1st April 2009 and Spring has sprung here on the farm. Though it's still pretty chilly, especially at night time, we've been having some lovely sunny days and the hedgerows are looking glorious with all the daffodils and primroses. It's wonderful to see all the trees coming back to life again and the birds busy staking claims on nesting places to raise their first broods. The swallows and housemartins will be on their way back from Africa and India right now and should start arriving in a week or two. Our family pony Jade seems quite happy to share her stables with the swallows year after year.

Life never stands still on the farm. We have been busy over the winter and are now preparing for a busier than ever summer season of farmers' markets, catering and farm holidays.

We've been selling our organic pork at the local produce markets in both Dawlish and Teignmouth. People are getting to know us and are coming back looking for more of our lovely sausages!
Friday 17th April is the official opening of Dawlish Piazza Market next to the Tourist Information office on the Lawn.
Look out for our stall at Dawlish on that day and then every first Friday of the month from 1st May 9-2pm, and at Teignmouth in the Triangle every third Saturday 9-1pm.

Our caravan is now booked for 19 weeks over the summer, the most we've ever had. Wise folks seem to have decided to have a holiday in lovely Devon rather than spend all their hard earned cash on expensive Euros and flights abroad! We are really hoping for some lovely weather for all our guests.
Roz has been busy running up new curtains and getting the caravan cosy for our first visitors arriving this week.  

We've had a steady trickle of customers to our little farm shop where we're selling pork, free range eggs and vegetables in season. It's open every day with no set times as there is usually at least one member of the family around to serve you. Our plan for this year is to provide an area for customers to sit and look at the lovely country views while enjoying a cuppa and homemade cake, then perhaps have a walk round the farm to see the pigs and the season's crops coming along. Potato planting has begun and green shoots will be appearing in no time.

We have several April bookings for Hog Roasts starting with a christening on Easter Sunday. At Powderham Horse Trials (18th and 19th) we'll be set up on the perfect pitch - next to the beer tent, so come along and try a pork roll with all the trimmings. We're also looking forward to catering for a wedding at Lewtrenchard Manor in Okehampton.

Our son Ben, 19, is hoping to run the London Marathon in under 2 hrs 45 minutes this year, and we'll be there to cheer him on. Dad Keith has now decided to call it a day after 5 successes. He achieved it in under 3 hours in 2007 and from now on will be content to stand on the sidelines and cheer Ben on ….. we hope!
To save petrol we're planning to combine our journey up with a meat delivery to the London restaurants we supply.

Welcome to Orange our new livery horse. She used to be here with us 7 years ago and has settled straight back in. Great company for Jade, it's as if she's always been here, ahhh!