Shabden Park Farm Weblog http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php en-GB http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 Cowpie http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2010/05/10/cowpie Mon, 10 May 2010 19:58:37 +0000 Kirstie General 40@http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/ <p>Despite a cold and windy day, we had a great day at the Cowpie Country Show yesterday. Mark and myself, and a couple of helpers, took a stall of our beef, lamb and pork and, of course, a good selection of our speciality sausages, and enjoyed alot of interest from show visitors.<br /> We don't go to many shows, but Cowpie is a local show organised by Surrey Young Farmers, and it's a good place to get our name about among the local population! We saw quite a few regular farm shop customers, some of whom had been up to the shop earlier in the day too! Our stall was in the local food marquee and some of the producers who come to our monthly Farmers' Market were there; Steve from S&amp;S Patisserie had some particularly delicious chocolate and strawberries gateau slices (one of which was lovely when the main rush was over and we had a chance of a cup of tea.) I hope he will be bringing those to the next market... <img src="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/rsc/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt="&#59;&#41;" class="middle" /><br /> As well as the meat, we were cooking our pork and herb sausages in an onion gravy, which we put in a french stick from Chalet bakery in Tadworth. They were very popular, perhaps because it was something warming. It was an unusually cold day given the weather we have been enjoying in recent weeks, quite a contrast to last year, when we were too hot inside that marquee! I am hoping to get Chalet to supply the farm shop. Their bread is delicious and is made without preservatives.<br /> At the end of the day we were all shattered but pleased with how the event went; lots of great feedback and interest. And I sold all my sausages!!</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2010/05/10/cowpie">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> Despite a cold and windy day, we had a great day at the Cowpie Country Show yesterday. Mark and myself, and a couple of helpers, took a stall of our beef, lamb and pork and, of course, a good selection of our speciality sausages, and enjoyed alot of interest from show visitors.
We don't go to many shows, but Cowpie is a local show organised by Surrey Young Farmers, and it's a good place to get our name about among the local population! We saw quite a few regular farm shop customers, some of whom had been up to the shop earlier in the day too! Our stall was in the local food marquee and some of the producers who come to our monthly Farmers' Market were there; Steve from S&S Patisserie had some particularly delicious chocolate and strawberries gateau slices (one of which was lovely when the main rush was over and we had a chance of a cup of tea.) I hope he will be bringing those to the next market... ;)
As well as the meat, we were cooking our pork and herb sausages in an onion gravy, which we put in a french stick from Chalet bakery in Tadworth. They were very popular, perhaps because it was something warming. It was an unusually cold day given the weather we have been enjoying in recent weeks, quite a contrast to last year, when we were too hot inside that marquee! I am hoping to get Chalet to supply the farm shop. Their bread is delicious and is made without preservatives.
At the end of the day we were all shattered but pleased with how the event went; lots of great feedback and interest. And I sold all my sausages!!

