We are now starting our 4 week break....where has this year gone to??
The Cotswold Christmas Fair at Andoversford turned out to be a rather quiet affair - mainly due to it being 'Black Friday'....and so we didn't get the foot fall we would normally. Still the stall ended up being ok, and we only have a few trees left, along with a few jars of jellies and jams.
The pork, gammon, bacon and sausages are all back - we have virtually sold out of pork, but the gammon and bacon are still available - it does look fantastic!
We had our end of term lunch last thursday here at the house. It was a great affair again, with all the volunteers pitching in to help cooking with me, and producing puddings galore! The students so enjoy getting together - it's a great end to their year. We also invited the head chef from The Bathurst Arms, Ben and Sue, one of our Trustees, so it ended up with 25 of us squeezed into the hall and round the dining table. Of course we had pork, slow roasted over night and it was delicious!
We are one of two charities that Tescos have given a 'helping hand' to this week. They had a cheque presentation at the large Tesco store in Kingsmeadow on Friday, and Johnny came with me to the photo call. We all had to wear silly Christmas hats....not looking forward to that photo! We are putting the cheque towards a set of livestock scales to weigh the sheep and pigs during the year.
Today, Alan (volunteer) came with me to pick up 'Perry' the boar. We have very kindly been lent him again by Gary Salter. Gary has started producing delicious salamis and parma hams with his Oxford Sandy and Blacks. Perhaps we will be able to build on a 'butcher's and cutting room' next year...it would be great to start producing our own specialities too. As we parked the trailer next to the woodland, Sandy and Perry were calling out to each other, and they almost walked off hand in hand - it was lovely to see!
i don't want to speak too soon, but the ducks are back laying again...not sure if it's the khakis or the older Aylesbury, but our customers are very happy! We also appear to have happy hens back laying. One of our new volunteers did a bit of research, and discovered that hens like laying low down, and the houses we bought from Countrywide have all their nesting boxes really high up. So we have put some nesting boxes on the floor for them, and moved the purches up higher - result...we are definitely getting more eggs!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, and do keep spreading the word.
with festive wishes, for a peaceful time and a prosperous New year,
Emma x
Hello Emma.
ReplyDeleteThis project is awesome. You may not remember me. But I worked on the farm many years ago. Milking the cows along with the arable side as well. Stephen Keyte. I lived in the house along the drive way. Just browsing the internet and I suddenly thought about my fun times at the farm. Sorry to read your father passed away. My father passed away 3years ago. How is Lucy and family and your mother. I now live in New Zealand have done for 15 years. The one thing that interested me was the project itself. I work in the disability sector in NZ since my accident in 03. Double amputee. Its an amazing sector to work in and I am totally committed to my work. Intellectual. Physical and congenital disabilities. Its a very grounding environment.makes us realise how lucky we are.
Any way its lovely yo see you are doing so well. Keep up your amazing energy for the project.
Stephen Keyte.