Castlefarm Shop Newsletter
14-Mar-2011
Castlefarm Newsletter, March 11
Castlefarm Shop newsletter March 2011
Email jenny@castlefarmshop.ie to receive this newsletter by email
Opening days and what you can do on the farm for free this February
• Friday 25th and Saturday 26th March 10am – 6pm
• Saturday 26th (no charge for activities)11am (sharp) meet the calves & help feed the pigs
2.30 (sharp) egg collecting
3pm poultry talk – keeping hens for eggs
For farm activities PLEASE ARRIVE 5 MINUTES BEFORE TIME....THE FARM CHORES REALLY DO NEED TO BE DONE AND IF YOU ARE LATE YOU MAY MISS OUT ON THE FUN! REMEMBER WEAR WELLINGTONS AND WARM, WATERPROOF CLOTHES
Castlefarm website relaunch and we are now on facebook!
Just to let you know we are relaunching our website on Tuesday 15th March (www.castlefarmshop.ie). We have also created a facebook page...please log in and let me know what you think!
Whats happening on the farm
We are half way though calving and our sheds now house about 40 calves. By day the milking cows go out to graze and shortly they will be outside full time. Our new chicks are settling in well. We bought 160 of them and most have survived so far. They are fairly delicate and need infra red lamps to keep them warm. We will introduce them during our poultry talk on Saturday 26th March at 3pm.
Our allotment holders have been out digging their plots ready to sow their spuds before St Patricks Day.
In the garden we are busy spring growing. There are carrots, spinach and lettuce planted in the polytunnel. Inside in the window sills cucumber, peppers, courgette, chilli, and even watermelon seedlings are springing up.
Our pigs are thriving and it looks like one might just be about fit for the table in April.
If you would like to help feed the pigs you are welcome at 11am on Saturday 26th March.
Only three Aberdeen Angus beef boxes left for purchase this March...the next will be available this august
• Certified organic Aberdeen Angus
• Meat hung for 21 days to optimise on flavour and tenderness
• €12/kg for a box of mixed cuts (steaks, roasts, stewing beef and mince)
• Extremely good value for great quality product
• Boxes range from 12-16kg
Our next availability is 25 and 26 of March then end of August
As usual the boxes will include 6-8 steaks, roasts, stewing beef and good quality mince. Cost per kg is €12 and box sizes range from 12 to 16kg. Our beef is hung for 21 days and butchered in Murphy’s Craft Butchers Tullow.
Book organic pork
Our next organic pork should be available in April. Anyone interested in same should let me know and i can put their name down (No deposit required). Not entirely sure of prices yet but will let you know nearer the time.
Poultry talk on Sat 26th of March
Keeping hens for eggs is our free talk in March this takes place on Saturday 26th at 3pm. Ps egg collecting happens at 2.30pm if anyone would like to join us.
Castlefarm organic rhubarb in season
Our tender organic rhubarb is in season. We will be selling it from 25th March in the farm shop!
April opening days and free activities
We are open Friday and Saturday 29th and 30th April from 10-6pm. On Saturday 30th we have a seeding and planting talk at 3pm. Customers are also welcome to join us calf feeding at 11am and egg collecting at 2.30pm. Our special in April is our organic pork.
Grow your own on Castlefarm allotments
Anyone wanting to rent or indeed give a gift of an organic growing allotment please just let me know so I can explain all the details. PS prices are the same as last year starting at €125 for a starter plot, €200 double plot and €250 treble plot.
Castlefarm School tours brings food production and farming to life
At a time when many children do not understand where their food comes from Castlefarm is opening its farm gates to school tours, allowing children to visit a real dairy, meet calves, pigs and hens and even plant their own seeds to bring home and nurture.
According to Castlefarm tours and education manager Michelle Hourihan, “Castlefarm school tours ticks all the boxes for children as well as their teachers. Our school tours are fun, educational, healthy and extremely good value. School tours are tailor made to fit the needs of individual groups needs and a price freeze over the past 2 years means extra value to parents.”
Teachers and parents who would more information about visiting this real farm can contact Michelle Hourihan on 086 3736402 or email tours@castlefarmshop.ie.
Eggsciting Easter trail at Castlefarm this April
This Easter Castlefarm invites families to follow a farm Easter trail and meet some of the farm’s baby animals. The eggsciting Easter trail will take place on Saturday 23rd of April from 12pm-2pm. Each child who follows the clues around the farm trail will receive a chocolate Easter egg. The price is €5 per child and places should be booked in advance. Please contact Michelle Hourihan at details above or email me and i will forward your details to Michelle.
To receive our newsletter and news of new products by email please contact Castlefarm Shop, Narraghmore, Athy, Co Kildare, Telephone 059-8636948, jenny@castlefarmshop.ie, www.castlefarmshop.ie