Social Enterprise Red Carpet
I am going to London tomorrow for the Social Enterprise Awards reception at the O2 arena. Growing Well put us forward for the Social Enterprise Partner category. It’s a bit of a thrill even reading the list of finalists: Glasgow Caledonian University, RBS Community Banking West Lindsey District Council … and little old Low Sizergh…
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Royal Agricultural Societies Award
Dad, John, is off to the House of Lords next week where he’ll be presented with a certificate welcoming him as an Associate Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies (FRAgS). This award is made to people who are judged to have made a significant contribution to agriculture, so we’re very proud of his achievement.
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Nella Last in the 1950s
A Barrow-in-Furness woman, Nella Last recorded her day-to-day life during and after the Second World War. Food features in Nella’s life, as you’d expect in an era of rationing. Her diet was simple and she loved pudding, here’s a list of the dishes she favoured… brisket beef, poached cod in milk, steamed egg custard, stewed…
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Growing Well recognition
Growing Well’s manager, Beren Aldridge and I spoke yesterday at a Kendal conference on Mental Health and Wellbeing for Cumbrian businesses. There was a comprehensive presentation from Dame Carol Black, the government adviser on health and work, mainly about work being good for us (given the right characteristics). Growing Well supports people back into employment…
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Plum perfect
The late summer warmth has been perfect for sweetening the ripe plums in the farm’s orchards. It’s been a pleasure to pick this year, and the plums are juicy and moreish. There’s no chance of saving them to make a crumble once you get a handful. In the farm shop now!
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The secrets of silaging
For a good silage crop that will feed the cows through winter, when they are housed under cover, we need the right balance of grass quantity and quality. It can be quite delicate as the grass deteriorates once it gets beyond the optimal growth rate and starts to go to seed. Silage made from grass…
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Cow breeding
As most people are aware a cow on a dairy farm produces milk because she has a calf every year. The 6 cows still left to calve this year are right at the end of the calving pattern. In 2013 we’re aiming for all the cows to calve in 9 weeks rather than 12. It’s…
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Sizergh Apple Cake
Ingredients 6 Beauty of Moray baking apples (peeled, cored and sliced) 225g butter 225g caster sugar 450g self raising flour Pinch of salt 3 eggs beaten 400g sultanas 1 level tsp ground cinnamon 250g Demerara sugar 8 inch cake tin Method Grease the cake tin on the bottom and around the sides and pre-heat the…
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Spanish Style Stuffed Marrow with a Cumbrian Flavour
Ingredients 1 x Marrow 2 x chopped onion 2 x clove of garlic 1/2 tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp dried thyme ½ tsp oregano 150g Cumbrian chorizo 1 x small jar of roasted peppers in oil (chopped) 2 x cans chopped tomatoes 100g bread crumbs Kendal crumbly cheese Handful of chopped…
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Autumnal Roast Butternut Squash with Sausage Stuffing
Ingredients 2 small butternut squash (halved lengthways) 2 tbsp olive oil 1 red onion (chopped) 2 tbsp pine nuts 25g (1oz) dried sour cherries or cranberries 6 sausages 40g (1.5oz) Gruyère cheese (grated) Method Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan oven/gas mark 6 Scoop the seeds out of the butternut squash halves and put them…
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