 NEWS ARCHIVE
NEWS ARCHIVE - Autumn 2001
The
past eighteen months have been an almost vertical learning curve
for me. Building a shop on a green field site and then, as another
shopkeeper of perishables once described it “catering for a
party every day when you don't know how many guests are coming”,
learning about the popularity and demand for meat in all its
different forms (as a vegetarian of 28 years standing), overseeing
the drilling of the borehole to irrigate the vegetables, has been
quite a challenge. But as we reach the end of our first year at
the Organic Farm Shop I feel it has all been worthwhile and I
would like to give an enormous THANK YOU to ALL our
customers, without whom we would not be here. Many of you know how
uncertain the first few months were, some people doubted we would
survive a winter, but with your support we did and are now
entering year two with a fantastically diverse array of customers
(and produce!).
Sometimes
I am surprised by the number of people who say they hardly ever go
anywhere else to shop anymore. The reasons? - the relief of not
having to search labels for organic certification, here it is all
organic; buying vegetables straight from the garden ‘with the
dew still on them, meat from animals that we know have had a
healthy and happy life, and of course the easy parking,
apparently(!) relaxed atmosphere and welcome for children.
Now
we need to build on what we have in different ways, so that the
business (and the staff!) can become financially comfortable. You
will see a few of our ideas in this newsletter. Please feel free
to comment on them, and tell us if we can make your organic
shopping any more pleasurable or easier!
P.S.
And an equally enormous THANK YOU to my brilliant team of helpers
here at The Organic Farm Shop, Café and Garden. They make it all
happen, long live their enthusiasm and hard work.
Hilary
Do you dread all those additives at birthday parties? Could organic
children's parties (or children's organic parties!) be an answer? Suggestion: Yummy organic food and drinks, an outside space to play (with shelter if raining), the woodland walk to use for nature competitions, treasure hunts, etc., and for groups of 15 or more a trailer ride to see the animals. What do you think?
Frozen organic goats and ewes milk
Organic herbs to plant in your garden
Organic tinctures that might help your health
Organic toothpaste, the first ever certified - one of only two sorts that we know of that doesn't contain sodium laurel phosphate, a foaming agent whose suspected dangers the BMA is currently preparing a report on
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Cookery demonstration dates with Holly Jones at The Organic Farm
Shop
17 October - autumn cooking
7 November - cakes, puddings and desserts
28 November - Christmas eating and gifts
Organic Seasonal Cooking
27th September
25th October
22nd November
Last years demonstrations were very well attended. The evenings were amusing and informative, with lots of sampling of the recipes at the end! All the demonstrations start at 7pm. Please book your place at the shop. Tickets cost £15 or £40 for all three evenings.
£15 plus tasting, recipes and a drink.
Bookings with payment taken at the till or over the phone with a
credit card.
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STAFF UPDATE
In the garden: Keith, Pete, Jamie, Pippa, Mark, Ric and
helpers
In the shop (just occasionally to be seen in the garden): Hilary, Jane, Sarah W. Bex, Sue, Justine, Catherine, Kate, and
helpers
Cooks in the kitchen: Sarah B. and Holly
Many thanks to Andy who gave us an enormous amount of voluntary
help and enthusiasm last year. We hope the ‘office job’ at Oxfam
goes well.
Also a big thank you to Ben who started work in a great big mud
bath of a field in 1998, and has spent many Saturdays and holidays
here since, helping it evolve into a productive garden. He will be
missed, and we wish him much luck in the future. (He has kindly
left us with his younger brother Mark!)
WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN ORGANICALLY ENTHUSIASTIC PERSON WHO WOULD
LIKE TO WORK IN THE SHOP AND CAFE FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS,
PREFERABLY LONGER. ITS QUITE AN ACTIVE JOB, NOT FOR THE
FAINTHEARTED!! AN IDEAL PLACE TO LEARN ALL ASPECTS OF THE ORGANIC
WORLD FROM THE FIELD TO THE CUSTOMERS SHOPPING
BASKET............TUESDAY TO SATURDAY INCLUSIVE WITH S/C
ACCOMMODATION FOR ONE OR TWO. CONTACT HILARY IF INTERESTED.
GOOD COOK
Due to the great demand for our own cooked dishes we need a
part-time cook to join our team. If you are interested in cooking
ALL DAY MONDAYS contact Hilary.
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Heloise
Heloise is now up with the other pigs, with her baby for company.
Baby( who is rather large now) is either called Baby or Desdemona.
Take your pick! Sadly the ground Heloise was on has been worked
over so well by her and her children that it needs a longish rest.
Then she will be back.
You might have seen the pigs from the road or behind the shop. We
have enjoyed having them there but they have attracted the rooks
who have wreaked havoc with some of our vegetable transplants so
the pigs will be moving in September to another field, further
away from the succulent little strawberry and squash plants, etc.
etc. etc………………
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Staff Ramblings.................!
Saturday 4.45am come drowsily downstairs and put the kettle on.
