Tim Waygood (the farmer who runs Church Farm) has set up a new enterprise, Aldenham Renaissance, which has taken over the lease on Aldenham Country Park in Elstree, Herts. There, he will be building upon the model of Church Farm in order to “create a Renaissance of the park through free-range experiences.”The site has a 60 acre lake, plenty of woodland, including a Pooh Bear wood, and a rare-breed farm, which will be regenerated in order to provide growing opportunities and produce food for the local community.The official launch of the site is on Monday 2nd April. Join us there for an Easter egg hunt, walk and talk tours, pony rides, food and farmers’ markets, woodland activities, tree planting, fitness instruction and more...

See the website for more details www.aldenhamcountrypark.co.uk

Church FarmYour Monthly Newsletter

Friday 30th March 2012

A Note from the Grower

Organic Horticulture: A Brief History and ExplanationPart one

As you know, at Church Farm, we grow all our vegetables, herbs and fruit using organic methods. However, it seems that many people are unclear about what organic growing actually means. Therefore here is a concise explanation.

The organic (or “biological”, a much more appropriate term) approach is often defined by what it isn’t rather than what it is; in other words, it simply means a system that doesn’t use chemical pesticides or fertilizers. I prefer a more positive definition that emphasises the organic basis of building and maintaining a healthy, fertile soil. This means a soil that is rich in the nutrients and minerals that plants need, containing plenty of organic matter, a good open structure allowing the easy development of plant roots, and a strong population of beneficial soil organisms such as bacteria, fungi and earthworms. Such a soil will help to support healthy, strong plants which will have an innate resistance to pests and diseases.

To achieve this requires the use of vegetable-based compost, manures, green manures (crops grown specifically to enhance soil fertility), and a planned crop rotation, in order to build and replenish the soil’s health, which is inevitably depleted by intensive crop production. Generally, organic systems prefer to harness natural processes, which take effect over long periods of time, as opposed to the immediate “quick fix” approach of chemical farming.

Part Two next week!!

Rik

If you’ve never been to one of these weekends before, they’re a terrific way to enjoy some time outdoors with the entire family. There’s a big bonfire, straw bales, and any local musicians who come along will be playing through the evening. Feel free to bring your own BBQ, games and entertainment, plus your favourite tent and sleeping bag.

This first campfire is coming up on Sat 5th May. Spaces are limited, so please book in advance. You can do this by popping into the Farm Store, calling us on 01438 861 447, or emailing info@churchfarmardeley.co.uk

Contribution: Adults £10, Under 16s £8, Under 2s £2. Free for musicians and farm members. If you can’t make this one, there are more campfires on Sat 9th June, Sat 21st July, and Sat 25th August.

Campfire Weekends

Easter Delivery Dates for BoxesIn order that you can use your delicious Church Farm produce in preparing meals for Good Friday, we will be delivering all boxes on Thursday 5th April (this is as standard for London, and one day early for local deliveries). Delivery times will remain the same as usual, but one day earlier.

Please can members contact us with any changes to their box by 10am Tuesday 3rd April.

Aldenham Country Park Launch

Serves 4

Ingredients200g cooking chorizo, cut into chunks25g butter350g chicken livers , cleaned and trimmed110g bag baby salad leavesbunch parsley , roughly choppedlarge handful walnut halvesFor the dressing1 tbsp walnut oil1 tbsp white wine vinegar

Method1. Cook the chorizo in a large frying pan until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, reserving 1 tbsp of the chorizo oil. For the dressing, whisk together the walnut oil, reserved chorizo oil and white wine vinegar, then season.2. Melt the butter in the same pan until sizzling, then cook the chicken livers for about 2 mins each side. Combine everything together in a large bowl, then drizzle over the dressing, toss well and serve straight away

Chicken Liver & Chorizo Salad

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1664634/chicken-liver-and-chorizo-salad

Easter ActivitiesBottle-feeding the lambs - Help us feed our orphaned lambs. If you’d like to help us with this, please book onto one of the feeding slots (11am, 3pm and 6pm). Either call 01438 861 447 or email info@churchfarmardeley.co.uk to book a place. Bottle-feeding is £4.95 per child, free for supervising adults.

