The hungry gap is nearly over and summer’s new crops are winking at us from their beds. It’s been a meteorological yoyo for farmers these last few weeks, who knows what’s next. For now, we celebrate the solstice and the bounty that lies ahead.
“Prepare the later afternoon of me myself
- prepare my lengthening shadows.
Prepare my starry nights.”
Walt Whitman
Notes from the field
We’ve planted all the squash in the outside field now, as well as the outdoor spinach, chard, celeriac and beetroot, along with fennel and lettuce. Leafy greens and our sought after salad leaves are still going strong, so too are our beetroots, spring onions and broad beans - the true herald of summer! Let’s face it, though, we’re all waiting for the mighty tomato’s arrival and, after planting them out, we’re now deep in the weekly task of training and side-shooting them. It’s a journey, particuarly with new varieties, but one that is well worth it. The basil in their neighbouring beds is already being harvested - that first caprese in the sunshine is on everyone’s mind!
This month, we were visited by the Sussex Barn Owl Group who hold a license to check our Barn Owl nest box as part of their wider monitoring work. They found a brood of 5 very grown up owlets not long off fledging. They were fitted with metal and colour rings and biometrics taken to ascertain their general health. The group visits hundreds of boxes around the county and have found many large brood sizes this season - this might well be due to the high availability of their main prey item, field voles, which were evident in our poly tunnels last winter!
Harry and the team were jubilant this week after planting out all the leeks. It's a big day in the farm calendar; hundreds went in and, in the heat with no shade, it was pretty intense labour. Now it's done there's a sense of real achievement and also an awareness of the seasons marching forward. We always have to have one eye on the next one ahead.
New Essentials Stock: Carley’s
Carley’s was set up in 1974 by Shirley and John Carley as a wholefoods store in Truro, Cornwall. They began making small batches of peanut butter, hazel butter and mustard in a little kitchen above the shop. Now, they’re an 8 person team based in a self-built production house. Using farming and processing methods that are environmentally and ethically sustainable all their products are vegan, palm oil free, with no added salt, sugar or anything artificial. We’ve an exciting selection of their products to add to our pantry.
Raw Light Tahini
A brilliant ingredient, we use it in dressings, baking & glazes, or to make the kings among dips - humous or baba ganoush. It’s incredibly versatile - we love it on muesli swirled through yogurt or spread on toast with a sliced banana. Tahini and sesame seed cookies are a thing of pure gluttoness pleasure. Grab a jar now and realise you’ll never want to be in the kitchen without it!
Spiced Tomato Relish
Packed with flavour, this relish is made with organic tomatoes, gently simmered with a fresh apples, onions, gherkins, sweetcorn, coriander seeds, mustard, garlic, black pepper and paprika. Perfect with cheese, hot dogs or use as an easy-peazy pizza sauce.
Raw Walnut Butter
100% raw Organic Walnuts, nothing added, nothing taken away, it’s nutritious and insanely delicious. Try it in a coffee and walnut cake. It has a incredible mellow, creamy flavour with a bittersweet edge. We have heard it’s equally good spooned it in to mouths straight from the jar but couldn’t possibly confirm that.
Smokey Chilli Peanut Butter
This is amazing in a creamy curry or mix with some of our Oat Shoyu, a little coconut milk and our Tamarind Chutney and you have a banging satay sauce. Amazing with eggs and avocados too.
Broad Bean, Mushroom & Peanut Burger
Our broad beans are wonderful this year and our monthly recipe is a summery vegan broad bean and mushroom burger with a special guest appearance by Carley’s Smokey Chilli Peanut Butter.
Metske & Bore Place
We're in lucky receipt of the beautiful lettuces from Bore Place at the moment so we thought we'd shed a little spotlight on this incredible place and the brilliant Metske who grows them. The estate in Kent is managed regeneratively with an emphasis on organic farming and sustainable land stewardship. We've partnered with them for many years , whether it's squash, fennel or kohlrabi they handily fill in any gaps we might have here, and it's the quality of produce that really stands out. A customer even said they felt compelled to kiss a particularly beautiful lettuce, with its endless layers of flouncy, almost dip-dyed leaves. Our Barcombe salad leaves are revered but we can't compete with those lettuces!
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