News
November 13th 2008
We are pleased to announce that we have for sale local New Forest Marque Meat in the farm shop and on the home delivery service. 2008 has been an interesting year regarding a number of activities. We started rearing pigs again, something we did fifteen years ago. We have also opened a temporary cutting room in advance of a fully equipped facility. This enables us not just to rear and process our own produced meat but meat from other local producers. This all fits in well with The New Forest Marque which means that we have full provenance on the local New Forest produced livestock and once again more local food.
October 25th 2008
Susie Carter won the LIVE final of Britain’s Best Dish on October 24th 2008 in front of a live audience of millions.
Susie used many ingredients from Sunnyfields including beetroot which received special comments from the panel of top judges which included Sophie Grigson, John Burton Race, Jilly Goolden, Ed Baines and Blur's Alex James.
Susie “beet” off strong competition to win and throughout the series continually extolled the virtues of Hampshire produce and producers. WELL DONE SUSIE
October 23rd 2008
Today we have sent an e mail to many customers. Below is similar information with a few extra bits:
The Food and More Project has been a passion of Ian Nelson at Sunnyfields for a long time. At last it is gaining some pace. Please visit the website, have a read, make an expression of support or send us an e mail. Please tell us what you think of it…Thanks in advance www.thefoodandmoreproject.com
Britains Best Dish – Tonight Thursday 23rd October Hampshire’s own Susie Carter is in the head to head for the Best Starter. If she gets through tonight then she will appear tomorrow LIVE. The programme today and tomorrow starts at 5pm on ITV. Please watch and support Hampshire produce and Susie. On Friday she might need your phone vote to WIN Britain’s Best Dish 2008.
Halloween Evening at Sunnyfields - Friday October 31st from 6pm. Pumpkin carving (£5 including the pumpkin, carving set and candle) Lots of fun and games, farm café and shop open.
August 4th 2008
The season continues to move on at speed. We are now in summer holiday season so hopefully we might get some summer weather again. The past week has seen changeable weather with cooler temperatures interspersed with rain. Thankfully last weeks New Forest Show had reasonable weather which meant that the crowds did turn out, the show really did need good weather as last year's wash out resulted in heavy losses which if repeated would have put the show in serious financial trouble.
The crops in the field look excellent, the odd failure but generally good. We are fighting a weed flush in carrots at present and have a small back log of planting however this week should see us catch up again. It is the time of the year where the plant raising has ceased, the volume of planting is reducing so we should see some easing of labour usage.
We are beginning to turn our thoughts to The Food Show at The Romsey Show 2008. It is the largest outdoor food event which we are directly involved in organising. This years event is on Saturday 13th September 2008 and this year is the second Food Show within the Romsey Show. Last year was excellent, helped very much by the weather, bumper crowds, great cooking demonstrations and food producers. This years Food Show will match and hopefully exceed last years success. You can buy tickets at the Sunnyfields Farm Shop and via your weekly home delivery order.
Hopefully see you then...Ian
July 15th 2008
Here again and guess what I am going to have to start with....the weather. Last week we had 89mm of rain - quite unbelievable! In addition to the rain we are have low day temperatures and night temperatures typical of September. You might say that I am never happy with the weather, my answer to that is that I can handle hot and dry weather by irrigating with winter stored water but I cannot increase temperatures or stop it raining, so you can see for us what is the best option. Even though we are suffering from the poor weather we still have some fantastic crops which still excite me as I do my 5-6am farm walks.
Do not forget that all our markets during July are themed to coincide with The Hampshire Food Festival. Last Saturday saw us hosting a "childrens market" - music, ducklings, face and bag painting, educational quizzes, mum and piglets, bouncy castles and a "bucking cow". The weather held out and everyone had a good day. This Sunday see's us having a themed "strawberry market".
See you there?...Ian
June 8th 2008
Here again and guess what I am going to have to start with....the weather. I am sat in my office and it is about 26 degrees outside and we will be watering in seedlings this afternoon, which is ironic as we have had 136mm of rain since I last wrote on the 25th May, in old money that is nearly 5.5 inches of rain. We had nearly 4 times the May average in 4 days. In the first few days of June we then had 46mm when the monthly average is around 34mm. Sorry for being such an anorak. Below are some pictures taken at Kings Farm, they are of The River Blackwater and our lake, the river actually rose by 7ft in 12 hours.
