CHURNCOTE FARM SHOP & BUTCHERY
  • Home
  • Butchery
  • Cote Kitchen
  • Contact
  • Churncote Social
  • Farm to Fork
  • Job Opportunities

Farm to fork...

A dose of the flu - but thankfully we have our turkeys in a row

1/12/2022

 
Picture
Christmas is looming and things are going on apace. A rare visit by the postman delivered a very large, heavy envelope from Rural Payments. The opening paragraph basically said 'read, learn and inwardly digest' - oh, and reply within 20 days.
The upside is that I have been offered the chance to extend our stewardship agreement for another five years.
Basically, a stewardship is for the enhancement of the countryside by maintaining hedges, verges and other areas that allow flora and fauna to flourish.
Other areas are protected by not using pesticides or fertilisers all of which help to preserve the countryside as our 'green and pleasant land'.
Avian Flu is still prevalent and unfortunately the Huxley family who have supplied us with turkeys for years have lost their crop to the disease. Fortunately, however, we have managed to find another source and we will be able to fulfil our orders.
Hopefully a vaccine will be found soon as it was with Covid and Bird Flu will be a thing of the past. A vaccine for poultry is normally administered in drinking water, so there's no need to catch and inject individual birds.
On the farm front, all our crops are looking well, helped by the rainfall and mild weather. We still need more water to ensure a supply for next year, but hopefully not in deluges.
The wet weather has brought about foot-rot in some of the sheep, so we are treating them by walking them through a footbath regularly.
Christmas is nearly here, so our thoughts are mainly turning to the festive season. Let's make the best of it.
Best wishes
David

​

Harvest done, now it's time to look to the future...

1/10/2022

 
Picture
I'm pleased to report that we have completed a successful harvest and that the sowing of our new crops is well underway.
The new crop of Oilseed Rape has been sown using a reduced cultivation which saves on fuel and CO2. We have also sown fewer seeds to create larger plants that will be healthier and require less in the way of pesticides.
The living mulch we are creating is now sown, too, and the rainfall of late has helped germination, so the plant populations are looking good.
Winter Barley has been sown on the fields where the wheat was chopped and spread. We have also applied farmyard manure to encourage the breakdown of the straw to provide nutrients.
What is known as a 'break crop' - brassicas in this case - have been sown on two fields to provide winter feed for the sheep, but this also helps prevent the leaching of nitrogen and carbon.
In the spring, these two fields will be sown with beans to provide protein for the livestock.
On the shop side, I am very pleased to welcome on board a very competent and experienced butcher.
The nights are drawing in and Christmas is looming. The continuing threat of Avian Flu may have a profound effect this year. Sadly, I have to report that our supplier of Barbary ducks has been unable to source ducklings.
So far, turkeys and geese seem safe (fingers crossed!).
And finally, the August Bank holiday saw a record crowd at the steam rally in the park. Hopefully, normality is returning.
Stay safe,
David

Inflation, Ukraine, and mulch ado about composting...

3/7/2022

 
Picture
I feel it would be a good idea for people to grow some vegetables in amongst their flowers - or if room allows, create an actual vegetable patch. It's not that I want to put myself out of a job, I just feel every little helps.
Apologies for not updating the blog recently, but my life has been a little manic.
​There's a saying that the seasons come and go, but at present there doesn't seem to be a distinction between them and they all merge into one. At the time of sowing it was very dry and that affected the germination of our crops and, although we have had a few sunny days, we are suffering a lot of cold ones.
Harvest will soon be upon us, with oilseed rape and winter barley crops ripening fast. Silage and hay have both been made, so we should have ample forage for the winter months.
The face of farming is changing rapidly, what with the demands to cut CO2 emissions and the trouble in Ukraine that is forcing up the price of fuel, fertiliser and food.
With this in mind, I'm trying what is called a 'living mulch'. This is basically a field of clover that wheat seeds can be drilled into so that the nitrogen-fixing clover feeds the wheat crop. It sounds simple, but it does require very precise management.
Also to provide nutrients, much of the straw can be chopped at harvest and spread on the field, acting as a form of compost.
Back on the theme of seasons, the English asparagus season has finished and now we are into new potatoes and strawberries.
With current inflation in food prices, I feel it would be a good idea for people to grow some vegetables in amongst their flowers - or if room allows, create an actual vegetable patch.
It's not that I want to put myself out of a job, I just feel every little helps.
Stay safe,
David

Winter storms and the promise of spring lambs...

7/1/2022

 
Picture
One of the four big trees brought down by Storm Arwen
Happy new year to you all, and best wishes for 2022.
Things have been rather manic since I last wrote. There was Storm Arwen, which left its course of damage: Four large trees in the park were brought down along with several branches. There was also some structural damage to roofs.
Christmas brought its usual amount of chaos and hard work, but thanks to a very good team here, all went smoothly.
Everything is getting back to normal, but it's never that simple. We are all feeling the effect of the increase in oil prices. In farming this has caused the more than doubling of fertiliser prices, which I'm afraid will force up the prices of many food items.
On the other hand, I'm pleased to report that we scanned the sheep yesterday and Spring should see lambs aplenty. The results were: 32 sets of triplets; 124 twins; and 45 with single lambs. Hopefully, the weather will be kind to us and the grass will grow.
Covid is still rearing its ugly head and we appear to be learning to live with it. Let's hope that we can stay safe, as it's not really possible to run a shop and a café working from home.
That's all for now.
David

Christmas is coming - and I think we're about ready...

3/11/2021

 
Picture
Many people appear to be getting excited that Christmas is just seven weeks and a couple of days away. I have to admit that it fills us with trepidation, however we will all do our best to ensure a smooth (but no doubt busy) run up to it.
On the farm, it is good to report that all the winter crops have been sown and are looking well. The cattle are all housed and the sheep are being moved round the farm to mop up the grass. At least I won't be fretting that there are last minute jobs to be done.
The winter months will be spent looking after the stock and then some maintenance and repairs in the buildings and along the fences round and about.
Last time, I mentioned that we were TB testing the cattle. I can report that the herd is clear of TB and that is a great relief.
Autumn is upon us, which means the usual bouts of colds and flu - and obviously Covid is rearing its ugly head again. Also, there are new cases of avian influenza - "Bird Flu" - in the country again. Hopefully this can be contained.
From the end of this week we should have our Christmas 2021 order forms printed - although it is available to download on the website already.
I'm pleased to report that our local suppliers are fully stocked and, as far as possible, we hope to fulfil expectations. To ensure that the kitchen can prepare orders, we will be closing the cafe from Monday, December 20, as we did last year.
As many of you are aware, I recently had a hip replacement. I'm pleased to report that all is well.
Finally, I have to report that Mike, one of our butchers, and Calum from the cafe have moved on. We wish them well in their new jobs.
Stay safe
David

<<Previous
    Picture

    Author

    David Clarke has been farming at Churncote for many years. He and wife Sue started selling the produce from the farm in 2003, which gives him long-standing insight into the reality of the farm to fork process. David will be sharing his experience regularly here.

    Archives

    December 2022
    October 2022
    July 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020

    Categories

    All
    Agriculture
    Apples
    Carbon Dioxide
    Commercial
    Damson Gin
    Farm
    Harvest
    Honey
    Nitrogen
    Oilseed
    Sheep
    Ukraine
    Wheat

Copyright Churncote Farm Shop and Butchery, 2021 | Read our privacy policy here...
Site powered by Weebly. Managed by rcwmedia.co.uk
  • Home
  • Butchery
  • Cote Kitchen
  • Contact
  • Churncote Social
  • Farm to Fork
  • Job Opportunities