Posts by ClareC
What is ‘good food’, and how do we navigate it?
Following a series of high-profile news stories about food standards and farming recently, Alison has been considering how best to help consumers navigate the confusing idea of ‘good food’. We have the cheapest food in Europe but the biggest gap in wealth inequality. Much of that cheap food is ultra-processed; so poor in terms of…
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Farm Trail in October
Brian Fereday’s Nature notes were written on his monthly walks around our farm trail. Brian lived and worked in this landscape and knew it intimately. We are lucky to have his records of the changing seasons and the comings and goings of the flora and fauna throughout the years. Here we revisit his October walk.…
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Celebrating four years of Crop for the Shop
We’re now in our fourth year of Crop for the Shop and we’ve found that it guarantees low food miles, contributes to zero food waste locally, and means our customers are eating food that’s grown for flavour rather than for shelf life. During the lockdown, the local food system came into its own and served…
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Spiced baked apples
Organic September is a month-long campaign to raise awareness about organic farming and produce. Organic farming is a system that produces food in ways that benefit people, animals, wildlife, society and the natural world. No other defined system of farming and food production comes close to delivering such a breadth of benefits. So, to mark…
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September calving
Here at Low Sizergh Farm, we have a 170 strong crossbred herd of Holsteins, Swedish Red and Montbeliards as well as 700 hens, and a flock of 200 Swaledale and Mule sheep. Farmer Richard’s aim is to use good farming practice to achieve excellent productivity and enhanced animal welfare. We are eight years into autumn…
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Squash and pancetta soup
Delicious squash deliveries from our Crop to the Shop scheme are partnered with Woodall’s Cumbrian air-dried pancetta in this recipe. If you’re veggie, make it with a can of Hodmedod’s beans from the farm shop shelves. Best served on a chilly day with lots of crusty bread. Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1 red onion,…
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From chemical fertiliser to a holistic approach to farming
“I felt we were advancing in agriculture, we were there to grow more food for the country if you like, yes 1948-49, still growing food for the country.” Wilson Robinson was born in 1916, and witnessed many changes in his long farming career. As the grandfather of Alison and Richard Park, who currently run Low…
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Sheep shearing: low wool prices
Sheep shearing, or clipping as we call it locally, is an extended family job here at Low Sizergh Farm. Farmer Richard’s son, Matthew, is the family’s nominated shearer and they share the work with Richard’s brother-in-law. His purpose-built trailer accommodates three shearers and helps control the flow of sheep. It makes shorter work of shearing…
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Cheese & bacon scones
It is not often you hear positive comments on the Cumbrian weather, but there are some perks and one of them is successful cheese making. Here at Low Sizergh, our cows enjoy a seasonal grass diet. During winter, the herd eats silage made from the previous summer’s grass and because we have a wet climate…
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Ploughing at Low Sizergh Farm: connecting to age-old rituals
Spring work continues here at Low Sizergh Farm with ploughing, harrowing, stone picking, seed drilling and rolling. No one likes picking stones. There isn’t a machine for it and the only tool is hands. Yet, for Farmer Richard, it’s satisfying to be working on tasks that form part of a complete and natural cycle: the…
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