Castlefarm Shop Newsletter
3-Jun-2010
Castlefarm Newslettter, June 10
Castlefarm Shop newsletter and diary June 2010
Email jenny@castlefarmshop.ie to receive this newsletter by email
Castlefarm diary for June
• Saturday 26th June 11am (sharp) - Collect your own eggs and help feed our pigs. No charge although eggs brought home will be charged at €2.50 per ½ dozen.
Three little piggies
Our three piglets arrived in early June and are settling in well. Anyone wanting to meet them can help feed them on Saturday 26th June at 11am. They are enjoying exploring and rooting up their paddock and are very friendly. One nearly escaped into our garden patch but security has been heightened and feed has been increased. Castlefarm organic pork will be on sale at the end of August and we will be roasting one of our pigs on a spit during National Organic Week in September.
8 Angus heifers
We are currently finishing eight organic Angus heifers for our autumn freezer boxes. We got great feedback from the Angus beef which is grass fed and hung for 21 days to maximise the taste. The first boxes will be ready in September and will include 6-8 steaks, roasts, stewing beef and good quality mince. Cost per kg is €12 and box sizes range from 8 to 14kg. There is already a growing list so let us know if you are interested.
Egg collecting and pig feeding 26th June
Anyone coming to our next egg collecting day on 26th of June will also have a chance to help feed our new piglets.
Still places left on Castlefarm Summer Club ps Willow weaving added to programme
Our Club is aimed at 5 – 12 year olds and we have a jam packed programme of fun, games, walks and interaction with all the elements on the farm. The children will plant their own mini gardens to take home, weave willow to make lovely frames for their peas to grow up against, feed the calves, collect eggs, nature trails, simple cooking using the freshest seasonal ingredients from our gardens, games, picnics and a party on the Friday of each week. We vary the activities to suit the weather and age group and we keep the groups small so that everyone gets the most out of their days on the farm.
Costs are from €30/child per day (11am to 3pm) or €125/child per week with further early bird bookings and family discounts available. For more information please contact Michelle Hourihan on 086-3736402 or email tours@castlefarmshop.ie.
The dates for the Castlefarm summer clubs are:
28th June – 2nd July – Sorry fully booked up
5th – 9th July - A few places left
2nd – 6th August -Places left
9th -13th August - Places left
In the garden
Weeds, weeds, weeds (hence the delay in the June newsletter!) Courgettes, lettuce, rhubarb, rocket, cucumbers, fennel, basil, parsley and spinach are all now being harvested from our garden. The first baby green tomatoes have appeared on our tomato vines. Flowers are appearing on our aubergine and pepper plants.
On the farm
We are nearing the end of our AI season (we artificially inseminate our herd with easy calving Friesian, Jersey and Norwegian Red) and after 4 weeks of AI we put our Angus bull in with the cows. The warm, wet weather has seen a jump in grass growth. Clover is plentiful in the cow pastures. Unfortunately weeds are also plentiful in our vegetable garden. Our spring calves are now reduced to once a day milk and are thriving on the summer grass.
Opening hours Friday and Saturday 10am-6pm Sunday 12-5pm
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Contact Castlefarm Shop, Narraghmore, Athy, Co Kildare, Telephone 059-8636948, jenny@castlefarmshop.ie, www.castlefarmshop.ie