This Farming Life - April

At Castlefarm we now have 26 calves out on grass. We feed them with the mobile feeder once a day and are slowly weaning them off milk. Calving is dragging on at this stage and we are still waiting for 12 cows to calve. This month we are taking a few weekends off before AI begins in May.

Our 4 new piglets have settled in well. They are getting bigger and cheekier by the day. The electric fence that keeps them within their boundaries is much needed. A few times when we have turned the fencer off, they have rooted and dug and created pretty big holes under the paddock fence. Because the pigs live right beside my garden and the allotments they could create havoc if they escaped.

In perfect time for Easter, 180 day old chicks were collected on Easter Saturday. I have only raised day old chicks once before but am quickly remembering that their food, water and the temperature of their house needs constant monitoring.

On the vegetable production front, tomato, pepper, courgette, chilli and cucumber plants are growing well in trays on our windowsills. We have planted organic seed potatoes, salad crops, strawberries and onion sets in the Castlefarm garden. Later this month I will plant more salad crops as well as parsnip and turnips. Our rhubarb is now thriving and we are selling this in our honesty box along with hen and duck eggs.

Our ducks had the run of the farm over the winter. They are great little slug busters. They have now returned to their paddock, away from the delicate seedlings of spring. The Castlefarm allotment holders have been busy digging, rotovating and sowing. It is nice to be able to share our farm with people who appreciate what we do.

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Castlefarm Shop is located outside Narraghmore, Athy, Co Kildare and this April will open 10am-6pm on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th. Join us for a farm walk at 3 pm Sat 28th. Remember to wear old clothes and wellingtons!

Castlefarm Shop opens the last Friday and Saturday of each month from 10am until 6pm. To receive our newsletter, news of new products & cooking tips by email please contact Castlefarm Shop, Narraghmore, Athy, Co Kildare, Telephone 087 678 5269, Email jenny@castlefarmshop.ie, log onto www.castlefarmshop.ie or telephone +353 (0)59 863 6948

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