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.

Or, better yet, sign up to the newsletter to get the best bits straight to your inbox

Posts in Training

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.

Autumn, Apprentices, Farm, TrainingKitty M23 November 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Beyond Plaw Hatch Farm

I recently took a trip up to Scotland. One stop was revisiting Findhorn where I originally fell in love with growing and learnt so much about the invisible aspects of what it is to become a gardener. I also went to Laurencekirk to meet up with Rose Bramwell at Balmakewan.

Apprentices, Environment, July, Sustainability, TrainingKitty M25 July 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Congratulations Josie

Huge congratulations to Josie, our butchery apprentice, for completing her apprenticeship and becoming a fully qualified butcher!

July, Training, Butchery, ApprenticesKitty M12 July 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

The new beginnings of charcuterie

A few weeks ago, Peter, Josie and I wound our way through the leafy lanes of Somerset to the River Cottage Headquarters for a day long course.

July, Training, Butchery, FarmKitty M9 July 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

New tills for the shop

So, the new till system is finally installed. It’s up and running and I think it’s fair to say we’re pretty damned happy with it.

March, Shop, Staff, TrainingKitty M16 March 2023Plaw Hatch Farm Comment

The Goodbyes

The bittersweet end to summer. The big harvests are done, the hay is made, the nights grow longer and the days cool. Familiar faces who for a time have become so engrained in the life and rhythms of the farm leave on the next step of their journeys. At the end of September we say goodbye to our Garden Apprentice Mandie, and our two work placement students from Warmonderhof, Ditte and Marigold. We wish all the best on your new and exciting adventures!

Summer, Staff, Training, VolunteersKitty M29 September 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Sheep scanning 2022

Scanning is an important point in the shepherding year, allowing our farmers to prepare for the coming lambing that is now just over a month away.

Farm, Lambing, Sheep, Spring, Volunteers, TrainingKitty M15 February 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

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

A year as a Garden Apprentice

Our garden apprentice, Mandie, gives an insight into what life is like living, working, and learning on the farm.

Garden, Sustainability, Volunteers, Training, PigsKitty M18 September 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

9 Jan 2024

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.

23 Nov 2023

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.

4 Aug 2023

Woodland update

THE Farmer’s daybook

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PLAW HATCH FARM, Plawhatch Lane, Sharpthorne, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4JL

SHOP:01342810201 OFFICE:01342810652 EMAIL:info@plawhatchfarm.co.uk

Company Number: 01497038

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