December is our busiest month of the year and traditionally the most profitable, with people wanting all their Christmas meat delivered it is certainly all hands to the pump. We are very pleased to say that it all went very well and we had our best year to date. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for you continued and loyal support throughout the year and at Christmas.
Elsewhere on the farm we have for the first time got some early lambing ewes, that are due to lamb in early Jan / Feb, the idea of this is that we will be able to stagger our lambing and have lamb available for more of the year. The daily grind of routine work goes on, with the cattle having to be bedded down with straw in their pens and fed everyday. The sheep are still outside in the fields and are being fed hay that was made in the summer. The sheep will stay outside until they are pregnancy scanned and housed in Feb, ready to lamb in April.
The weather is just on the change as I write this and the milder weather is giving way to much colder and frostier mornings. John our senior partner predicted a cold and harsh winter some months ago, let’s hope he is proved wrong.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
November at Cullimores Organic Farm
November started off unusually dry, this could only mean one thing, the rain was on its way. The second half of the month saw record rainfall for the time of year, with parts of the country experiencing the highest rainfall levels since records began. With wide spread flooding throughout Cumbria, with Cockermouth being the worst hit, you couldn’t help but feel for the plight of the livestock farmers in particular.
We began the month feeding all cattle outside in the fields with hay in ring feeders, at this stage the ground was lovely and dry. It quickly changed as it often does at this time of year. The rain never stopped falling and the cattle had to come up to the farm and be shut in the buildings.
This means more winter duties need to be done such as bedding down and feeding, but at least the cattle are clean and dry and reasonably happy.
The sheep have also been moved onto drier ground, but will remain outside until the middle of January if conditions allow. They will be fed hay outside in racks when the grass is not edible because of frost. Sheep are much healthier outside than indoors, and should only come indoors for lambing time.
As December approaches our attentions turn to Christmas, and fulfilling all of the orders for our Salt marsh produce and keeping up with extra markets, in many ways this is our busiest time of year.
REMEMBER PLACE YOUR ORDERS BY 14TH DECEMBER TO AVOID disappointment .
We began the month feeding all cattle outside in the fields with hay in ring feeders, at this stage the ground was lovely and dry. It quickly changed as it often does at this time of year. The rain never stopped falling and the cattle had to come up to the farm and be shut in the buildings.
This means more winter duties need to be done such as bedding down and feeding, but at least the cattle are clean and dry and reasonably happy.
The sheep have also been moved onto drier ground, but will remain outside until the middle of January if conditions allow. They will be fed hay outside in racks when the grass is not edible because of frost. Sheep are much healthier outside than indoors, and should only come indoors for lambing time.
As December approaches our attentions turn to Christmas, and fulfilling all of the orders for our Salt marsh produce and keeping up with extra markets, in many ways this is our busiest time of year.
REMEMBER PLACE YOUR ORDERS BY 14TH DECEMBER TO AVOID disappointment .
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Christmas Organic Meat Order Now!
CHRISTMAS ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN – ORDER EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT:-
ORDER BY 10TH DECEMBER FOR CHRISTMAS DELIVERY.
ORDERS CAN BE:
• COLLECTED FROM THE FARM
• DELIVERED ANYWHERE IN THE UK ( OR LOCALLY)
• COLLECTED FROM GLOUCESTER OR STROUD FARMERS MARKET (CHECK MARKET CALENDER FOR EXTRA CHRISTMAS MARKETS).
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October Organic Farm News
More fine and dry weather for October is just what the doctor ordered. October is a traditionally a slightly quieter time on the farm and a perfect time to take much needed holidays.
The first half of the month was exclusively dry and the ground was lovely and hard – this meant that we could get all the hedges trimmed on the whole farm – this is a major job and we only tend to tackle most of it every 2 years these days. We leave it as late in the year as we can , so that the wildlife can eat all of the berries before they are trimmed.
October is also the month when the rams (males) go with ewes and this process will hopefully result in beautiful spring lambs being born in March and April. This is a crucial part of our whole business because if this fails , we could potentially be left without lamb for a year.
In the second half of the month, the weather is just beginning to chage and you can feel winter is on its way.
Next jobs will be gathering enough fire wood for the winter months ahead, and housing the cattle for winter.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
September Organic Farm News
September continued in many ways the same as August with day after day of warm dry weather and very little rainfall. This meant that we managed to get all of our straw in without it getting wet, this was vital as we will need the straw for winter bedding. Elsewhere on the farm there was no shortage of jobs to be done in September.
One very important job that always needs doing at this time of year is foot – trimming every ewe on the farm, this deals with any soreness they might have picked up over the summer and helps them walk better ready to go with the rams in October, we also trim their tales at this time.
During September we also clear out all of the sheds at the farm so that they are ready for all the cattle to come in to them in November. We haul all of the muck down to the fields ready to be spread in November.
