Acorn Dairy Farm Diary

Frazzle- Our New Aberdeen Angus Bull

Arriving with us just two weeks ago, our new bull was clearly experiencing culture shock after being in the company of bulls for the past two years.

The heifers mobbed him very quickly with their friendly interest. It was all very different and new for him, but he has now found his feet and is doing well. He is already a very popular face on the farm.

Frazzle is a pedigree Aberdeen Angus, will sire about 100 calves a year, perpetuating his long and distinguished blood line. We chose him for his wonderful confirmation and pedigree. He replaces Gerthatio, who is being retired after serving the herd for the past 16 years and producing close to 1,000 calves.

We look forward to introducing Frazzle to our doorstep milk customers at the next open farm event. TBA

Order an Asparagus bundle to come with your milk

Back by popular demand! Grown by our cousins Steven and Barry Tweddle, Acorn customers can have local, organic asparagus delivered with your milk.

First deliveries will be on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th May- and then every Tues/ Wed until the end of the short season which runs from early May to mid/late June.

The plants are now two years old. After a slow start due to the cold spring this year they are now looking good. Steven will supply us with freshly cut bundles of 250gm every Monday afternoon.

It looks great in the field and will be wonderful just lightly steamed or grilled and served with some Acorn butter. 250g bundle £2.50

If you would like to try some asparagus or place a standing order please call/ email our office: 01325 466999/ organic@acorndairy.co.uk

Good coverage of organic compost- wonderful for soil fertility and structure

The contractors came with their big machinery and, over the course of one day, made light work of spreading 2500 tonnes of composted muck and straw over the fields.

This accumulates over the cold, winter months as the cows are housed in sheds, mucked out and given clean straw for bedding. This keeps the herd clean and healthy.

The muck heap is then turned over regularly and by the spring we have a wonderful, natural, chemical free fertiliser. This compost spreading also builds soil matter and structure to aid drainage in wet weather and water retention in drought.

Nothing could be better!

Michelle & Brian Strefford meet a new arrival
Daughter and father delivery team Michelle and Brian Strefford (also known as B & P Dairymen) contacted us a few years ago looking for an organic milk supply for their customers. They now have an excellent take up for our organic milk from their doorstep rounds in the Gosforth region of the city.

All the milk is supplied in returnable glass bottles. Michelle is such a fan she even had Acorn milk bottles, with seasonal flowers, as the centre pieces for the tables at her wedding!

We were delighted that they could join us at the last open day.

Pictured: Brian and Michelle meet a new arrival to the herd that supply their organic milk.

Slow reared lamb & beef
If you are interested in home delivery of quality, locally reared organic lamb and beef. You can contact Richard Ward on 01833 660376.

Richard farms near Staindrop with breeds that are noted for quality eating and flavour. We can recommend the lamb and have no doubt we'll enjoy the beef just as much.

Richard's flocks graze our winter grassland at Hallwith Farm. This helps to keep the fields tidy as the sheep clear any dead grasses, giving a good base for spring growth of succulent grasses/ clovers for our herd to graze at turn out.

If looking to stock up your freezer- it is very worth getting a quote from Richard, his prices are very competitive with supermarkets as he is selling it direct. His website is in progress at the moment but will be:
www.pinstonecragorganicmeat.co.uk

Gift Problems Solved
Dairy Diary- with week to view and easy to prepare weekly recipes this is always popular. This year's diary has a yellow rose on the cover. £6.50

Just One Pot- the no fuss way to cook delicious food £9.75

Gift Pack- Dairy Diary, mini diary & wooden book stand £9.25

Your roundsman has delivered an order leaflet to you recently. Please complete the tear off slip and put out for collection with your bottles asap. Alternatively please post it or phone/ email your order in. Items will be added to your bill at the time of delivery in early December.

Many thanks

Acorn Brie & Wensleydale

Please consider us when stocking your cheese boards. Have you tried the two Acorn Dairy cheeses yet?

Made with milk from our own herd by two cheese, award winning, specialists- Appleby Creamery and The Wensleydale Creamery...

Acorn Dairy Brie 230gm £ 3.49

Acorn Dairy Matured Wensleydale Cloth Wrapped Kit Calvert 500gm £5.99

Both are great for hampers/ gifts for food lovers and will also make any meal a special event.

Stocks are limited. Please avoid disappointment and order yours early.

Potatoes to your door
We are working with our cousin Steven Tweddle to bring you organic potatoes. They were dug in September from his home farm near Northallerton.

This potato variety is a good medium size- very well suited to roasting, mashing, boiling or chipping (which make regular apperances on our winter kitchen and dining tables.)
Stored in cool, dark, dry conditions these potatoes will last many months.

2kg bag offer £1.50 while stocks last

25kg sack (to work through over the winter) £12

Please email or call to place an order.

New payment options on the horizon

Thank you to all those who have given feedback on their preferred method of payment.

We will be keeping our pre-paid envelopes for those who like to pay by cheque. If your four-weekly bill is less than £10- we would encourage you to send in larger cheques- but less often. Please call our office to discuss if you wish.

Otherwise, we are currently waiting for improvements to our software before contacting you again (probably in the New Year) to confirm how you can move on to electronic payments if preferred.

Many thanks

A lovely Day on the farm

A quick note to thank all those who came to visit the farm and the herd on our open day. It is wonderful to meet you and give customers an understanding of how an organic dairy farm operates.

A great opportunity to see the people, animals and processes involved to get your milk to the doorstep. The photo board of the doorstep roundsmen, that you may never see, was a real interest point again.

Roy thoroughly enjoyed explaining the operating of the processing/ bottling plant- some of our younger customers seemed fascinated by the various levers and switches.
Many thanks