What a difference 15 hours makes!
Anyway less of the negatives. The fields are starting to look better in places. We are in full flow on broad bean picking and we are all enjoying this early season favourite. Within the next 5 days we should be on schedule with all crops in terms of drilling, planting and weeding however we are certainly behind on a number of crops. The reasons fro this are mainly linked to a lack of hot sunny days and the odd 5 inches of rain landing at a couple of inches at a time.
For all of our sakes let us hope for that balanced summer weather with hot days expecially at the weekends and then rain at night. Until next time....Ian.
May 25th 2008
My writing of this page is rather erratic at present and reflects what has been a very busy month. Emma, my daughter who was helping in the accounts office is on a gap year trip to central America and returning (poor thing) to the office in 3 weeks and 2 days (who says I am counting, and that includes 2 days off to recover and re-adjust!).
The last 4 weeks are possibly the busiest of the year in the fields in relation to drilling and planting. We also found ourselves being distracted by other projects and activities from Food Festivals to hosting events at the farm.
Last week the final piece of "the moving bank" jigsaw was completed. We have moved from Barclays to Triodos. If you have never heard of Triodos then visit Triodos Bank and take a look. You might even consider depositing some money with them. Our experience of them to date is all positive and we see no reason for this to change.
This morning has seen the first rain on the farm for nearly 4 weeks. We have only had 9 mm however we are hoping for more over the next few days. Below are a number of photographs taken at Bury Farm, Sunnyfields and Kings Farm this morning. For me walking the fields is probably one of the most important jobs of any farmer. I hope to put fingers to keyboard more frequently than once per calendar month - so heres hoping.
Happy local food eating.......Ian
April 25th 2008
Spring certainly has arrived, longer days and we are starting to see seedlings growing and perennial crops waking up. The lavender at Kings Farm is showing large amounts of lush fresh growth and the rhubarb looking good.
The tractor drivers are working flat out, spreading manure and making crop beds. The propagation houses are full to bursting and we are rushing plants into the fields so that we can move the next lot of seedlings in. Courgettes are growing fast, the runner beans have been sown into pots and we are all starting to "feel full of the joys of spring"
With regards to the weather. April certainly has had more of a traditional feel so let us hope that recent "semi long range weather forecasts stating that this summer should be "more normal" with hot dry spells interspersed with rain is correct.
April 6th 2008
A week ago, I wrote spring is in the air, 3 days ago we put new polythene on one of our plant raising
tunnels - this is a job you always do when it is sunny and still!. Yesterday we were cutting the grass on the Farmers' Market "lawn" and breaking down wintered ploughed land and...
This morning more snow than I can remember here in years. A great opportunity to take some "different" photos. Outside my office window now we have blue skies and big fluffy clouds, 5 hours ago a lot of snow. So this morning has been a farm walk morning, checking what stage crops are. Below are photographs of the over-wintered broad beans which are in flower and the first of the spring sown "hiding" under the mesh and snow. The rhubarb (on the home page) is bursting forth and the lavendar is waking up. The field teams are now all itching to get going, so much planting and seeding to do and the tractor drivers are now working around the fields gradually getting the soil into a tilth. Hopefully the temperatures will rise and we can have a dry spell to allow us a flying start.
March 31st 2008
Spring is in the air. Or, at least it was yesterday and is this morning. We had a busy weekend at the Sunnyfields Market however we were once again burdened with strong winds and rain. Roll on some lovely spring and summer days.
Yesterday we were at a number of markets and I found myself at Winchester Farmers' Market helping with a themed market based on "your garden" there were demonstrations and talks by producers with everything from clematis pruning to growing lavender. Hampshire Farmers' Markets also launched their "pumpking growing contest" - a bit of educational fun for children to encourage them to grow something. Seed, compost, a plant pot and instructions were provided, all in all more than 200 "kits" were issued. E mail addresses were collected and articles will appear on the HFM website during the season to monitor progress. In October - final judging will happen at a Winchester Farmers' Market.
Our fields, field staff and machinery are gradually waking up. Last minute tractor repairs are being finished and the seedlings in the tunnels are getting close to planting out. Everything from spinachs, chards, rocket, mizuna, lettuce and brassicas. Anyday now all the onion sets, shallots and potatoes will be planted.We have 3 sowings of broad beans in already and will drill again this week, weather permitting.
Regards, Ian Nelson.