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2010/05/10/cowpie#comments Spring on the farm http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2010/04/28/spring-on-the-farm Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:10:04 +0000 Kirstie General 39@http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/ <p>We are all enjoying spring - animals and people - after that particularly hard winter. Our cows are calving and the baby calves are leaping about in the sun. The ewes aren't lambing until later but they have really reacted well to the dry warm weather and look in good condition. It will soon be shearing time for them.<br /> Spring came very late this year, especially up here on top of the North Downs. The daffs are only just over! In the last few weeks the butterflies have emerged and we are now seeing Brimstones, Orange Tips, Commas, Peacocks and Speckled Woods frequenting the farm tracks.<br /> Business suffered this winter, I'll be honest, but we're hoping that the nice weather encourages customers back out onto the farm (perhaps to go for a walk around the farm after you've been to the shop?). We are doing special offers every week on our free range meat, and our range of cuts on offer is changing to include warmer weather cuts and lots of barbeque ideas! <br /> We have also introduced our 'Wednesday Club' - 10% discount for the over 60's on Wednesdays. Just pop into the farm shop to join.<br /> Looking forward now to a long hot summer, our farm open days (more about them later or visit the website) and some exciting developments to the farm shop.</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2010/04/28/spring-on-the-farm">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> We are all enjoying spring - animals and people - after that particularly hard winter. Our cows are calving and the baby calves are leaping about in the sun. The ewes aren't lambing until later but they have really reacted well to the dry warm weather and look in good condition. It will soon be shearing time for them.
Spring came very late this year, especially up here on top of the North Downs. The daffs are only just over! In the last few weeks the butterflies have emerged and we are now seeing Brimstones, Orange Tips, Commas, Peacocks and Speckled Woods frequenting the farm tracks.
Business suffered this winter, I'll be honest, but we're hoping that the nice weather encourages customers back out onto the farm (perhaps to go for a walk around the farm after you've been to the shop?). We are doing special offers every week on our free range meat, and our range of cuts on offer is changing to include warmer weather cuts and lots of barbeque ideas!
We have also introduced our 'Wednesday Club' - 10% discount for the over 60's on Wednesdays. Just pop into the farm shop to join.
Looking forward now to a long hot summer, our farm open days (more about them later or visit the website) and some exciting developments to the farm shop.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2010/04/28/spring-on-the-farm#comments Happy New Year from Kirstie, Mark and the team! http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2010/01/04/happy-new-year-from-kirstie-mark-and-the Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:09:18 +0000 Kirstie General 38@http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/ <p><em>Happy New Year to our friends, customers and visitors.</em> </p> <p>Thank you for your support at Christmas - we had a very busy couple of days on 23rd and 24th, so an extra thank you for your patience if you came when the queue was out of the door!<br /> We had alot of customers who had specified collection on Christmas eve come on 23rd (I think probably to avoid the icy roads), and it rather messed our system up! I've noticed that all good butchers have a queue at Christmas - in fact there was an article about how to keep people happy in the Christmas queue in the trade journal we get - but it was made longer on 23rd by this. On Christmas eve, I was proud to see that most people were in and out within half an hour, so the system worked that day! I think next year we will have to be stricter as it really wasn't fair on those who had specified 23rd pick-up, and our butchers who didn't stop or eat from 7am until around 8pm!<br /> Mark and I were very proud of Paul, Martyn and the two extras, Sam and Richard. It was a long, hard fortnight, first plucking then dressing all the turkeys, geese and ducks, cooking all the hams, and butchering all the meat for orders and the shop display. Plus for several weeks before that, they had been making all the extra chipolatas and sausagemeat!</p> <p>Unfortunately we forgot to tell the animals it was Christmas day, so it started out the same as any other for us! However we had a lovely time with Sam and Tui, Kirstie's family down from Cheshire and visits to Mark's family near Horsham. Thank you for all your feedback about the meat, and we're really pleased to hear all the fantastic praise and that we helped to make so many people's Christmas enjoyable.</p> <p>The farm shop is now back on normal trading hours, and our January farmers' market will be held on Saturday 23rd. Here's hoping 2010 sees us coming out of this recession and an upturn in the livestock industry.</p> <p>Thank you for your continued support,<br /> Kirstie</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2010/01/04/happy-new-year-from-kirstie-mark-and-the">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> Happy New Year to our friends, customers and visitors.

Thank you for your support at Christmas - we had a very busy couple of days on 23rd and 24th, so an extra thank you for your patience if you came when the queue was out of the door!
We had alot of customers who had specified collection on Christmas eve come on 23rd (I think probably to avoid the icy roads), and it rather messed our system up! I've noticed that all good butchers have a queue at Christmas - in fact there was an article about how to keep people happy in the Christmas queue in the trade journal we get - but it was made longer on 23rd by this. On Christmas eve, I was proud to see that most people were in and out within half an hour, so the system worked that day! I think next year we will have to be stricter as it really wasn't fair on those who had specified 23rd pick-up, and our butchers who didn't stop or eat from 7am until around 8pm!
Mark and I were very proud of Paul, Martyn and the two extras, Sam and Richard. It was a long, hard fortnight, first plucking then dressing all the turkeys, geese and ducks, cooking all the hams, and butchering all the meat for orders and the shop display. Plus for several weeks before that, they had been making all the extra chipolatas and sausagemeat!

Unfortunately we forgot to tell the animals it was Christmas day, so it started out the same as any other for us! However we had a lovely time with Sam and Tui, Kirstie's family down from Cheshire and visits to Mark's family near Horsham. Thank you for all your feedback about the meat, and we're really pleased to hear all the fantastic praise and that we helped to make so many people's Christmas enjoyable.

The farm shop is now back on normal trading hours, and our January farmers' market will be held on Saturday 23rd. Here's hoping 2010 sees us coming out of this recession and an upturn in the livestock industry.

