What's new at The Organic Farm Shop?
May 2008: It's probably the busiest time of the year, sowing and planting. So far, all the potatoes are in, as are broccoli, 8,000 sprouts, 20,000 leeks, kohl rabi, and cabbage in succession.
But there's no rain. Not for three weeks. The soil's like powder. We had to get permission to irrigate, so we set up a pump and fountain and the other day (about the 20th May) we were up at 6am to start it up and it wouldn't work: the pipe was frozen! We had to wait until 10am for it to thaw.
Not only that, although the water's free, the price of petrol at the moment means it's costing just as much to pump it as if we'd got it metered from the tap. Crazy.
In the photograph you can see Mike doing a bit of power harrowing, our fancy new irrigation system, new seedlings under fleece, and the end of last year's leeks starting to go to seed.
We've had eleven calves this year and they are now out at grass, the last one was silver grey. Time, then, for the black Angus bull to visit again.
In the shop, possible new apple juice and elderflower cordial, and sunscreen.
On the website, we've highlighted our wide range of Fair Trade goods.
Notice, too, on our new What Vegetables Are In Season page, fresh new produce from our own farm will soon be in season.
Be sure to check again next month for the latest updates.