Many customers show a great interest in the farm and what is going on beyond the shop and the cafe. Consequently I have been encouraged to create a blog with, I hope, regular updates. It may not be as colourful as The Archers, but here goes...
The farm in total is 420 acres, or 168 hectares if you prefer. The whole area is tenanted. It is a very mixed farm, with arable crops of wheat, barley, field beans and sometimes oilseed rape in the rotation. There is also 180 acres of parkland.
The parkland is very traditional, with a wide range of trees and to help maintain it, we farm it sympathetically, with a low stocking rate and low usage of any fertiliser or chemical weed control. With the cooperation of our neighbour, part of the parkland is used to host a steam and vintage rally every year.
The grassland is used for grazing a flock of 300 ewes with their lambs, and approximately 50 head of beef cattle. The cattle are purchased at between 10 and 12 months old from traditional suckler herds. The aim is to be able to supply the farm shop with grass-fed beef 12 months of the year.
To enhance the biodiversity of the farm, we are involved in higher level stewardship. We approach this with three and six-metre headlands for fields to protect the flora and fauna. We also cultivate two acres of wild bird seed cover to provide food for the birds during the winter months.
An area of seven acres has reverted to natural woodland and scrub, which helps to offset our carbon footprint.
Hopefully this introduction will give you an insight into Churncote Farm.
Life goes on as far as possible in these times, so our workload at present involves the weaning of lambs, the topping of pastures to control weeds and grass growth - and for preparing for our corn harvest. This includes cleaning and disinfecting the grain store, and maintenance and service of the harvesting machinery.
In the scale of things, we are small arable farmers, therefore we use a contractor for the combining. In a bid to keep machinery costs down, many machines are pooled with Sue's sons, Philip and Peter, who also muck in with the labour.
We all know the weather has been difficult for 12 months, so let's hope Mother Nature doesn't let us down.
We hope you are all keeping well and you are able to enhance the new ways we have to live by.