On the farm - issue 8

The atmosphere at the farm is increasing in busy bee like tendencies (did you hear, I have a bumble bee nest at home!), with soft fruit ripening, fields in need of maintaining for autumn and winter crops, endless weeding, and strimming (how are there so many stinging nettles and why do they choose to grow under every elderflower tree?). With the asparagus season officially over, summer has truly begun! 

Outdoor strawberries are now being picked by the masses, with a fair amount lost by the heavy rain last week, the farm team are working hard to salvage what they can to allow for new growth to have the space to ripen. We still have lots of tunnel strawberries, with a softer appearance, they are often the crowd pleaser varieties. 

Raspberries, blueberries, and gooseberries are well under way, with the odd ripe berry ready, hopefully with good weather they will be in full season by the beginning of July. The cherry orchard looks promising, with tonnes of green cherries sprouting from every area, we hope to pick every berry we can and send the damaged or cracked berries for juicing which worked out wonderfully last year to reduce waste. Did you know cherry juice has a tonne of health benefits, claiming to help sleep, reduce swelling and even fight cancer cells! Talk about natural medicine! 

Elderflower picking has started, and the race is on, to make as many bottles as possible of elderflower cordial before the flowers are lost to the summer.  Usually Jess and Mum can make 200 bottles, but with a late start it will be a tough season. Elderflower cordial is quite easy to make, give it a go using our recipe. 

The mixed flower meadows are starting to show the first signs of green. Once grown, the flowers will provide hundreds of birds with food and nesting for the winter. If only we could communicate this to the blackbirds who seem set on eating the seeds before they grow! 

Coming into July, you can expect lots of summer berries, freshly cut lettuce, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, tomatoes, beetroot, summer cabbages, carrots, and summer squash.