Castlefarm Shop Newsletter
11-Nov-2009
Castlefarm Newslettter, November 09
Castlefarm Shop Newsletter November 09
Email jenny@castlefarmshop.ie to receive this newsletter by email
Castlefarm Winter events diary
• Saturday 14th of November 11am free farm walk. Meet our pigs, calves, hens, cows and maybe our bees! See our garden and our allotments and learn a bit about farming in the winter.
• Annual Christmas craft fair Sunday 22nd of November 12-6. Our range of local/Irish made arts and crafts include candles, stationery, wreaths, paintings, jewellery, Christmas decorations, wood turning, pottery, hen houses, and cribs. Entertainment starts at 2pm with local fundraisers ‘Give A girl A Chance’ singing. At 4pm the Kilcullen Scouts will take over and will continue until 6pm.
• Sunday 13th December 2pm and 3pm. Free workshop. Festive Table Decorations, ideas, inspiration and practical advice from local plant expert Sally McCaffrey. Sally will also be selling wreaths, fresh herbs and plants for winter including colourful winter shrubs.
• Sunday 20th December 3pm. Children’s Christmas Craft Workshop. €5 per child or free place with every €50 spent. 12-5 Ribbons and Bows, a specialised hamper wrapping day. Free mulled wine and lots of Christmas music! We will be on hand to help you stick to a budget and select and wrap hampers to suit the recipient. Free facility to store perishable hampers in the Castlefarm coldroom until you need them.
Whats in season in the Castlefarm garden
It is the season of the root vegetable. We are harvesting our own leeks, carrots, parsnips and turnips. We also have our own cooking apples for sale in the farm shop.
Castlefarm organic pork
Our two Glostershire black pigs arrived in August and we noticed that although one was thriving the other was not fattening so well (they are destined for the butcher). We realised that the female pig was bullying the male who was getting very little food. So we started to feed them separately and immediately we could see the male pig putting on weight. All going well they will be ready for the butchers at the end of the month.
On the farm
The cows have been housed by night from the start of November and will be housed fulltime in mid November. At that stage they will be fed on good quality silage and 5 kg concentrates. All the cows in the autumn herd finally calved and we have over 10 Angus heifers that will be kept for beef in 2011. The winter oats were planted at the start of the month. They are destined for Flavahans organic oats next autumn.
Organic Angus beef update
We have sent the first 3 of our autumn organic Angus heifers to Murphy’s butchers in Tullow. Lars Murphy will hang the beef for 21 days and then from the middle of the month will be selling our final beef boxes. Each beef box contains a mix of steaks, roasts, mince and stewing beef. The boxes will cost €12/kg and the boxes normally cost from €140-€160 depending on the size of the roasts. Our next beef boxes are available in late November. If you would like one of the year’s final beef boxes please let me know immediately.
Christmas craft market
Our annual open air craft market takes place on Sunday 22nd of November from 12-6pm in our farmyard. We still have stall spaces available. Our entertainment starts at 2pm with local fundraisers ‘give a girl a chance’ singing. At 4pm the Kilcullen Scouts* will take over and will continue until 6pm. Our range of Irish made arts and crafts include candles, stationery, wreaths, paintings, jewellery, Christmas decorations, wood turning, pottery, hen houses, cribs.
*The Kilcullen Scouts raise funds over the year so that they can partake in many different activities including camping, pioneering and orienteering. They also help out in the community litter picking, helping younger youth groups and organising activities for our local senior citizens. This year they raised €2,500 to bring over 100 senior citizens for a 3 course Christmas meal with entertainment and companionship provided by the scouts.
Castlefarm organic allotment packages for 2010
Castlefarm organic allotments were launched in 2009 with 30 allotments rented for the year. Our allotments are rabbit proofed, set up with regular water outlets and farmyard manure is supplied free of charge. Allotment holders also have access to a shed, picnic tables and toilet. Set off our quiet road beside our own organic garden and the pig and duck pens the allotments are pollution free and tranquil.
ALLOTMENTS – All Ploughed, rotavated and ready for sowing!
Starter plot (5ft x7ft) – €125. The perfect size for beginners or people that don’t want to take on too much. Last year these plots produced bountiful amounts of produce.
Double plot (10ft x7ft) - €200 – Ideal for the people who want a bit more of a challenge and have a little bit more time to tend to their plot.
Treble plot (15ft x7ft) - €250 - For the more advanced grower or someone who wants to put time into producing a lot of their own produce for the year.
Large areas available for community plots – You don’t have to go it alone. Last year saw the first community allotment where four families joined forces to grow. The benefits include sharing the work, planting larger areas and not to mention the social interaction.
ORGANC POLY TUNNEL GROWING
Some people have expressed an interest in indoor growing. If there is adequate interest we are looking to put up a poly tunnel so please contact me - Jenny if you are interested.
CASTLEFARM GARDENING CLUB
Castlefarm is starting a gardening club. It’s a new idea that is aimed at helping anyone who is interested in gardening. It could be anything from designing your garden with flowers or shrubs to those that want to grow their own fruit and vegetables. It is aimed at supporting everyone from the novice to the experienced gardener and is a chance to meet people with the same interest.
The benefits of being a member of Castlefarm gardening club will include
• Monthly meetings giving advice on growing and gardening
• Monthly advisory newsletter by email
• Bulk buying of seeds and garden equipment to reduce your costs
• Organised seed swap day
• 10 % off all Castlefarm courses and events
• 5% discount at Castlefarm Shop
• Special organised day trips to interesting gardens and growers as the club develops
The cost is €40 for the year or a special family membership of €50 to allow you to get the whole family involved. Special €30 euro price for allotment holders who pay before 1 January 2010. It’s an Ideal Christmas gift for anyone that is interested in gardening
Turkey orders for this Christmas
I have ordered 30 of Colchester’s Drumeen farm certified organic turkeys of this Christmas. They cost €11.70 per kg. I have ordered 15 bronze and 15 white. I am looking for names immediately and deposits of €50 per bird to secure. As per usual I cannot guarantee exact weights but will try to match as close as possible. So anyone who would like to order should do so as soon as possible.
Recipe
Mulled apple juice from Alan Gilbert of The Apple Barrel in Carlow
1 bottle of Apple Barrel apple juice
1 small cinnamon stick
8 Cloves
1 orange and 1 lemon sliced
1 tablespoon of sugar
Heat all ingredients in a stainless steel saucepan and serve. Note – do not overheat!
Opening hours Friday 10am – 7.30 pm, Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 12-5pm
Castlefarm Shop, Narraghmore, Athy, Co Kildare, Telephone