Good afternoon,
I hope it’s sunny where you are. I’ve been delivering beef & cider to pubs and restaurants in Sussex today and I can feel a sure shift in energy thanks to the last few days of warmth. It even makes driving in my electric van with its ever present range anxiety feel like a bit of a holiday.
Farmer Knowles and I walked the fields yesterday and it’s amazing what 1.5 inches of rain can do when the ground is already saturated.
The field on the left is our best example of regenerative agriculture as we’ve managed to increase its organic matter by the most - more than doubled. We’d sown a multi-species herbal lay (not cheap, I might add) and things were looking hopeful until the downpour.
Rather than let the cows do more damage, we’ve sacrificed the already sorry wheat field next door (middle & right) and are feeding them 4 bales of hay every day until things dry up. They seem happy enough - it is just more work, stress & cost for everyone else.
In more cheerful news we have multi-species crops growing fiercely elsewhere.
In this picture you can spot grasses, vetch, clover & plantain, and a good healthy shine on them.
And blue skies, thank god for blue skies.
We’re open from 11am - 4pm on Saturday, serving burgers & sipping cider in the sunshine.
We have a fridge full of fresh Sussex Wagyu steaks, so pre-order or pop in.
If you’re in London on Sunday afternoon, I’ll be at the Hop Counter in Kings Cross drinking & chatting about cider, and would love to see you.
Wishing you a glorious weekend filled with sunshine & good food wherever you are.
Rachel x