The farm team are busy picking this seasons produce and delivering it fresh to the farm shop.
Conservation on The Farm
As a farmer, wildlife and the countryside are very important to Kevin. He has been supporting the development of wildlife around our farm for many years. New bird and owl boxes have been put up, hedge rows and trees have been planted, wild flower meadow margins have been seeded to name a few! There is also a dedicated plot of land known as 'Conservation Corner' that has been given back to nature providing wildlife with a natural habitat.
Hedge rows are a vital part of the ecosystem in the British countryside, they provide food for birds, insects and animals and shelter for bird nests and animal burrows. They are also important corridors which aid the migration and movement of wildlife throughout the year. On our farm the hedge rows are only cut back when needed to allow the abundance of wildlife to grow.
At Farndon Fields Farm we aim to not only grow delicious, quality fruit and vegetables but to protect and help the environment.
Our Potatoes
We first grew potatoes in 1983, stored in a clamp outside and sold from the farm house garage. We now grow five varieties to provide potatoes for the shop all year round, stored in a purpose built, temperature controlled box store. We grow varities of potatoes for their flavour and not their appearance.
The first variety we harvest are Orla in July through to September. During late September we harvest Wilja (grown every year since 1983), Shannon, Electra and Melody. We store them in 1 tonne boxes and grade and bag them throughout the year to match demand.
Shannon, a red potato, is now our best selling variety. The flavour roasted or baked is superb - surely the best tasting red potato available. Wilja is an old variety grown for its unique flavour and flowery texture. Electra is a good baking potato and great for jackets. Melody is a good all-round potato which we store for sale in the shop from late March to July.