that people have donned. Especially our friendly customers waiting patiently outside the farm shop. Reading the signs behind the mask was brought home when I was in hospital last week having a total hip replacement. I might have been able to cycle 75miles but could hardly get my leg through the dropped cross=bar. If I hit a pothole or extra bump the agony was ..read more

Villagers walking along our footpaths will see us busily watering our crops most evenings. I hope everyone has been seeing how well our sweetcorn has been growing, along with the brassicas and leeks.. . Its quite a relaxing job about 6pm-8pm and our workers are grateful for the hot afternoons off for long walks or a swim in the river and even a trip or two down to the beach. Especially as we all start at 6am and finish around 12.30pm. Surprisingly up until last Fri each time I went to a beach it's been relatively quieter than usual, with the water crystal clear and stunning cliffs to look up t ..read more