| Farm News | Events-Catering | Farm Walks | Links Page | Location | Terms-Conditions | Contact ] |
| Hello this is Roz, wife to farmer Keith, Mum to Sam, Ben and Beth. Well, with this lovely weather we're having at the moment the winter of 2010 seems an age away. Although it brought a lot of extra work, it gave us some spectacular scenery and photos very rare to this part of the world. Sledging on Christmas day is something we've never done before and may not do again for many years. We trust you didn't incure too many problems with the ice and freezing temperatures. So let me tell you what's been happening here on the farm over the past few months. Winter barley was sown before the big freeze and survived very well and is looking very green and healthy. Spring barley has now been sown and already showing green shoots. Approximately 44 acres of the two crops this year to be harvested middle of July and middle of August respectively. During the growing period both crops will be sprayed twice. Firstly, to kill the weeds and secondly to prevent disease. We harvested a lot of our potatoes well after the summer and stored them here on the farm. Unfortunately they were hit very hard with the freezing temperatures. This made it very laborious sorting and checking practically every potato for signs of damage before they could be bagged and sold. Throughout the winter months this was a daily task for Sam, Keith and Ben along with ferrying water containers for our pigs until the water pipes thawed. As soon as the ground was dry enough, preparation for this year's crop of potatoes began. After ploughing, there are a further 5 passes of different preparations before planting. So its full steam ahead working into the night before the rain comes and halts the progress. Now they're popping their little leafy heads up and taking in all this lovely sunshine. First crop should be ready in early June. If this very dry weather continues we will have to start irrigating the crop using water from our pond. Breakfast in the barn continues to be very popular, even on the Sunday before Christmas we served 60 breakfasts to some very brave and cheery customers! On Sunday 10th April breakfast in the barn, we flung the barn doors open and welcomed the sunshine in, lovely! 8th May will be our last B.I.T.B until October 2011. But don't be a stranger; our little tea room will be serving coffee/tea, cakes and real Devonshire cream teas to begin with very soon! We have also signed up for open farm Sunday on the 12th June. A national event organised by L.E.A.F (Linking Environment and Farming). This will run from 9am - 4pm and will include breakfast in the barn, hog roast lunch and cream teas, organised farm tours, tractor trailer rides and demonstrations. Free entry, so come for as little or as long as you like and dress for the weather! Saturday 2nd April saw our first hog Roast for 2011. A lovely informed wedding at The Old Rectory, Pyworthy near Holsworthy and the bride wore emerald green! 51 hog Roasts booked already this year with enquiries coming in every day |
 |
We have 2 weddings booked here at the farm for Sunday 29th May and Friday
15th July courtesy of Vagabond Marquees. If you are interested in having
a Marquee wedding or event and would like to see the marquee in our field,
feel free to pop down and have a look either before or after the wedding
dates. You might like to ring first to arrange a proper viewing. Call me
on 01626 863132 or 07878 608095. So just a reminder of dates: |
 |
Chudleigh Every Thurs and Sat 9 - 1pm Dawlish First Friday of the month 10 - 2pm Teignmouth Third Saturday of the month 9 - 1pm |
| I’m Roz, wife of farmer Keith, mum to Sam, Ben and Beth. Thank you for taking time to read my first newsletter from Duckaller Farm. I hope it will keep you up-to-date with life on the farm; from what’s growing, to what’s cooking and what keeps us busy all year round. |
 |
 |
| Hog roasts have been our summer of 2010. Busy, busy, busy. From weddings,
birthdays, anniversaries and country shows. On a boat, in fields, at manor
houses and back gardens. Feeding over 7000 people, (not all at once,
thankfully!). Doing our very best to compliment the occasion. Our hopes of looking forward to a quieter Autumn/Winter have somewhat faded already. We are now working our way down the ‘get around to it’ list - sound familiar? |
 |
| Potato harvest is well underway; Maris Piper, primarily a chipping
variety and Valor, a good all-rounder, are ready and will keep in their
bags for weeks. (On sale from the farm). Keith and Sam are busy constructing
equipment to help with sorting the potatoes. The aim is to harvest and store
as much as possible in dry weather so that we have a continuous supply through
the wetter winter months. Winter barley has been sown and already showing a green sheen across the fields. This will be ready to harvest late July. We grow barley for the straw, a valuable commodity when you have outdoor pigs, and we sell the grain. This year’s nine acres of parsnips will be our last crop for Riverford Organics, as we have come to the end of our organic status: let’s hope it’s a good one. The same goes for our Jerusalem artichokes, an amazing plant that grows to over 12 feet tall! So what’s coming up in the weeks ahead? |
 |
| Breakfast in the Barn is back and has been welcomed by friends, family,
neighbours and any passers –by curious to know exactly what Breakfast
in the Barn is! For those of you who don’t know, it’s exactly
that. We clear one of our barns, set out tables and chairs and cook you
a breakfast using our own bacon and sausages, Ryders Bakery bread, local
Free Range eggs and Heinz beans! There’s tea, coffee, hot chocolate
and juice too, and home-made cakes for the journey home. Have as much or
as little as you fancy. Check website for future dates www.duckallerfarm.co.uk A wet and windy Sunday morning 3rd October heralded the first breakfasts this season. But the lure of a cooked breakfast was too good to miss. People came on foot, in cars and in wellies. 100 happy customers and the sun came out and dried up all the rain. From breakfast for 100 one weekend, to serving 500 lunches the following weekend in less than an hour. A men’s seminar at Belmont Church Exeter, 600 bread rolls, 8 staff, 5 serving stations and 3 pigs pre-carved. Done! Phew, well done team. November sees us with two breakfasts, on the 14th and 28th and the usual farmers markets. We will be taking orders for Christmas, so look out for special offers in the coming weeks and meat boxes available to suit your pocket. Thank you for your continued support and I encourage you to buy local. If you haven’t already, I strongly recommend a visit to your local farmers/produce market. See us at Dawlish 1st Friday monthly (10.00-2.00pm). Teignmouth 3rd Saturday monthly (9.00-1.00pm) and Chudleigh every Thursday (9.00-1.00pm). You can also buy direct from our farm shop here at Duckaller Farm open daily 8am – 6pm, or thereabouts. Take care and we hope to see you soon. |
 |
| Farm News | Events-Catering | Farm Walks | Links Page | Location | Terms-Conditions | Contact ] |