Acorn Dairy Farm Diary
Fresh and Fabulous Bread with your Acorn Milk
16th December 2011
We have a new bread supplier
More sandwich material for your sterling. Larger 450g loaf- same price!
Clervaux Bakery
We're delighted Rick McCordall and his head baker Scott, based at the Coniscliffe Road bakery are able to supply our customers' bread orders. They are part of the Clervaux Foundation charity, which works to reconnect our local, young people with nature.
The change to Clervaux follows streamlining to the Larchfield Community's baking operation and a move away from supplying local businesses. We have enjoyed their bread for many years and wish the group well.
We are confident you will love the Clervaux loaves. All made with organic ingredients- not certified by the Soil Association as Acorn are.
Your delivery man can bring you bread with your milk on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. See the Products tab for details on the breads- some lovely new ones- Black Pudding!
Acorn Cows on Facebook
7th December 2011
The Face(book) of your Organic Dairy Cows
Join us on Facebook.
Mixing the best of traditional farming with social media- our cows are fantastic and we want to share them with you.
Following a suggestion a local, 'silver surfer' who missed our Autumn evening walks, Acorn Dairy is now on Facebook!
You can find the farm and cows by clicking the link below. Once on the page please tick the 'Like' box and follow your herd.
http://www.facebook.com/AcornOrganicDairy
Facebook is very good for sharing everyday farm life with you through photos and comments.
Please feel free to add your own comments to the photos.
Ginger Wine Time (Non Alcoholic)
6th December 2011
A Warming Ginger Aperitif
A classic, warming tipple. Uncle Cornelius Ginger Aperitif is a festive favourite. £3.60
It comes complete with a cocktail ideas gift tag. Super with whiskey, but also delicious on it's own.
A fabulous and grown up alternative for the drivers in your party.
Available year round with your milk, but especially good with mince pies and fires!
Join Us For a Farm Walk
26th September 2011
Monday 10th- Friday 14th October 2011
Meeting at Garthorne Farm, we hope customers can join us for one of a series of enjoyable, mini, guided walks to share the main and new features of the farm in the fading light.
Meeting from 5pm for a 5.30 start each evening Mon 10th- Friday 14th October, Acorn customers will see what we are doing to further build wildlife species inhabitants, and the best environment for our herd.
The walk will end with a warm drink in the fading light as we join the cows as they settle for the evening in their sheds.
We recommend you to bring warm layers, wellies if you have them/ sturdy footwear as the walk will involve some uneven ground. A torch may also be useful for the end of the evening. No dogs please, but children are very welcome!
We look forward to seeing you. (Walks will go ahead whatever the weather.)
Garthorne Farm, Archdeacon Newton, Darlington. DL2 2YB
Our Water Recovery Lagoon
12th July 2011
The Latest Project
We are now into week two of digging the new lagoon and it is really starting to take shape.
When finished this will hold six months worth of wash water from the parlour and bottling plant (approx 1 million gallons.) Previously this water was spread on a daily basis, through our little irrigator which would winch it's way across the fields.
The new lagoon will be a real boost during times of short rainfall and also in winter, when it is difficult to spread large quantities of water in frozen conditions.
Photo shows Dave Blakey building the 5.5m bank.
Today's New Arrival
20th May 2011
Introducing Archdeacon Valon Beauty
Archdeacon Benefactor Beauty (No. 802) had a noteable day today. In the corner of Barry's calving paddock, she quietly gave birth to her twelfth calf.
Having been with us since just before we converted to organic farming in 1998, she is a farm favourite. The natural and low stress pace of life on the farm has suited her to a tee and she continues to enjoy a long and healthy life.
We are delighted her calf was a heifer and will therefore join the herd. Her daughter, Archdeacon Valon Beauty will hopefully have a long, and contented life producing milk for Acorn customers herself.
NB. Extremely mobile on her young legs, Valon Beauty was unwilling to pose for a picture by her mother's side. Accepting defeat, here she is, with someone else's Mum in the background! We will introduce you at the next open day- TBA.
Spring Newsletters Making Their Way To You
18th May 2011
Further info
The first Spring 2011 Newletters were delivered with this morning's milk. All customers will receive their copy by Wednesday 25th. We hope you enjoy it.
We have had a few requests for clarification on the direct debit form:
For those interested in switching from cheque payment, please complete your details on the form attached to the Spring News and return it to Acorn. Please write your address across the top of the form, there is no need to enter anything in the reference boxes.
IMPORTANT
Customers who would like to continue paying by cheque- please ensure you write your address on the reverse.
Cheques can take over a week to reach us (our envelopes are second class). Payments that have not reached us before bill printing on Wednesday, will show on the following week's bills. We get lots of calls asking why payments are not showing on the bill. Please do not worry- it is very unlikely they have gone missing.
Please refrain from leaving cash out. It is too unsecure. We can help you arrange an alternative if needed.
Acorn Hoping To Harness Wind Energy
25th April 2011
Can You Lend Your Support?
We have been looking very closely at the potential for our farm to generate its own power and to help meet the energy requirements of Acorn Dairy.
The single biggest users are the milking parlour and processing plant which need to heat large amounts of hot water for pasteurisation, cleaning down, running the equipment, and potential future use for powering battery milk floats.
Our herd's milking parlour already has solar panels installed which do help, but are limited. We hope to add a wind turbine to our organic farm, the energy from which will be used directly by Acorn Dairy.
CAN YOU HELP US?
Our turbine planning application went in on 13th April to Darlington Council Planning Dept. The application reference is 11/ 00245/ ful. The full details are on the planning website at:
http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Living/Planning+and+Building+Control/Planning+Services/Planning+Services.htm
We would be very grateful for any customer letters of support sent to the Council by 5 May (just a few weeks.)
Contacts:
Email- planning.enquiries@darlington.gov.uk
Address- Planning Dept. D.B.C.Town Hall, Darlington, DL1 5QT
We hope we are allowed to proceed with this vision for our farm and business, and would look forward to you seeing the turbine at close quarter at a future open day.
If you are able to lend us your support, please do.
(The planning website is complicated if you need any help navigating it please call and Graham, Gordon or myself will help direct you- you will need to know our application went in on 13th April.)
Thank you. Caroline Tweddle
Asparagus Available With Your Milk
25th April 2011
The North Yorkshire Asparagus Season Is Here
Our cousin Steven Tweddle has grown another super crop of asparagus on his farm near Northallerton. The local season is quite short, but the flavour is unbeatable.
If you would like a 250g bundle of asparagus spears £2.50, please call or email us. A passing Acorn van collects freshly picked bundles every Monday afternoon for our customers to have on the following Tuesday or Wednesday morning with their milk.
You can place a one off order for one or several bundles, or a regular order each week/ fortnight until the end of the short season (approx end May.)
So easy but delicious- wrapped in streaky bacon, in risottos or going solo drizzled in Acorn butter.
Spring 2011
29th March 2011
Turnout Is Here
We wanted to share the experience of seeing the Acorn herd at 'turn out'. The cows seeing the open fields for the first time is a really joyous moment- lots of ungainly cavorting.
As temperatures warm and the days begin to lengthen, the grass starts growing and the fields can feed the cows again.
Turnout is a heartwarming sight that proves spring has arrived. For Barry, Phil and Eddy, who care for and milk the herd, it marks the end of full winter farm routines. With the cows grazing in the fields bedding up and feeding round is reduced.
Graham and Barry were especially pleased the grass has started growing, as we were running very low on silage stocks used to feed the cows when inside. This was due to the lack of rain last summer affecting grass growth.