This Farming Life - June

Summer arrives at Castlefarm.

Summer seems to be here at last and even our ducks look slightly bleached from the sun. The tomato and cucumber plants in our polytunnel are starting to grow tall.

I seem to be spending most of my time watering and weeding. Onions, salad crops, beetroot and radishes are all growing well. Our potatoes and swede plants are shooting out of their drills.

The hot weather in late May brought lots of much needed growth. This includes grass, which we now have plenty of on the farm. The more grass we grow the less feed costs we have for the cows.

We are planning our first cut of silage this week. Silage is cut and wilted grass, which is ensiled in a pit, or wrapped in round plastic bales until it is needed to feed stock in the winter months. Crows love picking at the plastic wrap and that is why you often notice painted and decorated bales in farmers’ fields.

Our bees are out in full force foraging in the wild flowers and clover that have at last appeared in the fields. The apple blossoms in the orchard also provide them with pollen. With the good weather there is also an increase in demand for our honey, with hay fever sufferers coming to the farm for our local honey.

On 6th of June our next Aberdeen Angus heifer went to the butchers in Tullow. The meat will go on sale in Castlefarm Shop at the end of the month. Most of my beef customers buy a box of mixed cuts of beef which, at €13/kg, is good value. Beef boxes also provide a good excuse to learn to cook with and taste cuts that they might not normally use in their household.


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Castlefarm Shop is located outside Narraghmore, Athy, Co Kildare and this June will open 10am-6pm on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th. Customers are welcome to collect their eggs at 3pm on Saturday 30th of June. Old clothes and wellingtons advised whatever the weather.

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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