Honeysuckle scent creeps in the window. 10 minutes ago I was deep
in dreamland somewhere on the outskirts of Khatmandu – due to meet
an old friend then realized we hadn’t planned a rendezvous so went
into a big ritzy hotel to find a phone. It was all brass and
marble with charming attentive staff in green uniforms, mostly
European not Nepalese and all with a tiny ink I.D. stamp on their
upper neck. Using the phone was a typical dream affair (or
typically mine) when the simplest task takes an eternity and is
surrounded by unforeseen problems – least of all I didn’t know
where he was staying – nothing was achieved, it felt like swimming
in treacle. Then I saw a member of staff with a knapsack on his
back spraying the lobby air with something. “Don’t worry sir its
quite harmless, only an air freshener” Comments were exchanged and
my exit through the front entrance is a little hazy, I think I was
guided out to the street by friendly but firm security, probably
an ex Gherka soldier.
Sprayers have a funny effect on me. If I am driving down a leafy
lane and see one over the hedge I close the windows as quick as
possible and then scream long and loud at the top of my voice. Try
it next time you hear a spin doctor ( red or blue) on the car
radio or, or when something upsets you. It is a great release from
accumulated tension. Its good in cars as it wont disturb the
neighbours! In Bombay people meet at dawn to laugh. It makes them
feel great. Others meditate to clear their heads. A good scream
helps me – maybe a hangover from those days on the terraces packed
liked sweaty sardines behind the goal straining the vocal chords.
Enough of dreams, we’ve got a whole world to worry about. Sick
from chemical abuse and pollution, multinationals forcing
genetically modified products on us, politicians paying lip
service to green issues at election time, governments in the
pockets of multinationals, poverty and world hunger the direct
result of unsustainable agricultural practice, the U.S. and the
World Bank imposing the dictatorship of the free market………stop the
rant I want to get off!
Actually individuals with common goals are more powerful. The
world is full of small scale initiatives that put people and the
environment first. Vegetables gardens on derelict city land,
forest schools that take children to the woods where they learn
self respect for themselves and their surroundings, small scale
food processing using solar power in Indian villages, local
recycling, community compost schemes, South American campesinos
rejecting the round up salesman, locally owned wind turbines,
families pooling resources to cultivate allotments, African
farmers planting trees and harvesting water, community woodlands,
gardeners saving traditional seeds, creating meaningful jobs,
buying organic food, the list is endless – people pooling skills
sharing visions and inching forward toward a better and more
sustainable future.
Farm open days are a great opportunity to meet people and see what
we have in common. It gives us at Abbey Home Farm a chance to show
what we are up to and discuss our plans for the future. The farm
is a business with rent and wages to pay but it can also be a
community resource for schools, local groups, naturalists, walkers
and campers. We want to gradually open our doors, to demystify
food production and work towards a sustainable farming future.
We’ve got a sign on our barn door that greets visitors ‘ The land
is not ours, it belongs to the future and we should leave it in
good heart’.
Will
Goats and Sheep's organic frozen milk now available on a regular
basis from Gillian and David who have a small family dairy in
Somerset. After a slight delivery blip whilst they were welcoming
their first child to the world (we were very understanding!) we
hope to have deliveries every 2 or 3 weeks depending on the
demand. If you would like milk regularly please let us know so we
can plan our orders. The frozen milk has between 2-3 months
freezer life and comes in 1 pint plastic bottles. They also
produce the most delicious goats, sheep and soya yoghurt which you
will find in the dairy chiller.
We welcome suggestions to increase our product range. Let us know
what you need. (Foodstuffs need organic certification, other
products to be biodegradable and environmentally friendly)
We recycle egg boxes, 6’s or 12’s, and regular size plastic
carriers (Not small ones thanks)
Clubs /groups interested in farm tours, walks, cookery demos
and/or delicious seasonal organic meals contact Hilary
We bank with Triodos, the only ethical bank that we know of.
Triodos supports all sorts of sustainable and ethical projects. If
you are interested in knowing more about them do ask for a
leaflet.
If you have a friend, partner, child with special dietary needs,
come and have lunch in our café. With a little warning we can make
a feast for anyone. There’s a challenge!
Our website should be updated more regularly as we are learning to
do it ourselves……….watch that space, with patience please. Do take
advantage of our offer to pack up and charge to your card orders
emailed to us, ready for collection at an agreed time. No shopping
or waiting in queues……………all for a three pound charge.
We have a yurt available for hire in the summer. It is in a beautiful glade about 20 minutes walk from the farm shop. It sleeps up to 5 adults, is equipped with mattresses, cooking utensils, a gas ring inside and an outside fireplace. There is firewood, water and peace provided. The cost is £10 per adult per night.
Trailer rides around the farm have proved very popular and we shall be offering one every 6 weeks or so. Bookings taken at the shop. After the Open Day on 15th July, the next one will be
September 23rd.
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- Summer 2002
Abbey
Home Farm - Organic Producer of the Year 1999 
The
Organic Farm Shop - Organic Retailer of the Year 2000
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