Egg collecting - Collect free range eggs from the orchard and take home half a dozen! You’ll even get a chance to feed the chickens. 10am and 2pm every day from April onwards. Children £4.95, free for supervising adults. Pre-booking only (contact details as above).

FREE Easter Trail - Collect your activity sheet from our Farm Store or Café and follow the instructions to find the Easter checkpoints around the farm. Enter this back into our prize draw in the Farm Store. Friday 30th March – Monday 16th April.

See our website for more activities over Easter and beyond.

Following the ongoing success of guest ales, we will now also be featuring guest lagers and ciders!

Look out for our new seasonal menu, from 1st April we’ll have all new starters, mains and desserts.

Also coming in April:Pétanque trialsThe Grand National More Curry AdventuresMexican Madness

Future dates for the diary:16th June - charity Ceilidh July (date tbc) 1st biannual Ardeley Beerfest

Call 01438 861 350 for bookings

Coming up soon at the Jolly Waggoner

Church Farm InternsAt Church Farm we are blessed with a good supply of very eager interns. They play an incredibly important role in the running of the farm and without their tireless efforts we simply couldn’t exist. Our interns come from all walks of life and stay for between 3 months to a year. We have had an environmental lawyer, teachers, horticulture and agriculture students, as well as events managers. What all our interns have in common is an interest in sustainable farming and a passion to make a difference!The interns assist our staff with growing vegetables, packing veg/meat boxes, looking after the livestock, helping support co- farmers, working in events and marketing.Since we started the intern program nearly 3 years ago we have had 101 interns. Some of those have moved on to paid employment with us at Church Farm, some have gone to paid or voluntary employment elsewhere but all have been left inspired and empowered with new skills for life.This is very much part of the agrarian renaissance we are trying to promote. Lots of young people get a chance to try their hand at agriculture, a profession not always easy to pursue if you are not from a farming background.Pictured here are 3 of our current interns, from top to bottom they are Simeon, Jade, and Luke (you may recognise Simeon and Luke from box deliveries, and Jade from the butchery counter in the shop).

Play Area gets a Spring CleanHome Wood is a stretch of native woodland that was planted here in 1999. It’s now grown tall and strong, and holds within it the Church Farm play area. In preparation for lots of Summer fun, Kevin, a devoted farm volunteer, and another helper, Callum, have been sprucing up the play houses and other equipment that’s currently down there.

Kevin (pictured) will also be donating equipment to make an area suitable for younger children as well. This will be added to the play area over the next couple of weeks. Come and visit the wood (it’s a great free activity) to see how it

Church Farm, Ardeley, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 7AH, T: 01438 861 447E: info@churchfarmardeley.co.uk www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk

Next Week’s Farm Members’ Box

MEATFarm VarietySausages, beef roasting joint, diced pork, minced lamb, back bacon

Lean Cuts (NEW FOR 2012)Skinny sausages, skinless chicken fillets, extra lean minced lamb, extra lean diced pork leg

Old English CutsChicken liver, beef roasting joint, diced pork, stock pot bag

Premium SelectionSausages, beef roasting joint, back bacon

VEGETABLESExtra Small (6 varieties)Potatoes (blue), carrots, onions, asparagus, savoy cabbage, celeriac

Small (8 varieties)Parsnip, leek

Medium (10 varieties)Red Russian kale, mixed salad bag

Large (12 varieties)Spring onion, spinach/chard

Extra Large (15 varieties)Sorrell, cauliflower, calabrese

FRUITApples (cripps pink), pears (worcester), plums, rhubarb, clementine, black grapes

Please note that these are standard items and are subject to change. If you have asked not to be supplied with a particular item, a substitute will be provided in your box.

