This Farming Life - April in Castlefarm

What it means to be an organic farmer in Ireland today … Jenny Young writes about life and work on an organic mixed farm in Co Kildare - and selling its produce

Castlefarm in April

What a difference a month makes. We are now at the end of calving, with 95 calved and 10 to go. It has been a chaotic but good 2 months of compact calving. Our male calves have been sold and our females are now dehorned and have been put out to grass. They are being fed milk once a day and have been introduced to meal. Heifers (first calvers) have settled down in the milking parlour and we now only need 1 person in the milking parlour.

Our allotment holders have been out rotovating and sowing since mid March. At last I have the time to start my organic vegetable garden, with onions and shallots being the first sown. In the house tomato, cucumber, courgette and aubergine plants are getting stronger. Next month I will transplant them into the polytunnel.

Last week I brought our first beef animal of the season to the butchers. It will be another 3 weeks until customers have the chance to taste our first organic beef of the season. Its lovely to feel like spring has finally arrived, and to have time to enjoy it.

It’s also great to be back selling our farm produce at the Brooklodge market on the first Sunday of every month.

Castlefarm Shop opens every week normally on a Friday or Saturday but you need to sign up to facebook, emails or text alerts to keep up to date with opening days and farm specials. To receive our newsletter and news of new products by email please sign up to our email, or text updates or like us on facebook. Castlefarm Shop, Narraghmore, Athy, Co Kildare, Email jenny@castlefarmshop.ie, log onto www.castlefarmshop.ie or telephone 087 678 5269

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