Thank you for your continued support,
Kirstie

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2010/01/04/happy-new-year-from-kirstie-mark-and-the#comments Shabden Farmers' Market - Saturday 24th October http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/10/21/shabden-farmers-market-saturday-24th-oct Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:48:44 +0000 Kirstie General 36@http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/ <p>Our October market is here, Saturday 24th, 9.30am-2pm. This month we have a new stall selling handspun angora and sheep fleece products, local apples and pears and pumpkins (of course) are in season, and Iron Railway vineyard will be selling their new batch of grape and apple juice- made from this season's fruit. Please note that John doesn't have <br /> a license to sell his wine and cider at this market, but he will be able to in November.</p> <p>FARM NEWS<br /> We have brought the geese and turkeys in to the barn for fattening, now the weather has turned colder and the grass has stopped growing. Most of the pigs are indoors now, but the sheep and cattle will stay outdoors for the next few weeks.</p> <p>SHOP NEWS<br /> Summer is definately over and we are well into Autumn, our first mutton of the season is available in the shop along with some game. Our full range of game will be available from the 31st October. Our own ducks will also be available to buy from 29th October. There are still lots of offers on beef and the winter selection of sausages too. We are now <br /> taking orders for your Christmas geese and turkeys. You will be able to place your order in the shop, or with Kirstie on the market manager's table on Saturday.</p> <p>Look forward to seeing you at the Farmers' Market on Saturday, and<br /> thanks for your continued support.</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/10/21/shabden-farmers-market-saturday-24th-oct">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> Our October market is here, Saturday 24th, 9.30am-2pm. This month we have a new stall selling handspun angora and sheep fleece products, local apples and pears and pumpkins (of course) are in season, and Iron Railway vineyard will be selling their new batch of grape and apple juice- made from this season's fruit. Please note that John doesn't have
a license to sell his wine and cider at this market, but he will be able to in November.

FARM NEWS
We have brought the geese and turkeys in to the barn for fattening, now the weather has turned colder and the grass has stopped growing. Most of the pigs are indoors now, but the sheep and cattle will stay outdoors for the next few weeks.

SHOP NEWS
Summer is definately over and we are well into Autumn, our first mutton of the season is available in the shop along with some game. Our full range of game will be available from the 31st October. Our own ducks will also be available to buy from 29th October. There are still lots of offers on beef and the winter selection of sausages too. We are now
taking orders for your Christmas geese and turkeys. You will be able to place your order in the shop, or with Kirstie on the market manager's table on Saturday.

Look forward to seeing you at the Farmers' Market on Saturday, and
thanks for your continued support.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/10/21/shabden-farmers-market-saturday-24th-oct#comments Through to the finals of the FARMA awards http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/10/14/through-to-the-finals-of-the-farma-award Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:49:35 +0000 Kirstie General 37@http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/ <p>Back to Nature Farm Shop has been chosen as one of seven finalists in the FARMA Awards 2010, in the 'Own and Local' and the 'Best on-farm Butchery' categories! </p> <p>Own and local farm shop Award<br /> The Award recognises real farm shops on real farms, producing fresh, homegrown produce, created with a passion for quality and taste (with no nasty surprises). Committed to supporting other local farmers, and have a concern for ethical and environmental standards. They are the people&#8217;s farm shops. Back to Nature is one of seven farm shops throughout the whole of the UK to make it to the finals of this award. </p> <p>Best on-farm butchery Award<br /> Back to Nature Farm Shop was chosen as one of seven UK farm shops for this year&#8217;s FARMA &#8216;Best on-farm butchery&#8217; Award for their impressive displays of own and locally sourced produce, and fantastic customer service.</p> <p>The winners of both awards will be announced at Farm &amp; More, the industry&#8217;s national conference on 26 January 2010.</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/10/14/through-to-the-finals-of-the-farma-award">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> Back to Nature Farm Shop has been chosen as one of seven finalists in the FARMA Awards 2010, in the 'Own and Local' and the 'Best on-farm Butchery' categories!

Own and local farm shop Award
The Award recognises real farm shops on real farms, producing fresh, homegrown produce, created with a passion for quality and taste (with no nasty surprises). Committed to supporting other local farmers, and have a concern for ethical and environmental standards. They are the people’s farm shops. Back to Nature is one of seven farm shops throughout the whole of the UK to make it to the finals of this award.

