morning,
just as I was relaying the news to the team I received a letter through
the post congratulating us on reaching the final of another award. This
time it was the national FARMA Retail awards for the Own & Local prize.
We have been selected from hundreds of farm shops in recognition of the
business’ commitment to homegrown and homemade food and support of
other local farmers and producers. As this has been our sole focus from
the day we opened, you can only imagine how thrilled we were! Results
will be announced in February 2013.At the end of September we played our part in MacMillan Cancer's Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning. The kitchen team baked hundreds of cup cakes which we gave away for each donation to the Charity and by the end of the day we had raised £250! Thanks to everyone for their support.
This weekend we are joined by House of the Rising Bun for our latest Meet the Producer day. They will be here to talk to you about their wonderful cake mixes with samples for all! The following week is National Chocolate Week and so we have the company of the magnificent Lick the Spoon, our local chocolatiers! Come and meet the artisan choclate makers on Friday 12th October from 12pm.
We will also be celebrating the apple season with our Apple Day on the 21st October and will be open from 10-4pm. Join us for a kids apple hunt, choose from our apple selection and press your own juice, and learn more about the cider making process with Bob Honey from Midford Cider who will be at the farm shop from 11am.
Game is now in stock! We are currently stocking partridge, venison and rabbit and with the pheasant season just opening, these will also be available in a couple of weeks.
New recipes in the counter this month are Homemade Meatballs, Chicken Kievs and Pork & Apple Swirls for that quick and easy supper. In addition we have the following special offers for this month:
Meatballs – 2 packs of 6 for £4.50 (1 for £2.50)
Chicken parcels – 2 for £7.00 (1 for £3.75)
Chicken parcels – 2 for £7.00 (1 for £3.75)
After a long wait we now have our shiny new cafe till installed at our counter. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we fitted it and faced the inevitable teething problems! All is now in place and working and I am sure will help us deal with those busy periods.
Our latest supper club date is now in the diary. For National Sausage Week at the start of November we will be hosting our Sausage Supper Club on Thursday 8th November. Join us for a good healthy serving of our homemade sausages and quiz night. Tables are available to book now in 4's & 6's. Phone the farm shop on 01225 864948, email us or drop in to book your team in! Tickets are £15 per person which includes two courses. A bar will be available on the night too.
September has been a much better month weatherwise for growing; plenty of warm sunshine has meant that the tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and cucumbers in particular are still growing strongly in the polytunnels. Out in the field, the coloured French beans have done well too (a happy mix of purple, green and yellow), as have the mixed cavolo nero and red Russian kales (gorgeous healthy greens, delicious steamed or braised), and the cabbages also look like they may produce after all. Still no let up from the wildlife though: this year has been a record-breaker for most growers around the country in terms of slug damage; particularly in the south west. Kate is establishing a small pond to encourage frogs and toads in next year, which should help keep slug and snail numbers in check. And fingers crossed we get a 'proper' winter without the wet and mild conditions that slugs thrive in.
We are really excited this month as the Young Blooms work-space has been extended! We have a fabulous new workshop and have turned what was our workshop into a beautifully refurbished shop where there is now all manner of floral gifts! Do come and say hello and remember that we have a wider selection of flowers available for you in our Shop.
Weekends are full of weddings so your always welcome to come and have a look, but in the week we are creating fabulous bouquets to help celebrate many an occasion. So, do give us a ring on 01225 580271 or come in and order some gorgeous Young Blooms bouquets.
House of the Rising Bun Tasting Day
Saturday 6th October
Lick the Spoon Tasting Day
Friday 12th October
Apple Day - 21st October (10am-4pm)
Kids apple hunt, apple pressing, cider tasting & talks.
National Sausage Week - 5th -11th November
Seasonal Sausage specials, Sausage tastings &
Sausage Week Supper Club - 8th November
Join us from a two course sausage supper and quiz night from 7pm. Pre-book only.
Hartley Farm's Taste of Christmas - 24th & 25th November (10am-4pm)
Our annual Christmas Fayre with lots of local producers, lots to taste and mulled wine & mince pies on tap!!
Christmas Craft Market - Saturday 1st December (10-4pm)
Our first craft market to be held at the farm. Join us from 10am and be inspired for your Christmas shopping this year!
