Having Fun with Mud

Last year at the summer fair, we had a beautiful clay pig built for us in the picnic area. The weather and time have taken their toll on the pig and it was time we did something about it. On Friday a group of children got really muddy helping to put a new coat of clay on her. Using our hands and feet, we mixed clay and water together to a consistency of peanut butter!

We then added straw, sheep's wool and horse hair to give some texture to the pig and after that we coated our pig in the mix. A final coat of clay acts like plaster to protect it from the wind and rain.

A big thank you to Nicky, Riley, Alex, Jessie, Toby, Jenny, Pip,  Fi. Christina, Ester and Claire for their help :)

Harvest time

I love this time of year in the garden when it's time to harvest the different crops that have been busy growing over the last few months.
Last week we dug up our second crop of potatoes. We planted a variety known as ambrose which we have been really pleased with. Our seed potatoes came from the Shropshire Wildlife Potato Day and we had a variety of earlies and main crop potatoes. The ambrose potatoes are really tasty, Charlotte reckons they are great no matter which way you cook them.

The picture shows a couple of young men from the Wayfarers group harvesting them on a sunny day last week. We dug up enough to share round with volunteers, staff and the tea room. This year we have been able to supply the new tea room with other produce such as courgettes, salad leaves, radishes, beetroot, spring onions and even nasturtium flowers, which look and taste great in a salad.  It's fabulous to be able to offer Carol, (our wonderful cook) our very own fresh, organic Fordhall produce. I get a real kick out of being able to pick the food and walk it over to the kitchen - not many food miles there! I have also been picking runner beans to make pickle and recently made a onion marmalade which will compliment our ploughmans on offer in the tea room. Bex

Get your ticket for the Fordhall Beer and Music Festival

We will be demonstrating the best Shropshire and Staffordshire have to offer at our Beer and Music Festival in a few weeks time.

With 12 hours of music (folk, rock and blues), 10 bands, 15 local ales and a Fordhall BBQ feast what more could you ask for. Come and join is in the beautiful Tern Valley for a relaxing and enjoyable day in the country. Bring a balnket, a chair, some ball games, your wellies and settle yourself for the day.

And if you want to keep drinking, why not bring your tent and camp!?

Advance tickets only £10 (£12 on the door). Under 14's free!

Thank You to our Supporters!
Not so long ago we held a free thank you BBQ in the Fordhall farmhouse garden for all our supporters. Over 150 of you came along. It was great to see some old faces and some new ones. Ben cooked the traditional hog roast and you all had a chance to investigate the new buildings (part funded through you and the Rural Development Programme for England). It makes such a change to have the time to speak to you all properly. Alot of you also travelled some distance, which made us feel very priviledged - thank you. We look forward to seeing at Fordhall over the rest of the Summer.

Fordhall Farm on BBC Midlands News tonight!!

Ok, this one is for real! Turn on your telly for Midlands Today on BBC 1 from 6.30pm - 7pm (we'll probably be on near the end). If Midlands is not your region - then check it out on iPlayer.

Fordhall Farm on BBC Tonight!

We are on BBC Midlands Today this evening - turn on your tellys tonight! Whoop whoop. Or watch it on iplayer tomorrow if your not local - there is no escape!

Fordhall Farm in the Independant

WOW - we can't believe it. Fordhall Organic Farm in rural Shropshire has been ranked 27th best Farm Shop in the country by the Independant newspaper.

The Independant's Top 50 Farm Shops

Our new shop and local food tearoom has only been open since the end of May and so to get such recognition is a real achievement. Thank you to all our wonderful customers and supporters.

We love selling fantastic local and organic food and we love eating it in our tearoom too :-)

As England's first community owned farm we are always wanting to try something new, and this year is no different. We are currently organising an fantastic local ale and music festival in partnership with our local micro Brewer Joules. The event will include 12 hours of funky, rock, folk and blues music coupled with over 15 different local ales.

So don't forget to put September 3rd in your diary now - tickets are only £10 per person in advance (free for under 14's) and you can camp for only £5! Bargain....

See you there!