Best on-farm butchery Award
Back to Nature Farm Shop was chosen as one of seven UK farm shops for this year’s FARMA ‘Best on-farm butchery’ Award for their impressive displays of own and locally sourced produce, and fantastic customer service.

The winners of both awards will be announced at Farm & More, the industry’s national conference on 26 January 2010.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/10/14/through-to-the-finals-of-the-farma-award#comments Where have all my blogs gone?! http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/06/30/where-have-all-my-blogs-gone Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:34:41 +0000 Kirstie General 35@http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/ <p>We have been having a problem with the website recently. A 'adware' programme installed itself onto the site and is re-directing to another website, causing either warning messages through Google or similar sites or automatic re-direct.<br /> The problem should be fixed but our web hosting people have removed the 'infected' files and backed up with an old copy of the website including this blog, which has resulted in losing all blog entries since the end of May! <br /> I am trying to work out whether I can retrieve and post them again, and then I will need to update the Shabden Park Farm website.<br /> I would add that if you are at all concerned about the possibility of having picked up the adware programme, you should run an anti-malware scan as this programme uses login details to gain access to websites to hack. I use Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware which is a free download, but there are plenty of others available.</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/06/30/where-have-all-my-blogs-gone">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> We have been having a problem with the website recently. A 'adware' programme installed itself onto the site and is re-directing to another website, causing either warning messages through Google or similar sites or automatic re-direct.
The problem should be fixed but our web hosting people have removed the 'infected' files and backed up with an old copy of the website including this blog, which has resulted in losing all blog entries since the end of May!
I am trying to work out whether I can retrieve and post them again, and then I will need to update the Shabden Park Farm website.
I would add that if you are at all concerned about the possibility of having picked up the adware programme, you should run an anti-malware scan as this programme uses login details to gain access to websites to hack. I use Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware which is a free download, but there are plenty of others available.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/06/30/where-have-all-my-blogs-gone#comments Farmers market last saturday http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/05/26/farmers-market-last-saturday Tue, 26 May 2009 13:41:24 +0000 Farmer Mark General 34@http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/ <p>The day before the farmers market is always hectic with a fair helping of stress thrown in for good measure, and last week was no exception. Everyone is welcome to view the animals on market day, and I always spend some time tidying the barn the day before, and this time decided at the last moment to "muck out" one side of the building and re arrange the pig pens. So I got to work with the tractor driving back and forwards between the pens and the trailer parked outside, trying not to drop too much of what I had on the loader muck fork. By 9.30 friday evening I had half mucked out the pens and had made a right fine mess of the yard by dropping stuff and then tracking it in with the wheels, the air was full of the smell of freshly disturbed pig manure just to add the final touch to the general ambience. I could see by Kirsties face that yet again my timing was impecable.<br /> My apologies to anyone who visited the market and found the smell still lingering, but at least the yard was clean and various groups of pigs were enjoying their freshly littered pens, all completed by 9.00 the next morning. <img src="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/rsc/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt="&#58;&#41;" class="middle" /><br /> <br /> Saturday morning I managed to lever the kids out of bed early to help by bribing with promises of bacon rolls from the cooked food stall. <br /> Sam and his friend Tom erected the plastic tape fence around the car park. Tui and I with loads of help from my mate Jim the sheepdog gathered a flock from the field for shearing. Every month I try and have something different happening at the market according to where we are in the farming calender, May and June is shearing time.<br /> It is still a little surprising to me that a lot of people are interested, sometimes fascinated with what goes on, on the farm. By having demonstrations at the farmers market such as shearing, helps make the connection between farming and food.</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/05/26/farmers-market-last-saturday">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> The day before the farmers market is always hectic with a fair helping of stress thrown in for good measure, and last week was no exception. Everyone is welcome to view the animals on market day, and I always spend some time tidying the barn the day before, and this time decided at the last moment to "muck out" one side of the building and re arrange the pig pens. So I got to work with the tractor driving back and forwards between the pens and the trailer parked outside, trying not to drop too much of what I had on the loader muck fork. By 9.30 friday evening I had half mucked out the pens and had made a right fine mess of the yard by dropping stuff and then tracking it in with the wheels, the air was full of the smell of freshly disturbed pig manure just to add the final touch to the general ambience. I could see by Kirsties face that yet again my timing was impecable.
My apologies to anyone who visited the market and found the smell still lingering, but at least the yard was clean and various groups of pigs were enjoying their freshly littered pens, all completed by 9.00 the next morning. :)

