Tag: Stone Farmers Market

Posted on by

Newsletter No 14

WELCOME

A very warm welcome to all our followers and to our new followers. It’s getting to that time of year when people order extra beef and pork from us, so start having those conversations about “who is cooking” on the big day!

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ON THE FARM and BEYOND

It’s that time, when cows need to be checked and fed special minerals if they are calving before Christmas.  John has a calendar of expected dates, so some of those extra jobs need to be done.  Hedge cutting, clearing the drive, making new doors, and patching the roof have all been done, but more jobs are still waiting to be started. 

On the accreditation side, we successfully had our Red Tractor Audit, and passed, with the proviso that we needed to replace 3 panes of cracked glass. We also had a clear bTB test, which I am so thankful for.  Nothing hurts more than seeing the girls going off because they have become innocent victims of this disease. Lastly, we also had a clear set of blood tests on the cows, so they are not harbouring any viruses or diseases that could be detected.

THE SHOW SEASON IS OVER

It’s hard to believe, but our catering and selling of fresh meat at shows in 2022 is almost over. This means it’s Christmas light switch ons, private party catering, and generally winding down as we reach the end of the year. Sounds idyllic, but in reality we will still be very busy with customers, and the farm of course.

FREE SCHOOL VISITS AVAILABLE FROM MAY 2023

Yes, it’s hard to believe, but we are offering free school visits, starting in May 2023. Natural England allow us 25 free visits per year, so please get in touch to see if we can help your school next year. Pond dipping is almost always the favourite activity, followed by stroking the pigs and cats.

LAST ORDER DATES

We have updated the website SO YOU SHOULD be able to order through it! A few gremlins crept in when we changed our website designer, so apologies to those who experienced difficulties. 

All the quarter pigs sold, but if it’s pork you need, you should contact us asap by email at beef@parkhillfarm.co.uk  We only have so many pigs/beef animals available before late November. Late November will almost certainly be our last abattoir date as the butcher has his own meat to get ready for the 23rd   December.

We go to Stone Farmers Market on the 5th November, so if possible we would like to receive orders by the 25th October so our butcher can cut the joints for you. Gammons take 3 weeks to cure, so please let us know asap about your gammon orders.

DON’T FORGET

IF YOU CAN’T SEE THE CUT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR on our website, you are very welcome to email beef@parkhillfarm.co.uk, or telephone/text John on 07966 460312 We will get it sorted for you!

 3 Pigs to Devon

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY   

Above are the special piglets that were 3 of the 4 pigs we took to Devon to start a breeding herd.  Their new owners are international chefs who have bought a small holding, and wanted rare breed pigs. 

They already have rare breed cattle on site, and John and I managed to get a night away on their farm, a paddle in the sea, and enjoy a lovely meal outside, overlooking the beach.  We were so lucky the weather held for us.  We think it is our first meal in a restaurant by the seaside since we got married.

EXPECTED DELIVERY DATES in NOVEMBER 2022

As usual, our free-of-charge home deliveries will take place after the farmers markets in November, (possibly on the 6th) and orders can be collected from the farm after the 7th, or from the Stone Farmers Market on the 5th Nov.

Unsubscribe – If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter please send an email to beef@parkhillfarm.co.uk, with unsubscribe in the subject line.

Posted on by

Newsletter No 12

WELCOME

A very warm welcome to all our followers and to our new followers. Its a brand new year, and we have already had most of January working on the farm as opposed to working with the meat.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ON THE FARM and BEYOND

It’s the time of year that the cows calve. However, despite John having a few sleepless nights, we have had the builder in, and a new shed is being built to keep the younger animals in during the winter.

FEBRUARY’S SPECIAL OFFERS AND LAST ORDER DATES

I have updated the website with some special offers. We have put 3 of the meat boxes on special offer so check out https://parkhillfarm.co.uk/farm-shop/meatboxes/ – and we have also put topsides and stewing steak on offer. Make the most of Covid being nearly over and see your friends for a home cooked meal. We prefer orders through the website and if it’s over £50 we deliver for free. This month we will be delivering those orders on the 6th February all being well.

If you have a standing order with us for meat, we will continue to deliver until we hear from you. If you wish to set up a standing order for meat, then please get in touch, and we will put it to one side before we go to Stone Farmers Market on the 5th February. If possible we would like to receive orders by the 25th January, so our butcher can cut the joints for you.

IF YOU CAN’T SEE THE CUT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, you are very welcome to email beef@parkhillfarm.co.uk, or telephone/text John on 07966 460312. We will get it sorted for you!

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY

Above are the special set of twins, both heifers, and both so feisty. Being the size of a large Labrador, they were quite small, which was lucky, as they were born during that very bad storm, when John wasn’t here. Gypsy, who is our oldest cow aged 15, brought herself into the strawed barn, and when I went outside, they were both there, with Gypsy looking absolutely mystified.

VACANCY

We will be needing extra staff this year, as so many events clash. If you know a young person, who is hard working, polite, and wanting an occasional job on a Saturday, then please get in touch by email. The work is mainly over the summer holidays, and sporadic, but transport and uniform are provided.

Posted on by

NEWSLETTER NO 8

WELCOME TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Welcome friends of Park Hill Farm. With the end of Covid 19 restrictions being in sight – the 3rd week of June can’t come fast enough for most of us. With different “normals” for a lot of us, we all need to venture back into the post covid world. This means we will be available for your wedding and party catering – so don’t forget to ask if we can help!

NEW NORMAL

Our “new normal” means that the shop will remain closed to callers unless we have spoken to you before. It has now become a collection centre and a packing centre to put up customers’ orders. Nearly all the orders are now coming in via the website. This means that Pat will mark some items out of stock from time to time.

Out of stock items come back into stock the next month (usually) and our ordering cycle of delivering once a month for customers between 5 and 30 miles away, and twice a week for customers living up to 5 miles away continues.

As so many of you know us so well, it’s always worth giving John an email or phone call, to see if there is “just one left” of an item that is out of stock!

SPECIAL OFFERS

We have kept a few special offers on the website, with the Breakfast Box being the usual special offer. This is also a good barbecue box, so take a look inside it to see if it is just what you need!

ORDER DATES FOR OUR BEEF

Our cut off date for bespoke orders is the 3rd June, but don’t worry, you can send us an order after that date, and we will be in touch with you about availability. For July’s orders the cut off date is the 28th June with deliveries being MONDAY 5th July 2021.

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY

With Covid restrictions easing, we are welcoming special needs groups and schools back to the farm. So far the pond has been too cold for pond dipping, and we have instead been looking at the animals and going for country walks. Feeding the pigs seems to be a favourite activity with young and old.

We are sponsored by Natural England to give FREE school or special needs groups visits, so why not get in touch to see what we can offer your group/class.

STONE FARMERS MARKET – JUNE 5TH 2021

How lovely it was to be back in the High Street for the May farmers market. It was busy, and customers were pleased to catch up about their catering needs, and talk about holiday plans. We look forward to seeing many of you on the 5th June.

If you have selected home delivery on the website order form, John will doing his monthly deliveries on Sunday 6th June 2021, and looks forward to seeing you then. After that it will be MONDAY 5TH JULY for the next free deliveries.