At Rural Care, and care farms in general, the work done includes a lot of animal assisted therapy. Over the last 3 years, we have seen how the livestock at Church Farm and the interaction with them has benefited our co- farmers. We call it the ‘magic of working with animals’ but what are the tangible effects of this work? Sarah, our student nurse/social worker is compiling a summary of some of the research into animal assisted therapy, and we would like to share her findings with you over the next few weeks:

Animal assisted therapy helps different people in different ways, according to what their needs are. There are a wide range of advantages of working with animals including physical, educational, social and emotional benefits (Martin and Farnum, 2002).

All the clients who receive this therapy may benefit from the calming effect that animals have on them. It can help reduce aggressive behaviour and increase social interactions, therefore leading to improved social and communication skills.

This is definitely one of the benefits we have noticed at Rural Care!

Real Ales: Real Food : Warm Welcome at the

Jolly Waggoner

Book a table today to avoid disappointment! New seasonal

menu starting 1st April.Call 01438 861 350

www.thejollywaggoner.co.uk

Getting the Best from your Box

Courgettes (or Zucchinis to our American friends) need to be treated with care. Ideally they should be stored in the drawer in your fridge for up to 5 days and not washed until you are ready to use them. The flavour will deteriorate quickly so eat them as soon as possible; if they start to wilt then use them immediately.

Once cooked, they can be stored in the fridge, nicely covered, for 2 days. They can also be frozen; cut into 1cm slices, blanch in hot water for 1-2 minutes, then straight into cold, drain and seal in an airtight container. If you’ve tried ratatouille a few too many times, here are some different uses for courgettes:Muffins: grate a courgette and an apple and add to a sweet muffin mix for extra texture and moist fluffy muffins.Fritters: make a batter using 2 eggs and 125g of self raising flour, spice to your own taste and fry with grated courgette.Pickle: Thinly slice and lightly salt courgette, place in a jar and add a pickling liquid, cider vinegar works really well, a spoon of sugar and if you like, add mustard powder to taste.

Member Volunteer DayDon’t forget, it’s a member volunteer day this Saturday (they’re held on the last Saturday of every month. If you fancy getting outside now that the weather is starting to look a little better, then why not join us for a day in the field. No need to let us know in advance, just arrive at 10.30 for an 11am start. Sam or Laura will meet you outside the cafe.

Animal Assisted Therapy: Part 1

Date for the Diary: 16th June - Jolly Waggoner Summer Fundraiser Ball in aid of Rural Care. Live music, Ceilidh and Church Farm food.

Church Farm, Ardeley, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 7AH, T: 01438 861 447E: info@churchfarmardeley.co.uk www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk

Church Farm Store Direct to your DoorNo time to go shopping? Why not order your Church Farm, local and organic produce just in time for supper.

Order by 12pm and you can get FREE same day delivery

Available everyday Monday to Sunday. Choose from two delivery slots: 4pm-6pm or 6pm-8pm

Order today from www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk

FREE same day delivery

Farm ButcheryRare Breed Pedigree

meat all reared on the farm

Green GrocerChurch Farm, local andorganic fruit and veg

Dairy & EggsOrganic milk, cheese, butter, and free range

eggs

BakeryHand-made lovingly by

our baker, Phil

Farm DeliHand-made in the farmhouse kitchen

Home Cooked ReadyMeals & Pizza

Hand-made in the farmhouse kitchen

Store CupboardJams, Chutneys, Tins,

Sauces & More

HouseholdEco-friendly

household essentials

Body CareNatural Bodycare

Products

Organic Drinks &Alcohol

Soft Drinks, Juice& Alcohol

Natural Pet FoodPet mince, pig’s ears,

bones and more...

Country GiftsComing soon...

Free delivery within 10 miles of the farm (inside the blue circle). Minimum spend £20.