WIGBOROUGH TRADITIONAL MEATS

Garr House Farm, Layer Road, Gt. Wigborough, Colchester

Essex CO5 7RR 01206 735 694

Occasional Newsletter Issue 25 : 23rd May2012

The sun shines at last  and hopefully will do on all the outdoor events planned for the Jubilee weekend. Technology has beaten me again and I cannot get my photographs onto the computer so I only have Phil’s to choose from; there is a definite male slant and we may as well get the concreting one out the way first.

Progress has been made on the floor in one of the sheds which is prone to flooding, this will make life a lot more pleasant in winter and gives the possibility of straw and hay storage as well as machinery. It isn’t just an extended patio for Murphy’s kennel and despite him keeping a close eye on the concreting activity remains free of paw prints.

Due to the dampness in April and early May the crops grew well but we couldn’t get on the land to apply the necessary sprays. In the end it was decided ruts were the price to pay for applying growth regulator on the barley. This hasn’t been required in last 2 years but this year the crops are tall and are likely to lodge ( fall over ) just before harvest if they get too leggy, the crop then rots on the ground and is open to attack from the N.E. Essex Pigeon Squadron.

The cattle were a month later than usual turning out, the ground was still soft but they had eaten our silage, straw and a neighbours silage so it was frustrating having long grass outside while they were inside. Hopefully they haven’t poached the ground too much but rather pushed the blanket of grass down which will recover. Sadly, Bossy cow’s calf which featured in the last newsletter died shortly afterwards of suspected ‘sudden calf bleeding syndrome’. Since this was on the Friday before the bank holiday there was no lab’ service to confirm a vet’ telephone diagnosis. The same thing happened to her calf last year so Bossy featured on Colchester market on Tuesday. This has left a vacancy at the top of the herd hierarchy and Magnolia ( the one on the right ) has been forcefully putting her case for herd dominance.

No excuse for wiggly rows using gps navigation on the mower tractor – combined with a skilled operative ( I have been instructed to add).

This is the grass just after mowing, it is then spread out to dry in the day, rowed up at night and spread out again the next day for more wilting. If the silage is on the dry side the cows need less strawing up when indoors.

It isn’t often a shiny new piece of kit arrives. We haven’t needed a muck spreader for several years as we had a muck for straw arrangement with a local farm. We are now taking this up with another farm but as part of the deal they do the carting but we do the spreading – hence the purchase. Needless to say there are several photo’s ......

Another purchase, which has been a while in the planning is a new building to be used as a straw shed.It is appearing in kit form and these are the roof members ( apparently). If all goes according to plan, eldest son should return from Uni’ and help with the footings before a crane is hired and the barn raised. One step at a time – we are saving up for the roof sheets.

WTM Shop news:

FRESH BEEF ALERT : The latest home bred, 3 week hung Angus x is due back on Wed 30th May. Special requests and beef box orders ( see website for details ) in by Sunday 27th May please . There will be a good supply of burgers for the Jubilee w/e; plain, onion & black pepper or sweet chilli plus plain beef sausages or beef and horseradish.

Now we are basking in the sunshine, don’t forget the BBQ BOX :£25worth of mixed grill meat for £20 which should feed 8 adults. Boxes vary but will include 16 sausages, 8 burgers, chop(s), rib(s) and meat for kebabs. Fresh boxes for a w/e are best ordered to get the best selection.

Orders may be collected from the shop or the WTM stall at Colchester Farmer’s Market ( June 1st), Peldon Festival ( Sat June 2nd ) or Mersea Food and Drink Festival ( Sunday 3rd June) where we are also providing the hog roast pigs.

Bob’s Veg’- Stuck in my phone are photo’s showing a vast amount of regimented Spring growth in the fruit and veg’ department. Rhubarb and lettuce are the first cropping and will be cut to order. Watch this space as more becomes available.

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Kate Gladwin 01206 735 694 07790 095 052

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