Will we have a bumper squash harvest this year? Fingers crossed!
The growing season is afoot and it’s time for our second Farm & Feast Sunday of the year! Looking forward to seeing you all for another Sunday of getting to know the farm, getting to know each other and sharing some tasty food. Here’s the plan…
10am – Members arrive at Laurelbank Farm
Get settled and grab a cup of tea or coffee and a wee snack.
Once we all have a cup of something in our hands, I will explain the plan for the day. We have two main tasks to achieve - pumpkins and polytunnels!
10:45 – Farm Activities
Potato Stacks - Do you remember the potatoes we planted in tyres last time we met? The next level of tyres are on and it’s time to top them up with compost.
The Pumpkin patch - We have dozens of lovely squash (aka pumpkin) plants to get into the soil in our bottom beds. Not only do we need your help digging a hole, planting them and giving them a wee mulch with compost - we also need you (and your children) to help us make some lovely signs to label all the different varieties.
The Polytunnel - This spring I bought a secondhand polytunnel to replace the greenhouses that died in the kitchen garden. It’s now up and running, and home to all of the seedlings that we grow for the farm (did you know we’ll be propagating around 14,000 seedlings this season!)… As well as a home for seedlings, we want you to help us create some new beds down the middle of the polytunnel as overflow beds for chillies, aubergines and other summer favourites. The more beds we rake, destone, mulch, plant and water - the more delicious all of our summers are likely to be!
Sunflowers - Remember the sunflowers we sowed at our last gathering? Well, almost all of them were eaten by slugs - but fear not - I sowed some more and they are doing much better. They need potted on and planted out.
1pm – Lunch in the Gallery
The Menu
To Feast:
Gigantes plaki (giant beans!)
Lentil fritters with garlic scape yoghurt
Fava bean hummus with Turkish onions
Seasoned potato wedges
Green salad & sour dough
To Finish:
Rhubarb & lemon bars
2:30pm - Back to our activities
After lunch (if you fancy it) we’ll get back to the polytunnel, the pumpkins and the potatoes.
3:30pm - Time to head home
The time: From 10am to around 3:30pm on Sunday 9th June 2024.
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 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: Bring suitable clothing for the weather. We will aim to head outside for our farm tour even if it is raining. Bring sturdy, comfortable shoes if you have them.
Please note: This event is for Farm & Feast members only. If you’re not a member and want to find out more click here.