Very little snow this year perhaps but, for the first time in several years, a proper winter with repeated cold, hard frosts. Although this has slowed down growth of our outside crops such as Calcots and Garlic, they will have benefited from the vernalisation – the cold ensures that the alliums will split to form …
Lots of hand made sausages at the farm this week as two of last summer’s Saddleback girls went to Long Compton. The meat is now back with us and we are all delighted – deep purple in colour, tender and delicious – a testament both to the qualities of the Saddleback breed and to our …
We are at the very height of the citrus season with an abundance of perfect fruit available from Southern Europe. Sweet oranges abound – we have Navels, musky Blood Oranges and tingly, refreshing Tacle Mandarins from Sicily. Also from Italy, we have Lemons and the last Bergamot of the season. From Spain we have Seville …
It’s still cold and frosty but it’s also bright and beautiful. The days are noticeably lengthening and life is returning to the farm! Buds are swelling, bulbs sending up their first leaves – the very first signs of Spring are all around. We are all delighted to be returning and re-opening for this weekend. A …
Almost at the very middle of this ice cold winter, when everything around is dormant, we have new life. Dolly our “beautiful” Middlewhite sow arrived in late September and although we knew she was “in pig” we didn’t know the dates. It is traditionally said that gestation for pigs is 3 months, 3 weeks and …
Lots of Christmas ideas this week! As well as the wonderful new artworks I mentioned last week, we have been very busy with the autumn harvest in the kitchen. We have lots of Pickles (Green Tomato Chutney, Piccalilli), Jams (Quetsche and Pershore Plum), Chilli Sauces (Spicy Harissa, Sweet Chilli Sauce) and Drinking Vinegars (Blackcurrant and …
A change of format this week as we highlight two exciting artistic “collaborations” Firstly, we have a new local artist exhibiting in the restaurant. Cassandra Wall a longtime customer and friend of the farm is showing some of her collages. Beautiful images of rural and agricultural landscapes realised in hand-painted silks. All are for sale …
It may be almost December and cold and wintery outside but at least we have an excuse to revive our delicious mulled wine! A fruity Spanish red mixed with citrus and spices before being gently heated – perfect on a cold winter’s day. It is also time to launch our Christmas menu – available throughout …
Not a flower from our own gardens this week but a picture of Vanilla orchids growing in Indonesia! Many of you have chatted with our horticulturist and environmental warrior, Made Setiawan. Originally from Bali, Made spends half the year in Indonesia running his company, Conservana Spices, which aims to restore and protect the native Indonesian rain forest by encouraging …
A super abundant harvest of Quince this year. So many fruits that we haven’t yet harvested them all. So many fruits that one tree has collapsed under their weight! There are so many myths about this beautiful fruit. Some believe it to be the Forbidden Fruit from the Garden of Eden, others suggest it was a quince …
