The milking times
The global price of cereals has shot up and we’re changing afternoon milking time to 3.15pm. What’s the story, what’s the connection? India and China buy a large proportion of the world’s supply of grain now, which means there is less on the world market. Grains are being grown to produce bio-ethanol, a renewable energy…
Read More
Bread matters
I am a member of the Real Bread Campaign, which doesn’t need a lot of explaining. This week I received from them some bright yellow stickers printed: ” WARNING!!! This bread may be made using the following: …” list of scary words follows … “amylase, hemicellulase, phospholipase… the law says bakers don’t need to declare…
Read More
As seen on TV
Richard’s going to be on TV — Lakes on a Plate, Frday 24th Sept 2.00pm on Channel 4. Peter Sidwell is a cafe owner and chef from Keswick. His series has been a great promotion for many Cumbrian farmers and growers, producers and makers. From Yew Tree Farm’s Herdwick lamb to Little Salkeld Watermill flour…
Read More
The Lakes On A Plate
There was a change from the usual routine this morning when we were filmed for a new TV series: The Lakes On A Plate. Peter Sidwell, chef owner from Keswick’s Simply Good Taste Cafe and Cookery School is going to be cooking with produce he is shown collecting around the county. He promises “some amazing…
Read More
Great British Menu
Customers in the shop have mentioned seeing the farm on TV last week. Great British Menu was for top UK chefs who competed to cook for a banquet attended by Prince Charles at the Assembly Rooms in Bath. The National Trust provided the challenge – cook with local ingredients sourced from near their properties. We…
Read More
Shops and markets
Cumbria Life interviewed me for a May 2010 article on Cumbria’s farm shops and I pointed out that farmers have always sold directly to customers in one way or another. When he saw the piece my Grandad phoned and told me about how he, aged 11, drove his mother in the horse and trap to…
Read More
Lots of visitors
Today is turning out to be a day of visitors, large and small. Reception class from Grasmere School came to see the cows and hens and to plant seeds at Growing Well as part of the Food for Life curriculum. Richard showed round visitors from Pimhill Organic Farm in Shropshire. They grow and mill cereals…
Read More
Cows Out
The cows left their winter housing quite late this year because the grass didn’t grow in the low temperatures. The fields had to be dry enough for a 150-strong herd. Even with 4 star indoor accommodations throughout the winter the cows race to the pasture, eager to munch juicy fresh grass. We are excited at…
Read MoreDamson blossom
The damson blossom is beautiful. After a long wait the pretty white blossom is out, and it’s a bucolic scene with the hens in the field beyond (known as the bull coppe) and the sheep and lambs under the trees. Damson day in Lyth valley was April 17th, the annual celebration of the distinctive local…
Read More
Field Work
After ploughing and picking off a few large stones in our Lyth Valley fields, lime was spread to increase the soil pH. The land was last ploughed 25 or 30 years ago and it is encouraging to see and feel the quality of the soil. It has been planted with a grass and clover mix…
Read More