The other important job in September is to continue with grass topping – this is when you mow the grass and thistles down short – being organic this is the only method available to us to control weeds.
So the farm continues to busy, but in all honesty thats the way we prefer it.
Friday, August 14, 2009
August Farm News
During August our attentions will turn to getting hold of some good quality straw , when all of the crops have been harvested. This will be a challenge with the current weather patterns, but is a necessity for us for bedding for the winter months and to keep the cattle and sheep clean. So fingers crossed again on that all important weather.
August will also see the start of the new rugby season and we will once again be cooking our famous organic lamb and beef burgers outside Kingsholm for all Gloucester home games - we will be located outside John Stayte Services on the Worcester Road end of the ground.
Business from 12noon for all games with a 3pm K.O.
Follow this link for home fixtures - Rugby fixtures
August will also see the start of the new rugby season and we will once again be cooking our famous organic lamb and beef burgers outside Kingsholm for all Gloucester home games - we will be located outside John Stayte Services on the Worcester Road end of the ground.
Business from 12noon for all games with a 3pm K.O.
Follow this link for home fixtures - Rugby fixtures
Friday, July 17, 2009
July Farm News
July has seen a challenging month on the farm with regard to the weather. We have not seen many days without significant rainfall and this makes it very difficult to make hay for the stock to eat in the winter. Luckily for us we had made most of our feed at the end of June / first week of July, before the worst of the weather arrived.
In between trying to make hay we have been getting other jobs up together, such as treatments on sheep - including spraying the ewes to prevent them getting fly strike. We have also been cleaning out sheds at the farm in anticipation of the cattle coming back indoors in the autumn.
Markets and sales have been holding steady in July, with no great increase - largely down to the lack of that barbeque summer that we were predicted.
However trade custom has increased and we have taken on several large customers in the restaurant sector - this is surely a good sign.
In between trying to make hay we have been getting other jobs up together, such as treatments on sheep - including spraying the ewes to prevent them getting fly strike. We have also been cleaning out sheds at the farm in anticipation of the cattle coming back indoors in the autumn.
Markets and sales have been holding steady in July, with no great increase - largely down to the lack of that barbeque summer that we were predicted.
However trade custom has increased and we have taken on several large customers in the restaurant sector - this is surely a good sign.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
June Organic Farm News
June has brought some very fine and dry weather and this makes life a lot easier on the farm. The sheep were shorn at the end of May - this is very important to get this done as the lambs will do better when the ewes have been shorn.
All the silage has now been made and stored ready for the cattle to eat in the winter when they are indoors - we couldn’t have had a better start to the summer as far as grass growth is concerned.
June also saw the start of the new season lamb - they are selling extremely fast with some very positive feedback. So if you wish to order any make sure you get in fast.
Next job on the farm is haymaking which we need a very hot and dry spell for so fingers crossed the weather wont be like the last two years in July.
All the silage has now been made and stored ready for the cattle to eat in the winter when they are indoors - we couldn’t have had a better start to the summer as far as grass growth is concerned.
June also saw the start of the new season lamb - they are selling extremely fast with some very positive feedback. So if you wish to order any make sure you get in fast.
Next job on the farm is haymaking which we need a very hot and dry spell for so fingers crossed the weather wont be like the last two years in July.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
May Organic Farm News
As I am writing this I am watching the rain pouring down outside and thinking about my fathers saying "a dabbly May for a load of hay", in otherwords, rain in May makes a good crop of hay later in the summer.
May is a slightly quieter time on the farm - we are getting our machinery ready for hay making in June and July.
Earlier in the month, we trimmed all the ewes and rams tails, so that they are nice and clean at shearing time, which will hopefully be before the end of this month. We will also be keeping a close eye on our salt marsh lambs to see which are growing the best, in preparation for new season lamb in June.
The last cow has calved and gone down to graze on the salt marshes with all the others - 28 cows with 29 calves. We are also hoping for a better summer this year after two absolute washouts.
Visit our site for more information about our farm www.cullimoresorganics.co.uk
May is a slightly quieter time on the farm - we are getting our machinery ready for hay making in June and July.
Earlier in the month, we trimmed all the ewes and rams tails, so that they are nice and clean at shearing time, which will hopefully be before the end of this month. We will also be keeping a close eye on our salt marsh lambs to see which are growing the best, in preparation for new season lamb in June.
The last cow has calved and gone down to graze on the salt marshes with all the others - 28 cows with 29 calves. We are also hoping for a better summer this year after two absolute washouts.
Visit our site for more information about our farm www.cullimoresorganics.co.uk
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Cullimore's Organic Salt Marsh Lamb and Beef
Organic Beef, Organic Lamb, Organic Burgers & Sausages, Unique Salt Marsh Flavour, National & Local Delivery, Low Food Miles
www.saltmarshmeat.co.uk
www.saltmarshmeat.co.uk
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