Saturday morning I managed to lever the kids out of bed early to help by bribing with promises of bacon rolls from the cooked food stall.
Sam and his friend Tom erected the plastic tape fence around the car park. Tui and I with loads of help from my mate Jim the sheepdog gathered a flock from the field for shearing. Every month I try and have something different happening at the market according to where we are in the farming calender, May and June is shearing time.
It is still a little surprising to me that a lot of people are interested, sometimes fascinated with what goes on, on the farm. By having demonstrations at the farmers market such as shearing, helps make the connection between farming and food.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/05/26/farmers-market-last-saturday#comments Stiff legs and strawberry tarts http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/05/21/stiff-legs-and-strawberry-tarts Thu, 21 May 2009 20:30:16 +0000 Kirstie General 33@http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/ <p>We are looking forward to the farmers' market on Saturday. I've been leaflet-ing for the market in Tadworth today and tonight I'm shattered. It's amazing how long it takes and how much walking there is involved in even just a few roads. Postmen must be fit!<br /> I met quite a few people on their drives and it was really nice that they all said positive things about the market - 'that's a good idea' etc. One lady introduced me to her little german shepherd puppy and then offered to hand some leaflets around her friends. <br /> We are having to find new ways of advertising the market, after Reigate &amp; Banstead council fined us for putting signs up on the roadside! Thanks to all our supporters who put up banners, posters etc. The help and enthusiasm is really appreciated. Any other suggestions on advertising, getting the word around etc. would be gratefully received.<br /> We think that Shabden farmers' market is quite unusual in Surrey, being on the farm itself. We have farm animals to look at every month and all of the produce is made or caught or reared by the people on the stall. This is very important to us, to keep the market 'producer-only', and it ensures the authenticity of the market. The phrase 'farmers markets' is rather overused these days, and can mean anything from a school fair to a craft market. We've taken our farm-reared meat to farmers markets and felt completely out of place amongst the crystals and flowerpots.<img src="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/rsc/smilies/icon_confused.gif" alt="&#58;&#45;&#47;" class="middle" /><br /> Of course, we actually really enjoy hosting the farmers market too. Mark and I genuinely love meeting people and talking about what we do, and we love being able to hold the market at our farm shop. I always spend a fortune because the food is so good! <br /> Right at this moment, I'm thinking about when everyone has packed up and I can enjoy a S&amp;S strawberry tart and a cup of tea (ok maybe that will be a glass of wine!)<img src="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/rsc/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt="&#59;&#41;" class="middle" /></p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/05/21/stiff-legs-and-strawberry-tarts">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> We are looking forward to the farmers' market on Saturday. I've been leaflet-ing for the market in Tadworth today and tonight I'm shattered. It's amazing how long it takes and how much walking there is involved in even just a few roads. Postmen must be fit!
I met quite a few people on their drives and it was really nice that they all said positive things about the market - 'that's a good idea' etc. One lady introduced me to her little german shepherd puppy and then offered to hand some leaflets around her friends.
We are having to find new ways of advertising the market, after Reigate & Banstead council fined us for putting signs up on the roadside! Thanks to all our supporters who put up banners, posters etc. The help and enthusiasm is really appreciated. Any other suggestions on advertising, getting the word around etc. would be gratefully received.
We think that Shabden farmers' market is quite unusual in Surrey, being on the farm itself. We have farm animals to look at every month and all of the produce is made or caught or reared by the people on the stall. This is very important to us, to keep the market 'producer-only', and it ensures the authenticity of the market. The phrase 'farmers markets' is rather overused these days, and can mean anything from a school fair to a craft market. We've taken our farm-reared meat to farmers markets and felt completely out of place amongst the crystals and flowerpots.:-/
Of course, we actually really enjoy hosting the farmers market too. Mark and I genuinely love meeting people and talking about what we do, and we love being able to hold the market at our farm shop. I always spend a fortune because the food is so good!
Right at this moment, I'm thinking about when everyone has packed up and I can enjoy a S&S strawberry tart and a cup of tea (ok maybe that will be a glass of wine!);)

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://shabdenparkfarm.com/weblog/blog5.php/2009/05/21/stiff-legs-and-strawberry-tarts#comments