Posts by ClareC
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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Old-fashioned bread pud
Launched by the Real Bread Campaign in 2010, #RealBreadWeek is the annual, international celebration of Real Bread and the people who make it. To encourage you to bake at home, with your family or friends, we thought we’d share one of our favourite bread and butter recipes with you. It’s taken from the book Just…
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Buttermere biscuits
We’ve all been absorbed in The Lake District in Recipes & Photographs by Tess Baxter, a book that tours the Lake District’s food, scenery and history. Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter, the West Indian spice trade and the Roman Empire are just some of the people and areas explored. Tess also tackles a fundamental question – what…
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Stick the kettle on!
With the weather being fairly bleak this time of year, we often don’t want to venture outside. Sometimes there’s nothing better than getting your feet up with a nice cuppa and a biscuit (or two). So we’ve got everything you need in the farm shop to cosy up with a range of treats from some…
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Baked rice with ginger and passion fruit
Adapted from a Nigel Slater recipe, this rice pudding has a twist of warmth and sweetness thanks to the addition of ginger and fruit. Nigel writes: “The baking time here is approximate. Rice pudding will be ready in its own time and will thicken or not as the mood takes it. The good thing is…
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