THE Farmer’s daybook

A farmer’s daybook is where they note everything going on with their herd; milk yields, health, behaviours, emotional states. Our online daybook is where you can keep up to date with the latest goings-on on the farm.

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Posts in January

Oxford Real Farming Conference 2024

Maya, Miriam and Louisa kicked the year off by attending the Oxford Real Farming Conference.

JanuaryKitty M24 January 2024Plaw Hatch FarmComment

A new hedge

The farm and garden team have just planted almost a thousand plants on the farm to create a new hedge.

Farm, Environment, January, Sustainability, Winter, WoodlandKitty M12 January 2024Plaw Hatch Farm Comment

Why cows have horns

It has long been a policy of Biodynamic husbandry to keep cattle with horns. As well as the aesthetic value, the horns have an important function in the life of the cow.

Farm, Cows, Dairy, JanuaryKitty M9 January 2024Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Consider your local abattoir

Small local abattoirs are essential for organic farmers across Sussex and Kent, but they are closing at an alarming rate. Your voice might help to make a difference.

Butchery, Farm, Meat, JanuaryKitty M19 January 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Planning for the season ahead

It’s early in the new year but that means in the garden we are slowly starting up. Over the last few weeks, I have made a plan where the whole season is written down and I can see when to sow what. Lots to look forward to!

January, GardenKitty M16 January 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Our longest serving volunteer

Michael Moon has been working as a volunteer at Plaw Hatch Farm since 2009.

January, Farm, Cows, Milk, VolunteersKitty M10 January 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Flowers for the Garden

The winter months give us some time to dream and make plans for the growing season ahead. I love to dream about flowers.

Winter, Garden, Spring, January, FlowersKitty M9 February 2022Plaw Hatch Farm Comment

Training a Future Butcher

Last September Josie Rollings began her career as a butcher at Plaw Hatch.

Butchery, Farm, Meat, January, Training, StaffKitty M4 February 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Choosing a telehandler

Our Merlo Telehandler is due for replacement. It is 10 years old and has done nearly 6 thousand hours of work on this farm.

Winter, Farm, January, ArableKitty M24 January 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

January in the garden

The garden starts up slowly in January. At the beginning of the month it is still dark, but I’m definitely starting to notice the difference as we approach February. The days are getting longer and we have already started with sowing.

Winter, Garden, Spring, JanuaryKitty M21 January 2022Plaw Hatch Farm Comments

Regenuary | Veganuary

For years I have waited for the pendulum to swing from industrialised farming back to farming that takes more than just human needs into consideration. I have to say that I was rather taken aback when the pendulum swung straight past us and towards veganism. I hope, with more time and understanding, that the pendulum will swing back to farmers like the farmers at Plaw Hatch.

Butchery, Farm, Meat, Sustainability, JanuaryKitty M17 January 2022Plaw Hatch Farm Comments

Epiphany and the Three Kings Prep

On January 6th, Epiphany, the Three Kings Preparation was spread around the boundaries of the farm. Walking the boundaries of a farm of this size, carrying buckets, in the middle of winter with so little daylight, is a big task. However, walking the fields in this way is beneficial in several ways.

Winter, Spring, Farm, January, SustainabilityKitty M13 January 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

9 Jan 2024

23 Nov 2023

A year as a farm Apprentice

Approaching the halfway mark in my 2-year placement here at Old Plaw Hatch Farm, the coming of the shorter days has allowed me to reflect on what has been one hell of a ride this past year.

27 Oct 2023

The realities of a garden

Growing vegetables in a political climate that has very little understanding of how food actually gets from the producer to anyone’s kitchen table (let alone the unpredictability of that same climate) means we are very grateful to the crops that have been successes, and we move on quickly from those that were or are, to put it bluntly, failures. Let me briefly talk you through our growing year so far…

24 Oct 2023

Supply and demand

Recently we’ve seen a real surge in new customers and have also noticed that existing customers are coming much more frequently and seem to be doing the majority of their food shopping with us. These changes are rarely down to one thing, and I believe at the moment there are several reasons.

24 Aug 2023

Why should I go to the AGM?

Firstly, because we would really love you to. Of course, at an AGM there is the dry procedural stuff, it’s a legal requirement, but there is so much more. It’s an opportunity to hear directly from the people who grow your food.

15 Aug 2023

The garden this summer

The summer is flying by and we have already started to get the first harvests off the fields like onions, potatoes and squash. The Spring was very late this year, however, Summer is not over yet.