Flowers.

June is almost upon us, and though it is still wet and windy it is certainly warm. At this time of year the weeds on the farm explode into life, but our crops also bring forth their flowers in anticipation of the fruits to come.

Rocoto chilli, in the Mothership polytunnel.

Cucumber, in Nigel polytunnel.

Tomatoes, in the Mothership polytunnel.

Strawberries, in the Mothership polytunnel.

Borage, edible flowers for salads and bees, in the Market Garden.

Chive, in the Mothership polytunnel.

Coriander, in Nigel polytunnel.

Red Russian kale being grown for seeds, in Nigel polytunnel.

The first kiwi flowers heading towards fruits, on a four-year-old vine.

Nasturtiums, edible flowers for salads.

Sage, planted outside the Mothership polytunnel to attract pollinators inside.

Shungiku, also known as edible chrysanthemum and chop suey greens.

Peter.

Peter, from the USA, left the farm last Wednesday after volunteering with us for ten days - many thanks to Peter for his efforts on the farm, and we wish him well in his further travels.

Hungry gap.

The infamous "hungry gap" is here again. The months of May and June form that period of the year when the winter crops are running out but the summer crops have not yet begun. During this time most veg box schemes take a break, but we continue, producing what we can during this difficult time and buying in some produce from other local farmers and growers to supplement our offering.

Last week's small veg box, composed entirely of our own produce - beetroot, potatoes, radishes, lettuce, chard and kohl rabi.

So far this year we have bought courgettes, broad beans, peas, and spring greens, all from within 10 miles of our farm, and all from producers who grow to the same environmental standards as ourselves. These have also been available in our farm shop and at farmers markets, and we always clearly label where they come from.

Our farm shop, which we hope to keep well stocked throughout.

Crops which have recently run out - cauliflowers, cabbages, green sprouting broccoli, leeks, onions, kale, kohl rabi, swedes.
Crops which are continuing through the hungry gap (so far!) - stored potatoes, stored beetroot, salad leaves, chard (mainly Swiss), various fresh herbs, rhubarb, strawberries, purple sprouting broccoli, radishes, lettuces.
Crops which will be available in the near future - new potatoes, broad beans, rainbow chard, cucumbers, tomatoes, courgettes.

Sixth polytunnel.

Our sixth and final polytunnel (unless you count the one destroyed by gales in February 2014) has had its frame finished and trench dug, and now we are waiting for a calm day on which to cover it. Which, looking at the weather forecast, could be along wait. So we are further potting-on the tomato plants which are to go in it....

The polytunnel frame ready for skinning, with the plastic in a roll waiting for a calm day.

Anne

We would like to thank Anne, from Paris, for her month as a wwoof volunteer on the farm, and we wish her well back home in France.

Cob build day 16.

Thursday 14th was the sixteenth and final day of phase one of our cob build, and all our lovely cobbers have now left the farm for a month or so, before returning for phase two.

New chickens.

On Wednesday 29th April we welcomed onto the farm a new flock of 120 point-of-lay Colombian Blacktail laying hens. They all survived their journey from Launceston, are settling in well, and are already laying more then 30 little pullet eggs a day (available in our farm shop at £1 per half dozen). These have boosted our hen numbers to 345, and soon we should be producing about 250 eggs per day.

Taking their first tentative steps outside in thick mist.

Cob build day 10.

The cob build is progressing very well, with a good team of volunteer builders camped out on the farm, and joined by several local volunteers every day - it's not too late to come and join in, as the build will continue through the coming week.

Raising cob walls on their foundations of granite, and fitting the first windows.

Big daily communal cook-up in the farmyard, for all staff and volunteers - one of the best bits of the day!

Aafke

Many thanks to Aafke, from Holland, for her 2 weeks as a WWOOFer on the farm, and we wish her well on her current trip around the UK.

Beltane 2015

As well as the fourth day of the cob build, a manic day's veg harvesting, and the first full day for our new flock of young chickens to settle into their new home, Thursday 30th April saw the community farm's fifth annual maypole dance and Beltane celebration, in what has become a recent community tradition.

This year saw the largest turn-out of people yet, braving the strong icy wind that always seems to blow, and also the first known bagpipes to have graced the farm. Many thanks to the musicians for coming along and playing for the maypole dances.

As the daylight waned we built up the fire and leapt through the flames to welcome in the new season. Beltane also marked the first anniversary of Pete and Nikki joining the community farm team, as live-in WWOOF hosts and community farm growers, and we'd like to thank them heartily for twelve months of hard work and valuable input - thank you both!!

Cob build day 4.

By the end of day 4 (Thursday 30th) the granite footings were constructed and the first section of cob wall had been laid on top.

Julien

Many thanks to Julien too, from France, for his month helping on the farm, and especially for his love of baking muffins and chocolate cake! We wish him well in his further adventures on Bodmin Moor and beyond.

Choi and Aggie.

Many thanks to Choi and Aggie, from South Korea, who wwoofed with us for 2 weeks and left earlier this week to continue their cycling tour of the UK and Ireland.

Choi and Aggie dressing leeks in the farmyard.

You can follow their journey on facebook.com/coupleriding (in Korean, but there are photos too!).