Strawberries at our temporary gate sale - watch out for the new and improved version coming soon…
Join us for the third Saturday gathering of the 2023 season for our Farm & Feast CSA.
Summer is finally here and the garden has exploded into life. After a blast of sunshine we found ourselves with a glut of strawberries, so Claire has been busy in the kitchen making delicious strawberry and lime jam for the farm shop. We even set up a little gate sale at the front of the house to spread the strawberry love! Its a busy time on the farm as the vegetable beds are full of produce ready to be harvested, and the never ending weeding continues as always.
As usual, we’ll all be getting together at Laurelbank for a day of eating and chatting and learning and getting in touch with the soil and the seasons!
Please note: This event is for Full Season Farm & Feast members only. If you’re not a member and want to find out more click here.
10am – Members arrive at Laurelbank Farm
We will be officially kicking off at 10am, but you are welcome to arrive a little earlier (don’t come before 9:30am please!!) to get settled and grab a cup of tea or coffee. Claire is preparing Ghriba (Moroccan Almond Cookies) as a morning snack!
Once we all have a cup of something in our hands, Jo will let you all know what the plan is for the day. If the weather is good, we’ll all head out into the courtyard for this.
10:45 am – The Farming Bit
We have two major activities for the day!
Firstly, pulling spuds! We planted them up in the rain in May and hopefully we will harvest them in the sunshine! As well as harvesting the little “Potato Patch” we will hopefully make a start on our main field and gather the First Earlies of the season too - exciting!
And secondly, making welly planters! So do bring along any wellies you have at home that are no longer useable. Holes in the soles most welcome - built in drainage! For the others we will drill some before filling with compost and planting a mixture of leeks, and violas. By the end of the day we will hopefully have a very jolly display lining the blue steps.
(Please don’t go and buy new wellies!! Broken and unloved wellies welcome. Small and colourful, or large and boring. All old wellies welcome.)
There will as always be lots of other bits and pieces to do which we can talk about on the day - it never stops! (John - We will hopefully have some garlic peeling still to do!)
1pm – Lunch in the Gallery
Menu for 22nd July 2023
Chargrilled Courgettes & Chermoula
Loubia (Moroccan White Bean Stew)
Lentil Fritters & Bejewelled Rice
Edible Flower Green Salad with a Pomegranate Dressing
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Roasted Strawberries with Sumac, Meringues & Cream
2:15pm – Finish off jobs!
3:30pm - Time to head home!
The time: From 9:30/10am to around 3:30pm on Saturday 22nd July 2023.
The place: Laurelbank Farm, 121 Middle Road, Saintfield, Co. Down, BT24 7LS
The cost: This event is free for Farm & Feast Members (to find out more about the scheme, click here).
The refreshments: We’ll serve a hearty vegetarian lunch and there will be plenty of tea, coffee & water to help yourself to throughout the day. Feel free to bring extra snacks for small children.
Dietary Requirements: Lunch will be suitable for vegetarians but if you have any other dietary requirement please let us know so we can plan the menu around your needs.
What to bring: OLD WELLIES IF YOU HAVE ANY - ALL SIZES AND ANY CONDITION WELCOME!
Bring suitable clothing for the weather and suncream if required. We will aim to head outside even if it is raining. Bring sturdy, comfortable shoes if you have them.