Holly

For the past two weeks we have been lucky to have Holly doing a work placement on the farm for her veterinary degree. She looked after our 400 free-range hens every day from 07:30 till 15:00, which was a great help to us, and we hope that she learnt a lot whilst with us. Many thanks Holly, and we wish you the very best with the rest of your course and future career.

 

Recent veg boxes

Although lockdown has eased we are still supplying about 95 veg boxes per week to the local community, almost double the number we were supplying at the beginning of March. We are taking on more customers, so please get in touch if you want to join our scheme. 

Caroline packing our own hand-dug new potatoes.

Joel weighing portions of tomatoes.

Kate packing mixed herb bags (basil, fennel, mint).

Preparing shallots for veg boxes.

Bal picking French climbing beans in Valentine polytunnel.

A sweetheart pointed cabbage ready for picking.

Radio Cornwall piece

Radio Cornwall broadcast a small piece about our veg boxes this morning, which can be found by following this link and skipping through the time to 08:42:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_cornwall

We would like to clarify that the majority of produce in our veg boxes is grown here on the farm and although we are not certified organic, we grow to the Wholesome Food Association pledge, without the use of any chemicals. Most of the produce that we buy in to supplement our own is certified organic, and the rest is from small local farms who grow to the same standards as we do.

Goldfinches

Photos of goldfinches taken on the farm last week by Shelley.

Reis and Maris

Reis and Maris, from Falmouth, came over to help on the farm for three weeks, and left yesterday morning. We'd like to thank them for all their help during their stay, and wish them all the best for their summer.

Maris (centre) and Reis (right) packing veg boxes with Nick last Thursday.

We'd also like to thank Jack from Camborne and Rhys from Bristol, for their help recently, and wish them all the best in their onward travels.

Recent veg boxes

We have recently re-opened our veg box scheme to new members, please contact us on vegbox.bcf@bcents.org to enquire or ask for a joining form. We have also delivered our final veg 35 boxes to Pendeen School as they have now broken up for the summer - many thanks to the school for their mutual support throughout lockdown. Our veg boxes for the past few weeks have contained all our own produce, averaging 140 boxes per week.

Ailsa bagging new potatoes in the farmyard.

Garlic dried and trimmed in a polytunnel.

Friday morning 8am salad pick - with Jack, Gary, Maris, Ilaria and Reis.

Picking kale in the market garden raised beds - with Ted, Gary, Maris and Ben.

Packing rainbow chard - with Nick and Reis.

Peas in their pods picked fresh from the market garden.

And a leaning tower of bulb fennel....

Ilaria

The third member of our amazing lockdown crew - Ilaria from Italy - left the farm almost two weeks ago after volunteering with us since Christmas (and 6 weeks on her first visit earlier last year).

Ilaria celebrating her 22nd birthday in the farmyard, during coffee-break on a picking and packing day.

Ilaria, second from right, packing veg boxes at 2m distance from Jack, Gary and Sue.

Ilaria planting shallots in the market garden in the winter (all harvested this month and already in the shop, veg boxes, and being served at Cafe Dog And Rabbit in St Just).

We are incredibly indebted to the wonderful Ilaria for her long stay with us, in particular for staying with us and working so hard and cheerfully throughout the Covid-19 lockdown, helping us to help so many members of our local community.